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''■-t S /^-' i UNIVEflSITT OF CUIFORXIIt 0" LIBfllRY OF THE UKiyERSIir OF CAIIFORHU •t BIIVERSITT OF CALIFORNIA UBRART OF THE UNIVERSITT OF CAIIFORHIA ■'■ IIIKERSITY OF CALIFORIIIA ■.IWP/; LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFQf mi^p^ *^ WP A0^ r r^ n^ LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE "The Dtaks had hbabd, the whole world had HEARD, THAT THE SON OF EUROPE WAS THE FRIEND OF THE DYAK." -f .^ i\ '^ ■ f N o- • v: /^"""'^ "^^"^^^^ /^h.„../X^^„,„«,jAX,.-A„„„j&-,nr.^:':w:>li THE LIFE OF SIE JAMES BEOOKE RAJAH OF SARAWAK FROM HIS PERSONAL PAPERS AND CORRESPONDENCE BV SPENSER ST JOHN, F.E.G.S. FORACEBLY SECRETABT TO THE BAJAH LATE B.M. CX>NSUL- GENERAL IN BORNEO; NOW H.M. HINIBTER- RESIDENT TO THE REFUBUC OF PERU; AND ADTHOR or 'life in the forests of the far east' -t ^ V VJ I'- • * J WILLIAM BLACKWOOD AND SONS EDINBURGH AND LONDON MDCCCLXXIX COPY ADDED ORIOINALTOBE^ OCT0 4B94 -T>T^ SPRECKELS • '. '• PKEFACE. Eleven years have passed since the death of Sir James Brooke, and it is only now that I am enabled partially to fulfil the promise I made him to write his life in Borneo. Long and wearisome illness, as well as continued active service in tropical countries, are the only excuses I can ofier for this delay. I wish that I could feel satisfied with my performance of this friendly duty ; but I have been somewhat oppressed by the fear of wearying the reader by repetitions of a tale that has been many times told. I have endeavoured to be very exact in my rela- tion of the facts contained in this biography, and if I have dwelt on many points that might have been but lightly touched on, recent discussions have proved the necessity, and shown how profound is the ignorance of even enlightened statesmen, when they venture beyond the beaten track. Notwith- standing all that has been written, but little is yet popularly known of Borneo. VI PREFACE. I could readily have increased the bulk of this work by inserting the unpublished coixespondence of Sir James Brooke, of which I possess sufficiejit to fill volumes, but I have thought it unnecessary. Documents and letters and journals have appeared, until the Sarawak literature would now form a library in itself; and to these I must refer any reader who may desire to study in detail the work which Sir James Brooke did in Borneo. I propose only to give a general idea of his life. One of the Rajah's oldest friends, Mr Hugh Low, promised to write me a chapter giving an account of the Court of Borneo as he found it in 1846, and another as he left that same Court in 1876, after thirty years of arduous and almost continuous ser- vice there ; but a sudden summons to return to the East, to take up his new appointment as H.M. Resident in Perak, has deprived me of this import- ant addition to my book. I hope, however, to be able to include it later on, should the public call for a second edition of this biography. I have not attempted to sum up the character of the Rajah. I have described him as he appeared to me, and I leave the reader to form his own opinion : but as I have also formed mine. I may say that I consider him to have been one of the noblest and best of men. CONTENTS. INTRODUCTION. EARLY LIFE OF JAKES BROOKE. 1 1808-1839. '-!'' PAOS Sporting adventures— Brooke's Horse— Visit to China — In love — Yojage to Singapore, ...... CHAPTER I. FIRST VISIT TO SARAWAK AND TO CELEBES. 1889-1840. i^ ^' The Sarftwak river — First visit to the Dyaks — An attack fmstrated — A retired pirate — Voyage to Celebes — The Bngis of Celebes, 18 CHAPTER II. SEOOND VISIT TO SARAWAK— CIVIL WAR. 1840. ^ ^ Second visit to Sarftwak — A council of war — ^A Bomeon siege— Night on the field — Progress of the siege — Pangeran Usman's speech — Mr Brooke returns to Kuching — Makota's subterfuges — A battle at last — An envoy from the rebels — End of the war, 27 Vlll CONTENTS. CHAPTER III. WRETCHED STATE OF THE OOUNTBT — BROOKE ASSUMES ] THE GOVERNMEMT OF SARAWAK. 1840-1848. 2-7- ^p Makota'8 misgovemment— Prospects of Sar&wak — A Dyak expedi- tion stopped — Brooke obtains the government — Consolidating the government — " The friend of the Dyak "—Chinese deceit — Revenues of Sarawak— Visit to Brunei— The Court of Brunei —Discomfiture of Makota, . . . . .50 CHAPTER IV. FIRST EXPEDITIONS AGAINST THE SERIBAS AND SAKARANG PIRATES— CAPTAIN KEPPEL. 1843-1844. ^^., Pirates— The Dido— Dinner at Mr Brooke's— The Seribas- A pirate town attacked— Defeat of the Seribas— Second visit to Brunei — Expedition to Achin — Brooke's new house — The Patusan pirates — Disaster to the spy-boat— Muda Hassim's departure— Brunei, 72 CHAPTER V. EVENTS IN BRUNEI AND ON THE NORTH-WEST COAST — MURDER OF MUDA HASSm AND HIS FAMILY — CAPTURE OF BRUNEL 1844-1847. -5 - Paugeran Usup— Destruction of Maludu— Execution of Pangeran Usup— Death of Mr Williamson— Plot against Muda Hassim — Murder of Muda Hassim — Sir Thomas Cochrane — Capture of Brunei — ^The Sultan's submission— The Nemesis among the pirates — Bomeon justice, . . . . .99 CHAPTER VI. MR BROOKE VISITS ENGLAND. 1847-1849. - .: '.\, Return to England — Visit to the Queen — Appointed Governor of Labuan — The passengers of the Meander — The voyage — "Tak- ing a friend's watch '' — Made a K.C.B., . . .123 CONTENTS. IX CHAPTER VII. BETUBN TO SARAWAK. 1848-1849. ^^' '- Beception at Sarawak— A Malay lady — The flag of Sarawak — A dis- masted ship — Batificatlon of the treaty — Effect of imagination —The Snltan of Suln — Betnm to Labuan— Timely rescue — Quarrels at Labuan, ...... 138 CHAPTER VIII. THB SEBIBAS AND SAKABANG PIRATES. 1849. 44 The pirates— The Sakarangs— Bayages of the pirates— Sirib Sahib — Patnsan taken — ^The Sultan's letter— More ravages, . .159 CHAPTER IX. THE BATTLE OF BATANO MARAU. 1849. 4 1, The rendezTous — " The Dyaks are coming I " — Bravery of the pirates — After the battle — Burning the pirate prahna-^JJ-p the Paku —The Orang Eaya's sons — Foraying— A young captive, 174 CHAPTER X. MR GLADSTONE AND THE RAJAH. 1849. 4 \^ Mr Gladstone's Queries, ...... 198 CHAPTER XI. PEACE HEASURES — ATTACKS ON SIR JAMES BROOKE'S FOLICT — MISSION TO SIAM. 1849-1851. ^^ ^* Attacks by Hume and Cobden — Peace measures — Yisit to Penang —The Siam mission — Becognition of Sarawak by the United States — Beception of the mission — Chinese immigration — Ad- ministrative measures — Visit to the Dyaks— ''Old fireworks" —Departure for Europe, ..... 212 / ' • .r- ) / CONTENTS. CHAPTER XII. SECOND VISIT TO ENGLAND. 1851-1853. -^^-^^ Mr Wise's manoeuvres— Parliamentary persecution—Mr Hume's wit- nesses — Mr Hume's demand for a Commission — Underhand con- duct of the Coalition— Mr Brereton at Sakarang, . .234 CHAPTER XIIL RETURN TO BORNEO. 1853-1854. . S I Visit to the Sultan — Cession of the six districts — Return to Sarawak — ^An explosion — The Patinggi — Deposition of the Patinggi, . 247 CHAPTER XIV. THE ROTAL COMMISSION — EXPEDITION AOAINST RENTAB. 1854-1856. s>'^'l Bentab— Dtoth of Mr Lee — Ben tab's stronghold— Capture of Lang — The Commission at work — ^Departure of the Commissioners — Discussions — The Bajah's sentences — The judicature diffi- culty — The bishopric — Troubles at Muka — Condition of Brunei — The Bajah and the British €U)vemment — Chinese troubles, . 261 CHAPTER XV. THE CHII7ESE INSURRECTION. 1857. 'j ' The Chinese insurrection — Escape of the Rajah — Defence of the stockades — Morning after the attack— Proceedings of the Chi- nese—Progress of the insurrection— Arrival of the ** Sir James Brooke" — Discomfiture of the Chinese — Their flight — Results of the rebellion— Kuching after the insurrection — End of the rebellion, . . . . . . .291 CONTENTS. XI CHAPTER XVI. THIRD VISIT TO ENGLAND. 1867-1860. S^ 'Sy Cosl- mines — Reception in England — Despondency — Death of Ma- kota — The Borneo Company — A plot against Government — Suppression of the conspiracy — The succession to the Raj — The Rajah and Captain Brooke — Mr Edwardes's interference at Muka — Lord Russell's thanks to Captain Brooke, .318 CHAPTER XVII. LAST VISIT TO BORNEO — RETURN TO ENGLAND — QUIET JJFE — DEATH IN 1868. 1860-1868. :^-^5 Once again in the East — Settlement of Mnka — The Rajah at Muka — The R^jah Muda — The voyage home — The Rajah in retire- ment — Negotiations with €U)vemment — The Rajah and Captain Brooke — ^Expedition against the Eayans — Negotiations with Government — Lord Palmerston's views — Colonel Cavanagh's report — Communications with the Cabinet — Recognition grant- ed — Life in England — The Tuan Muda adopted as heir — Sara- wak offered to her Majesty's vemment — An attack of para- lysis — Concluding remarks, ..... 840 Appendix, . ....... 379 LIFE OF Sm JAMES BKOOKE, RAJAH OF SARAWAK. INTRODUCTION. EAKLY LIFE OF JAMES BEOOKE. 1803-1839. Very little of interest is known of the early life of Sir James Brooke, beyond the facts that he was bom in Benares in 1803, came early to England, and was confided to a fond though injudicious grandmother, with whom he had completely his own way. He went to Norwich school, then kept by Mr Valpy, but on his second essay there, got tired of the restraint and ran away. When he reached home, however, he felt somewhat ashamed of his exploit, and wandered about the neighbourhood and the garden till nightfall, when his grandmother, hearing of his presence, sent the servants for him. This incident is worth men- tioning, as it accounts for many things in Sir James's after- caieer. Then a private tutor was engaged, who appears to have had little success with the wayward lad. On the return of his parents from India, another school was tried, but he would not stay there. Tliis want of regular train- A 2 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. ing was of infinite disadvantage to young Brooke, who thus started in life with little knowledge, and with no idea of self-control. He had been indulged and petted by all around him, as he had a lovable disposition ; but in after- life he had often cause to regret his neglected education, and the imperfect discipline to which he had been sub- jected. He would often endeavour to defend this system of education, and argue that boys should not be thwarted ; and certainly he carried his system into practice with all the lads that came under his control, and certainly also with very markedly bad results. Occasionally a bright lad, like James Brooke, will rise superior to a neglected education, but in the mass the want of culture nmaLtell. In May 1819 he received his first commission, and s oon left for Bengal to join his regimentjbhe 6th Native Infantr}^ In~l822nie became Sub- Assistant Commissary General, a post for which he was totally unfitted. He now began to feel his neglected education, and from that time appears to have devoted himself to reading, and in later life it would have been diflBcult to have met with a better read man. He did not confine himself to one branch, but was familiar with the great works on theology, history, natural history ; and after he entered the diplomatic service he was un* wearied in the study of public law. Had the choice of the branch of the army in which he was to serve been left to himself, he would have chosen the Cavalry; but the Commissariat gave him abundant leisure, and he spent a fair amount of his time in pig-sticking and shooting, and many a story I have heard him tell of his adventures. Sir James was very fond of relating the following inci- dents of a himt in which he was engaged. One day a native brought into camp the news that a huge bear had taken up his quarters in a neighbouring ravine, and a party was made up to go out and attack the monster. *' Seven 8P0KTING ADVENTURES. 3 of US started ; among others, one who was so blind that, without his glasses, he conld not see ten yards. Our guide brought us to the ahnost dried bed of a stream, filled with boulders, and with huge rocks jutting from either bank. Presently he made a sign, and we all mounted on the top of a boulder, and then saw, about fifty yards up the ravine, Bruin lying on the bank. When we came in sight he rose, and seeing retreat cut off by the steep hill, imme- diately rushed at us, and began to clamber up the boulder. He was not ten yards off, and all but the blind man fired their guns at him. Scared by the volley, he turned and fled, when, the glasses being adjusted, the purblind let fly at him, and the bear rolled over, just as he was half-way up the left bank. ' His skin must be spoilt,' said one ' I put two balls into him,' said another. But when they came to examine the body, they foimd but a single shot-hole — all but the purblind had been too flurried to aim correctly." He used to tell this as a warning to us not to engage in dangerous hunts without proper preparation. At another time he went out with his brother to shoot tigers from the back of an elephant. There was a large party, and the beaters reported a fine Bengal tiger to be in the grassy plain before them. The elephants were arranged to advance as a crescent, the two points gradually joining so as to surround the beast.^ Then, with a tre- mendous roar, the tiger arose and sprang upon the neck of his brother's elephant The powerful beast, with one ponderous shake, sent the attacker flying in the air. Again and again the tiger returned to the charge, selecting always the same elephant, but ever with the same result. At one time his brother was in great danger ; but at length an opportunity was given, and young Brooke sent a shot through its brain, and laid the royal beast dead at their feet. 1 Compare with this the Zola formation of which we have lately heard •oiimch. 4 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. James Brooke was full of fun, and one of his pranks had a very useful result. In the encampment there ar- rived a major and his wife — the former a fine -looking, gentleman-like fellow, the picture of good - nature ; the latter a pretty, little, demure woman. After a few days whispers went abroad that this good-natured major was in the habit of beating his wife, and people who went in the evening near to their house could hear the cries of the little woman, and " What a brute you are to use me so ! " The major began to be treated rather coolly by all in the cantonment, but he took no notice. At last Mr Brooke said to a friend — afterwards Colonel Goldney — " I cannot understand Major So-and-so beating his wife; let us go and see." So one evening after sunset these two went down to the bungalow, and, hearing the cries, Brooke mounted on the shoulders of his companion and looked into the window. There he saw the major seated in a chair, good-humouredly defending himself from the blows which the little vixen was aiming at him, while she kept shrieking, " What a brute you are to use me so ! " This was too much for Brooke's gravity : he burst out laughing, jumped down, and they both ran away. The story spread through the cantonment, and whenever the little woman passed she would hear, " What a brute you are to use me so I " till she became so ashamed of the whole afiTair that the cries ceased, and, let us hope, the beatings. It re- minds one of the late Lord Derby's tale — " It pleases she, and it don't hurt I, so I lets her do it." On the breaking out of the Burmese war in 1825, Brooke was sent to join the invading army which was to operate in Assam. His commissary duties did not occupy him much, so he mixed a good deal with all that was going on ; and one day hearing the general in com- mand complain that they had no light cavalry to act as scouts. Lieutenant Brooke immediately oflered to raise a Brooke's horse. troop if he might have his own way. Leave was given him, and he promptly called for volunteers, and his call was responded to by those native infantry soldiers who could ride. He soon had as many as he could mount, and as they were all disciplined men, he had little trouble in drilliiig them into fairly eflScient irregular cavalry. Being \ of an adventu rous ^d dariqg tepap er ^ he used to ride ahead of the advancing column, work round the stockades, send information, and then push on. His force would too often scatter, so that it was generally very late when he returned to camp, but his services were fully appreciated. One day, while the infantry were attacking a stockade, the Buimese were observed collecting in a body in an opening to the left, and Lieutenant Brooke asked per- mission to charge them. Leave being given, he put him- self at the head of his men, and, after a few inspiriting words, dashed on at the enemy. They fired a volley, but as this did not check the cavaby rush, they were be- wildered, and after a brief resistance turned and fled, pursued by Brooke's irregulars until they were entirely dispersed. For this brilliant little affair he was publicly thanked. A few days after, the general in command heard of a strong stockade being in front, and sent out Lieutenant Brooke to reconnoitre, but he was not able to return in time to prevent the advance-guard from falling into a sort of ambuscade. As the foremost company turned a comer in the road, they were received by a voUey which knocked over a number of men. In the midst of the confusion, Brooke came galloping up, and putting himself at the head of the men, charged, and " foremost, fighting, fell." When the aflair was over, and the enemy driven from their stockades, Lieutenant-Colonel Eichards asked after Lieutenant Brooke, whom he had seen fall, and he was reported dead. "Take me to his body," was his reply, 6 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. and they rode to the spot "Poor Brooke!" said the Colonel, getting off his horse to have a last look at him ; and kneeling over him he took his hand. "He is not dead ! *' he cried, and instantly had him carefully removed to camp. Not dead, it was true, but he^hovered for weeks between life and death, as the bullet lodged in one lung could not then be removed. In these long dreary days, too weak to speak, to read, to do anything, he used, he said, to be absorbed in soft melancholy thoughts, and he often longed to be at rest. At last he was considered to be strong enough to be re- moved, but he could not bear the movement of a carriage or a horse^ so he was put into a canoe and gently paddled down the stream. Though other scenes had faded away, that one dwelt upon his memory — the gliding gently down a magnificent river, whose smooth stream carried him swiftly but gently to his destination. He could not speak much, but he could observe, and though in pain, every object he passed seemed to fix itself in his mind's eye. On his arrival in Calcutta, it was soon found that Lieutenant Brooke's only chance of recovery would be from a voyage and a return home. He therefore obtained a long furlough, and a pension for his wound of about £70 a-year, which rendered him, as he said, independent for life. He left for home in August 1825. The voyage, however, and a long furlough, did not re- store him completely, so that his leave had to be extend- ed until four years and a half had passed, and after five years' absence he would cease to be a member of the Ben- gal Army. His first effort to return to India was delayed by shipwreck ; the second was a slow vessel, the Castle Huntley, which brought him to Madras July 18, 1830, just leaving him twelve days to reach Bengal This was not possible in the days of tubs of sailing-vessels, so that he made this his excuse for throwing up the service. The VISIT TO CHINA. 7 &ct was that he had formed many friendships amopg the offioeis of the ship, and t hey had fired his imagmation with liff^rnjTtifTnfrfrf tihfi F.flgtftrn ArfhipfiTmgfr aiid of China, and he determined to have a look at these countries. Among the ofScers were Sir J. Dalrymple Elphinstone, ILP^ Mr James Templer, and Captain Jolly whom sub- sequently I had the pleasure of meeting. James Bcooke did not really- fiare for .the _East India. Company's jemc£^ and in fact was not suited to any post which required steady methodical work, and his position in the Commissariat he particularly disliked. What ap- peared to he a rash act was perhaps the best thing he could have done, for it opened a new career, for which his abilities admirably suited him. Although occasionally inclined to have a light joke about the East India Company's Gk)vemment in India, no one had a greater respect for those grand old oflBcers who f ounded a nd carried on our rule in that country. ' Though formerly of a different opinion, of one thing Brooke lived to be thorou ghly convin ced, and that is, that no Asiati c is fitted to govern a count ry : under European \ guidance, yes — ^but alone^ no. Having thrown up the service, Mr Brooke sailed in the Castle Huntley for^^Ghina» and visited Penang, Malacca, and Singapore, committing enough imprudences in his expeditions at these places to have cut off his career for ever. He escaped, however, with a few attacks of fever, whudi he accounted for by the climate in his letters to his mother.^ In China he had to suffer, as every man of honour suffered, from the sight of the bullying to which the ' English submitted, and had to submit, in order to pre- * Some very interesting letters of this period of his career have been pablished by Miss Jacob in her * Baja of Sar&wak.' (London, Macmillan *Co.: 1876.) y 1 8 LIFE OP SIR JAMES BROOKE. serve their trade ; and this lasted until the first Chinese war taught, or rather ought to have taught, a lesson to that unteachable people. I know of no man of the talent of Sir James Brooke who more enjoyed boyish fun than he did, and during his youth this propensity led him into many a scrape. I am afraid, however, that I do not remember sufficiently well the details of his more than usually madcap exploit, when he and a party entered Canton in disguise. In January 1831 the Castle Huntley was on its way home, and without adventure it safely arrived in England in June. During this voyage Mr Brooke had been form- ing a plan as to his future. No longer in the Company's service, he felt that he must do something, and though formed by nature to shine in the most refined society, yet over-sensitiveness made him shun it. At this time of his nfe James Brooke had every qualification to fit him to take a brilliant social position ; he was handsome, elegant in look as well as in manner, fond of the lighter accomplish- ^ ments of music and poetry, so winning in his ways as to be beloved by all those he met, and full of ability, and with his friends brilliant in talk. Yet in general society / he was reserved, and rarely gave sign of the power that was in him. This over-sensitiveness and shyness, which, though often concealed, were never lost, made him delight in the thought of wild adventure; and his companions being of congenial tastes, a plan was formed that, as soon as money could be found, a schooner was to be bought, and he and his friends were to embark in some wild schemes, which appeared however to them to be full of promise, and even of profit Mr Thomas Brooke, the father, though far from being a clever man, was sensible enough to see the wild side of his son's project, and man of the world enough to understand the folly of his imagin- ing that he could succeed as a trader. m LOVE. 9 Sometimes Mr Brooke thought of going into Parliament, but had not enough money to contest Bath ; for, strange to say, with all his contempt for civilised life^^ he had become an ard ent reformer , not only of ^Parliament but of ^ poor- laws. In fact, he would have dived deep into the causes of national distress, and thought that an earnest inquiry would find a remedy — for every great cause which 9?5M_54z§?ce JifiJiaggifiess^LthfijifiD^^ had always his hearty sygapathy: About this time he passed through that ordeal which \ punishes most men — ^he fell in love, and became engaged. • What were the causes which induced the lady or her femily to break off the engagement I do not know, but it was broken off, and Mr Brooke appeared to look upon it as final ; and he from that time seems to have withdrawn from all female blandishments. He never spoke of it to us, though an occasional allusion made us think that his thoughts often reverted to this episode in his history. I notice in one letter it is stated that this young lady, whose name is given, died shortly afterwards. I have said that at bottom James Brooke was full of ftm ; he delighted in telling us the following story. When mesmerism was occupying the thoughts of most men, and gaining many converts, Mr Brooke and a friend deter- mined to be present at a sdanccy and accordingly went. The mesmeriser, a certain Dr , after a few preliminary experiments, informed the assembled company that there was a woman present so susceptible to the influence of mesmerism that when under it you might place her in any posture, and in that she would remain until he had freed her from its power. Forthwith he called for a woman who, under his influence, did various things, but at length became completely insensible, and was placed in the comer of the room in some fantastic attitude. The lecture went on, but the two young men continued hover- 10 LIF£ OF SI£ JAMES BROOKE. ing about this woman, until one of them 8aid» ** I am sore she is shamming/' They pinched her, but she gave no sign. At length one of them gave her a tap, a strong one, on the top of her heavy bonnet, which, regularly bonnet- ing her, so startled the woman, that she gave a shriek and darted at the offender, who rapidly mixed with the crowd. The whole humbug of the thing was thus so clearly shown that the lecturer was only too glad to escape into another room and allow his audience to disperse. The disappointment occasioned by the breaking off of his marriage engagement made young Brooke the more anxious to be doing something; he therefore began to urge his father to lend him the money necessary to start his schooner schema His father was too sensible a man to encourage him, yet too loving a parent to disappoint him, so the money was found, and the brig Findlay bought, laden with merchandise, and Mr Brooke set^ sail for China with his old friends Kennedy and Harry Wright. Dif- ferent views and different systems of management soon brought about disagreements. Kennedy evidently was a strict disciplinarian — Brooke was lax, and I can readily imagine, interfered with the captain. The end was that the brig and cargo were sold at a loss, and Brooke returned to England. Here he whiled away his time in summer evenings in a little yacht, and later in the year in vig orous fo x- hunting. In the autumn of 1835 his father died, leaving him about £30,000. Within a few months he returned to his project of buying a vessel, but this time there were to be no partners — no one to interfere with and mar his projects. He soon found a yacht — the Boyalist, a vessel of 142 tons burden — which pleased him, and he purchased her. To test the vessel and the crew before entering on any great enterprise, he undertook a voyage to the Mediter- VOYAGE TO SINGAPORE. 11 lanean, and visite d Spain^ Malttt, and the Bosphoros^ enjoy- ing his trip thoroughly, for he had read much concerning those countries, and wished to verify what he had read. He particularly loved to dwell upon his visit to the Alhambra; and in after-years I heard him describing to the Malays, in full detail, this wonder of wonders. Mr Brooke was weU satisfied with his vessel, and in the autumn of 1838 everything was to be ready for his departure to the scene of his hopes, the Eastern Archi- pelago. What were his objects? They were in reality QDcertaia He was lon g in g for adventure— longing to visit wild countries, and see what no-cixiliafid-nian had yet sgen. (Geographical discovery was one of his principal motives, and in search of that he could satisfy the yearn- ing of his soul for the wildest liberty of action. The Boyalist set sail from Devonport in December 1838, and had a prosperous voyage to Singapore, as far as veather was concerned ; but discord set in on board, and, one after the other, the officers were dismissed. The discipline of the vessel was no doubt faulty, but it is an undoubted fact that there could be no discipline in any vessel in which Mr Brooke had sway. He was too kind-hearted,— could never endur e to see men punished, . however guilty they may have been ; too ready to encour- age the escapades of the younger officers by so readily excusing them. But at Singapore new arrangements were made, and everything was soon ready for a voyage of discovery. Atjhat time but a v ery s uperficial knowledge of Borneo existed, even in the best works, and the Admiralty maps were but guess-work. It was known that a Sultan of Brunei existed on the north-west coast, but who he was, and what were his territories, were not known. A kind act towards some shipwrecked seamen on the part of a Bajah Muda Hassim, living at Sarawak, first drew general 12 LEFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. attention in Singapore to this place; and Mr Brooke arriv- ing at this time with a very undefined plan of a voyage of discovery, was requested to convey to this Eajah letters and some presents. Here then was something definite to do, and a good reason for visiting an unknown country. In the next chapter I commence the life of Sir James Brooke in Borneo. 13 CHAPTER L FIRST VISIT TO SARAWAK AND TO CELEBES. 1839-1840. On the 27tli of July 1839 the Royalist sailed from Singapore, and at length Mr Brooke commenced that voyage of exploration on which his heart had long been set, and which was destined to have so great an effect on his future career. The wind was favourable, and in a few days he found himself off the coast of Borneo, where he was received in the true fashion of the country, with rain, thunder, and lightning ; but with the morning sun the clouds dispersed, and he saw before him, in all its beauty, the wondrous island of Borneo. To the world at that moment Borneo was the land of the unknown, — in fewit, the north-east coast had not been visited since the end of the last century, and that portion lying between Sambas and Maludu Bay had scarcely ever been visited by any European. All that was known of it was unpropitious : it was a favourite cruising-groimd of the Lamm and Balagnini pirates ; it was infestied by Dyak savages, who,both pirateg and head-hunters, destroyed the native trade, and rendered life insecure ; and even the Malays were looked upon with some reason as not only lawless but inimical to foreigners. Mr Brooke used to say that, as he leant on the tafifrail, 14 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [cHAP. I. he thought of all this; but he had confidence in his vessel, confidence in his crew, and still more he had that without which there is no success, — he had confidence in himself. After a few days' surveying between the points of Api and Datu, he passed the latter, and then for the first time he saw the territory of Sarawak. The bay that lies between Capes Datu and Sipang is indeed a lovely one. To the right rises the splendid range of Po^, overtopping the lower but equally beautiful Gading hills ; then the fen- tastic-shaped mountains of the interior, including Matang, Singhi, and Paninjow; while to the left the range of Santubong, end on towards you, looks like a solitary peak, rising as an island from the sea, as TenerifTe once appeared to me when sailing by in the Meander. From these hills flow many streams which add to the beauty of the view, from the Lundu with its broad shallow entrance, to the Sarawak river, which emerges into the sea below the lofty peak of Santubong. But the gems of the scene are the lit- tle emerald isles that are scattered over the surface of the bay, presenting their pretty beaches of glistering sand, or their lovely foliage, drooping to kiss the rippling waves ; Talang-Talang, noted for their turtles; Sumpadien and the Satangs, in their wild, new, rich, cocoa-nut groves. u From Talang-Talang came the first Malays whom Mr V Brooke met in Borneo. Their chief, Bandari Daud, was polite, and dressed, as usual with these chiefs, in dark cloth trousers, a dark-green velvet jacket, and a sarong round his waist, thrown gracefully over the handles of two krises which he wore at his girdle. Having con- V ciliated his goodwill by trifling presents and much polite attention, Mr Brooke continued his surveys to the 11th of August, when he set sail and bore away for the mouth of the Sarawak, which he entered without difiiculty, and soon found himself anchored under the peak of Santubong in deep water and in a snug anchorage. 1839.] THE SAEAWAK RIVER. 15 There is no prettier spot : on the right bank rises this splendid peak, over 2000 feet in height, clothed from its summit to its base with noble vegetation, its mag- nificent bnttresses covered with lofty trees showing over 100 feet of stem without a branch, and at its base a broad beach of white sand, fringed by graceful castiariiias, waving and trembling under the influence of the faintest breeze, and at that time thronged by wild hog& From the entrance of the river Mr Brooke despatched a boat to announce his arrival to Bajah Muda Hassim, who, ^ on the following day, sent down some of his chiefs to wel- ^ come the stranger, and invite him to visit his town. The ^ river of Sarawak presents few features of interest after passing the entrance : a low forest of mangroves, whose tangled roots are submerged during every high tide — clus- ters of the humble but useful Nipa palm, or uninterest- ing jungle ; but as you approach the town of Kuching the distant hills become visible, and add variety to the scena On the 15th of August 1839 the Eoyalist reached Ku- ching, and the same mommg Mi^Brooke had^is first in- terview with M uda Hassim . After the usual salutes Mr Brooke landed, and entered a huge shed erected on piles, which, though from the outside of a very rough and unin- viting appearance, was, in the inside, of a somewhat differ- ent aspect Most Malay rulers have one of these reception- halls attached to their houses, differing only in size and ornament according to their wealth and rank. They are built either of wood or of the hard stems of the Nibong palm ; the walls and partitions are of mats, held together by strips of bamboo, while the floors are of the split stem of the same palm, covered with rattan matting. These houses are sometimes ornamented with a few painted boards, or a few hangings of red cloth ; but in general they are very simple, and, when new, very neat Such 16 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [chap. i. reception-halls are necessary to men of rank, as custom does not permit the stranger to enter the dwelling-house. As Mr Brooke was the first foreign gentleman whom Muda Hassim had ever met, he welcomed him in state, surrounded by his chiefs and his thirteen brothers. The Bomeon Eajdis dress on these occasions in a very becom- ing manner, though the jacket too often gives their cos- tume a formal appearance, with its stiff unbending collar, embroidered heavily with gold thread ; but the material is generally rich^-either fine cloth, velvet, or silk; the trousers of the same material, gold-edged ; and the sarong — often of the heaviest gold-cloth, or sometimes of the simple dark plaid so highly prized by the Malays — ^is a manufacture of the Lanun women. This visit of ceremony was soon over ; but Mr Brooke was much struck with the intelligent though plain counte- nance of Muda Hassim, with his elegant and easy man- ners; and on that day-^a^iendshij) was commenced which endured until the tragic death of the Malay pnnce. As their intercourse became more familiar, greater confidence was shown, and Muda Hassim was very anxious to know some details about the Dutch, and, as between England and Holland, " which was the cat and which the rat" In order to understand the following narrative, a few words of explanation are necessary. The Sultan of Bor- neo proper, Omar Ali, was at the period of Mr Brooke's visit the nominal ruler of the coast which extends from Cape Datu to Maludu Bay, though many districts had ceased to obey the central government Sarawak, the most southern province, had been goaded into rebellion by the ill-treatment of Pangeran Makota, the governor of Sarawak; and Muda Hassim, uncle to the Sultan and heir-presumptive to the throne, had been sent down from the capital to restore order. He had hitherto failed in his efforts ; and, on the arrival of Mr Brooke, the insurgents 1889.] FIKST VISIT TO THE DYAKS. 17 were fortified and in force about twenty miles above the town of Kuching. Euching, in the year 1839, was a very small place, and consisted of a few decent mat or wooden houses, erected on piles, surrounded by inferior huts inhabited by the poorer classes. The population was estimated at 1500 ; but these consisted principally of the followers of the Boroeon Eajahs, and people attracted there by the little trade that was lefL The real Sarawak popidation did not consist of above 500. After spending a week in Kuching, Mr Brooke obtained from the Rajah permission to visit some of the Dy_ak txibes ; and his first expedition was up the neighbouring river of Samarahan. As no particular incident occurred dnring this trip, it is not necessary to dwell on its details. Bat on his return from Samarahan, Mr Brooke was en- abled to visit the district I have mentioned, to the west of the bay, lying under the Gkiding hills, and named Lundu, where there then resided a Sibuyow chief, who remained a faithful follower of his until his deatL He was called Sijngah, or the Orang Kaya Tumanggong, and ruled over a small section of his tribe, about fifty families, who had fled fix)m their native country, on the river Sibuyow, to escape the attacks of the piratical Dyaks. However, Mr Brooke found that even here they were not completely safe, as a boom stretched across the river to stop the first rush of enemies' boats, and stockades of a very primitive character, were erected to defend their village. I do not consider it necessary to describe in detail the countries or the tribes visited by Mr Brooke ; but it will add a little completeness to this biography to give a very short general sketch of the Dyaks, as it was among them that so many years of his life were passed. The Dyaks may be divided into two distinct sections — the sea and the land Dyaks — the former using large boats, B 18 LIFE OP SIR JAMES BKOOKE, [chap. I. and firequenting the salt water ; the latter confined at that time to the interior, and seldom venturing within the in- fluence of the tides, or, as they expressed it, to where the rivers ran back towards their sources. The latter were generally a peaceful, timid race ; while the former were divided into piratical and honest tribes, brave, energetic, and generally independent of Malay control. Tunggong, the residence of Sijugah, consisted of a single village-house, about 600 feet in length, built on piles, 12 feet high, with a broad enclosed veranda in fronts and rooms in the rear for the married people. In this broad veranda most of the work is done; and here also are hung the skulls taken in war — ^unsightly trophies of their prowess. This description will apply, more or less, to every sea-Dyak village-house, although they vary in size and finish ; but those of the land Dyaks are of a different form, and much inferior. Sijugah was a quiet little man, modest and reserved, noted for his courage, and surrounded by sons, of whom he had reason to be proud. The Dyaks are a small race, few passing the height of 5 feet 4 inches — in fact they are generally shorter. But they are vety active and enduring, without being athletic ; and although their noses are flat, mouths large, and their eyes small, yet the general expression is not unpleasing, though too often melancholy and subdued. I have mentioned the boom across the river : it had lately been of infinite service to them. A short time before Mr Brooke's arrival, the Orang Kaya had been visiting a village on the sea-shore, in a small but swift war-boat, when, after sunset, on returning up his river, he became aware of the presence of numerous bangkongs, or Dyak war-boats, ahead of him, which were pulling quietly up the stream. He instantly suspected that they were the Seribas, come to surprise his village ; so he ad- vanced cautiously, and as his boat and men could not be 1839.] AN ATTACK FRUSTRATED. 19 distinguished at night, passed in among the enemy, and gradually worked his way to the front. He was not hailed, as no one spoke in the fleet He counted 73 ^?z^- bmgs, which would contain about 2000 men. "When he had clecured the leading boat, his people could not be re- strained : they rose, gave a yell of defiance, and darted off for home. The sound of the paddles and the loud shouts roused the village, the opening in the boom was made ready, and the gallant chief dashed through with his boat, just in time to escape the enemy, who, furious at being thus outwitted, had pulled after him with their swiftest boat& To rush into the little battery that protected the boom was the work of an instant ; and a discharge into the mass of the enemy, who were already trying to sever the fastenings, checked the advance. The sound of guns alarmed the neighbourhood, the few Malays hurried to the defence with their muskets, and the enemy drew ofiT, as, their surprise having failed, they could not risk remain- ing to attack the place in force. This was the sort of life our brave Orang Eaya Tumanggong led. Mr Brooke was exceedingly well received by this tribe, and it ever remained a favourite with him, their loyal chief meriting every confidence. After a sojourn of ten days among these Sibuyows, Mr Brooke returned to Euching, and entered into an unre- strained intercourse with the Eajah Muda Hassim and the other Bomeon chiefs. Malays of high rank are gen- erally very gentleman-like companions, whose manners never offend ; but, as a rule, they are too ignorant to be entertaining, and visits are rarely enlivened by any plea- sant conversation. Muda Hassim, though polished and kind, was no exception to this rule ; but he had near him a chief who quite made up for his shortcomings, and who was one of the most companionable of men. This was Makota^ th e ruler of Sara wak, whose tyranny and mis- 20 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [chap. I. raanagement had brought about that rebellion which pre- vented Mr Brooke from visiting the interior. He could both read and write, was the author of some pieces of poetry, and had also composed several of those poetic sayings called ^niuns^ so popular among the Malays. Makota was a short, stout man, with an ugly but not unpleasant look ; he was cheerful, talkative, ready to con- form to the society in which he found himself, whether that of gentlemen or of rough Durham miners. He was the most talented man I met in Borneo ; but his talents proved of little service to himself or to those who employed him, as he either ruined the country he attempted to ad- minister or drove it into rebellion. Makota now regularly visited the Royalist, partly to talk over the future trade of the country, partly to dis- cover the real object of Mr Brooke's visit to Borneo. It was natural for the Malay chiefs to doubt whether any man would give himself the trouble to make so long a voyage, at so great an expense, merely to explore a country, survey its coasts, and collect specimens of natural history. They expected every moment to hear that Mr Brooke was the agent of the British Government, or at least the chosen envoy of the Governor of Singapore. As the acknowledged clever adviser, Makota was sent on board to worm out the secret, and when he could discover nothing, instead of believing Mr Brooke's assurances that his was a private voyage, he only acknowledged that he had discovered a cleverer diplomatist than himself. However, no jealousy was shown by the Eajahs, and permission was now freely given to their English visitor to go wherever he pleased, and he was pressed to return again to the country, after having filled up provisions in Singapore. Before his departure, however, he visited the river of Sadong to the east of Sarawak, and there made the acquaintance of Sirib Sahib, an Arab adventurer, who 1839.] A RETIRED PIRATE. 21 was afterwards an important actor in many events in which Mr Brooke was concerned Among those whom he also met here was Datu Jembrang, an old Lanun pirate chief, who, having made a small fortune, had retired to spend his days in dignified idleness. He said to Mr Brooke, "I once met your countrymen before." "Where?" " Oh," he answered laughingly, '* not very near. In 1814 I had put into Sambas with a squadron in which we were out cruising, in order to do a little trade with the Sultan of Sambas, when it was announced that the English fleet was off the river preparing to attack. Your ships were too large to come in, so you only could send your boats. Our Lauun squadron offered to aid in the defence, and we drew up in line behind the boom, protected by the bat- teries on shore. On came your boats ; we all opened fire on them, and after a severe action we drove them off. I never saw men fight so gallantly as your countrymen, but they were overmatched." This story was true of our first attack : in the second we took Sambas, but in the mean- time the Lanims had left. Datu Jembrang added : '* The officer who commanded the attack was so humiliated by his defeat that he committed suicide." Mr Brooke had heard during his stay in Borneo of the savage tribe of pirates and head-hunters, the Seribas, but he little imagined that before his departure he should witness a specimen of their handicraft The Eoyalist was lying at the Moratabas entrance of the Sarawak river, and half a mile from a rock, a lovely natural watering-place, where a tiny but pure stream trickles over the surface of the moss-covered stone, in quantity sufficient for a delicious bath, and enough to supply the native shipping. A Malay chief had anchored his boat inshore, waiting the morning ebb-tide to pilot the English vessel out of the river ; it was a dark night, when the watch on board of the Royalist heard loud shouts on 22 LIFE OP SIR JAMES BROOKE. [cHAP. I. shore, " Dyak ! Dyak ! " from a dozen voices. Mr Brooke rushed on deck, guessed immediately that the pirates were attacking the Malays, ordered a blue light to be burnt, a gun to be loaded and fired ; and the boat beiog launched, he sprang into it with a willing crew, and pulled ofF for the rock. The moment the blue light was burned and the gun fired all sounds ceased ; the Dyaks fled, but not before they had severely wounded half the Malays in the pilot-boat The dark night prevented anything being seen, and Mr Brooke could now only bring the wounded on board and place them under the surgeon's care. This circumstance delayed his departure, as he was forced, by the kindness of the messages from Muda Hassim, to return to Kuching in his gig ; and he did so with more pleasure, as it afibrded him an opportunity of seeing something of the interior life of a Malay Kajah. He was received with every hospitality, and, after some delay, served with what was meant to be an English dinner — very good in its way, for Malay cookery is often very tasty — an incident only worthy of being mentioned on account of the conduct of Muda Hassim, who insisted himself on superintending the feast, changing the plates with his own royal hands, uncorking bottles, proud to show his guests how well he could receive them — ^moved in fact by a genuine, hospit- able, kindly feeling, which on similar occasions I have often observed among Malays of every rank. In the evening Mr Brooke returned to the Royalist and set sail for Singapore, where he arrived without an acci- denf.^~~~Tb€riQerchants were delighted with his success, as it promised to open out a new field for their exertions ; but the authorities were not so well pleased, being fearful of occasioning some complications with the Dut]^ap of th^ war would be rendering a 8er?ice to humanity, especially if brought about by treaty. At anyrite, much may be done to ameliorate the condi- tion of the rebels in case of their defeat; for though I cannot, perhaps ought not to, save the lives of the three 32 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [oHAP. II. leaders, yet all the others, I believe, will be forgiven on a slight intercession. At our arrival, too, I stated that if they wished me to remain, no barbarities must be com- mitted, and especially that the women and children must not be fired upon. To counterbalance these motives is the danger, whatever it may amount to, but which does not weigh heavily on my mind. So much for reasons, which, after all, are poor and weak when we determine on doing anything, be it right or be it wrong. If evil befall, I trust the penalty may be on me rather than on my followers.** This reasoning would have been better had the cause of the Bajah Muda Hassim been just and righteous : on the contrary, the Sarawak Malays had been driven j nto re- belUon bythe rapaQily^ cruelty, aod-^xtortioBa^ M^ota, the previous Governor of Sarawak. The province, once comparatively fiourishing, had been reduced to the lowest ebb by his infamous government. Had Muda Hassim really sought the truth he would have learnt it, and then banished Makota for ever from the dominions of the Sultan of Borneo. But such conduct is utterly unknown to Asiatic rulers. The poor are ever in the wrong, and the nobles right. At daylight every one was astir; the stockade was pulled down, hauled to the river, and quickly formed into rafts ; and then every one went to breakfast and to wait for the flood-tida When that came no one was ready. Mr Brooke remonstrated in vain — procrastination was the order of the day ; so that when they did start, the fleet only managed to move some four miles up the river, Makota showing that day an invariable repugnance to approach nearer to Siniawan. However, next morning things went on better; a thick fog hid all movements from the enemy; the rafts were moved up to within a mile of Balidah Fort, the wood landed, and, all working with a will, the jungle was cleared ; piles driven, forming a IMO.] A BORNEON SIEGE. 33 15 yards' square ; the earth was scooped out in the centre, and thrown against the stockade to about 5 feet in height, and a Chinese garrison established in a small house in the centre. There were small watch-towers at each corner, and a few noisy but harmless Chinese swivels were mounted. The Dyaks worked at an outer fence, a sort of cktfDaux-de-frise, and around the whole were planted thousands of ranjows or pointed pieces of bamboo, dan- gerous to naked feet, and inflicting even a nasty wound about the ankles of shod men. In about eight hours the whole work had been finished. Above the fort was a hill which completely command- ed it Mr Brooke mounted to the top to judge of the enemy's position, as their forts and the village of Sinia- waa were visible from thence. The chief among the former was the position of Balidah, a hillock jutting out into the river encompassed by triple stockades, and separ- ated from the mainland by a deep dry ditch. Thousands of rar^ows were planted around the fort, pitfalls with pointed stakes, and every other contrivance of Malay and Dyak ingenuity to prevent their defences from being approached. At a distance these defences seemed insignificant ; but they were not to be contemned, any more than those Burmese stockades against which our soldiers too often ran their heads, despising what appeared but a poor de- fence. The resources of the grand army were not more than sufficient to cope with the enemy's defences; and without the energetic influence of the stranger, the attack- ing forces would have been ignominiously defeated. The army that Muda Hassim had collected was but a motley crowd. In the first place were 200 Chinese under their captain, — fine muscular men, admirable at work but poor at fighting — wretchedly armed with fantastic spears, swords, and shields, a few muskets, and a certain number c 34 LI]p: OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [cHAP. ll. of curious weapons, consisting of long, thin, iron tubes with the bore of a musket, and carrying slugs. " These primitive weapons ^ were each lafinaged by two men, one being the carrier of the ordnance, the other the gunner ; for whilst one holds the tube over his shoulder, the other takes aim, turns away his head, applies his match, and is pleased with the sound." Nothing could better prove the little intercourse that Borneo had held with the outside world, than that so awkward and inefficient a weapon should have held its own to the middle of the nineteenth century. The Malays, who numbered about 250, were the main- stay of the force ; 150 had been sent to occupy the villages of Serambo, while the remainder formed Mdkota's body- guard ; half were armed with muskets, the rest with very serviceable spears and swords. As a defence against the cut of sword or the thrust of spear the Bomeons wear a quilted jacket, which reaches over the hips ; the arms are left bare to give freedom for the use of their weapons ; and although the appearance of such a body of men is at first sight ludicrous, I have not noticed that their dress affected the activity of their movements. To these may be added about 200 Dyaks of the various tribes in the neighbourhood, without muskets, although in other respects armed much like the Malays, and cour- ageous enough when not exposed to the soimd of mus- ketry. The history of this warfare is so curious that it is worthy of being followed in detail, and almost in Mr Brooke's original words. These natives, as a rule, rarely fought in the open, except when in very superior force ; they pre- ferred being sheltered by stockades. When, therefore, Mr Brooke pointed out to them that although the enemy were ^ In the account of the Kashgar Mission, published in the ' Times ' of March 28, 1874, a description is given of a similar weapon stiU in use in that country. 1840.] NIGHT ON THE FIELD. 35 nearly as numeroxis as themselves they were saved the necessity of defending many detached posts and forts on diflferent sides of the river, and that therefore now was the opportunity to assault these in detail, this proposal was hailed as an extreme of rashness, almost amounting to insanity. At a council of war it was subsequently de- cided that advances should be made from the hill behind the stockade to Balidah, by a chain of forts, the distance being a short mile, and that when the proper spot was reached, a battery should be erected, and a bombardment (»)mmenced — with their guns and gunners, likely to be very noisy, but perfectly harmless. During the day there was comparative quiet, interrupted occasionally by the beating of gongs, shouts, and now and then a shot, to give life to the scene. With a spy-glass one could see the detachment of the Bomeon forces, gathered well up the side of the Serambo hill, on a jutting rock called Paninjow, or the " look-out," a spot shaded by mag- nificent palms, and from whence a splendid view of the interior of Sarawak can be obtained. No doubt these Malays were well pleased to see their comrades diverting from themselves the attention of the enemy. At night load shouts and firing from the rebels caused prepara- tions to be made for an attack, but it proved to be nothing but lights moving about the hillside, with what intent was not understood. The jungle on the left bank having been cleared, the enemies' skirmishers kept aloof; but a few spies approached the boats. With this exception no further disturbance took place, though the rebels kept up an incessant beating of gongs, and from time to time fired a few stray shots, whether against an enemy or not was doubtfoL Oct. 25th, — The grand army was lazy, and did not take the field until after the breakfast and the bath, when it moved and took possession of two eminences nearer the 36 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [chap. li. enemy, and commenced forts on each. About 11 A-M. intelligence arrived that the enemy was collecting on the left bank, as they had been heard by the scouts shouting one to another to gather together in order to attack the stockades in the course of building. Mr Brooke there- upon went up to one of the forts, when a universal shout from the rebels and a simultaneous beating of the gongs announced what appeared intended for a general action. But though the shouts continued loud and furious from both sides, and a gun or two was discharged in the air to refresh their courage, the enemy did not attack, and a heavy shower damped the ardour of the approaching armies, and reduced all to inaction. like the heroes of old, however, the advance parties spoke to each other. " We are coming ! we are coming ! " exclaimed the rebels ; *'lay aside your muskets and fight us with swords." " Come on ! " was the reply ; " we are building a stockade, and want to fight you." And so the heroes continued to talk, but forgot to fight, except that the rebels opened a fire from Balidah with swivels, all the shot from which went over the tops of the trees. Peace, or rather rest, having been restored, the Bomeons succeeded in intrenching them- selves, and thus gained a field which had been obstinately assaulted by big words and louder cries. The distance of one fort from Balidah was about 800 yards ; it was manned by sixty Malays, whilst a party of Chinese garrisoned the other. Evening fell upon this innocent warfare. The Bomeons in this manner contend with vociferous shouts, and, preceding each shout, the leader of the party offers up a prayer aloud to the Almighty, the response being made by the soldiery, "Allah ! Allah Urk hu ! " The besiegers kept up firing and holloaing till midnight to disguise the advance of a party that was to seize an eminence and build a stockade within a shorter distance of Balidah. When they reached the spot, however, the night being dark. 1840.] PROGRESS OF THE SIEGE. 37 the troops sleepy, and the leaders of diflferent opinions, they returned without eCTecting anything. 26tt. — ^The advance of the party during the night was, as has been said, disguised by firing, drumming, and shouting from the fleet and forts ; and in the deep stillness of the fine night the booming of the guns, the clangour of the gongs, and the outcries raised from time to time, fell on the ear like the spirit of discord breaking loose on a fair and peaceful paradisa About 6 A.M. Mr Brooke visited the three forts. The Chinese, Malays, and Dyaks were taking their morning meal, consisting of half a cocoa- nut-sheU-fuU of boiled rice, with salt. The Dyaks were senred in tribes ; for as many of them were then at war among themselves, it was necessary to keep them separate, and though they would not fight the enemy, they would have had no objection to fall out with one another, and the slightest cause might have given rise to an instant renewal of intertribal hostilities. About 9 A.M. a party proceeded to the elevation previously marked out within 300 yards of BaUdah, and worked quickly till 2 p.m., by which time they had made considerable progress ; and being then reinforced, they soon finished this new stockade, with a strong face towards their adversaries, and an outer fence. This erection, however, being below the brow of the hill, was useless as a post whence to assault Balidah, but was meant to cover the working party that was prepar- ing to erect another on the summit, from whence the rebel fort could be bombarded. The enemy, discovering at length the Bomeon advance, opened fire for about half an hour, but finding it ineffectual, they sank into their usual apathy. The fact was that, deserted by their Dyak allies, the Sarawak Malays were unable to skirmish effectively in the woods, and hands were wanting to oppose stockade to stockada The Borneons by their successful advances 38 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [chap. n. appeared to gain confidence. To encourage them, and to make the issue favourable, Mr Brooke sent for two six- pounder carronades, together with a small addition to his European force. Surprised at the little enterprise shown by the Sarawak Malays, Mr Brooke asked Makota about the progress of his former campaign, when he had 1000 Malays and only a few Dyaks. He represented the enemy as active and daring then, very different from the want of spirit they showed during this campaign. He declsured with an animated voice that they had had combats by sea and combats by land ; stockade was opposed to stockade, and the fightiE^ was constant and severe, but he never lost a man killed during the whole time, and only boasted of having killed five of the enemy. I have often heard him myself dwell on this theme, though very unwilling to touch on his subsequent career. 27th. — ^The night passed quietly, as usual. About 6 A.M. Mr Brooke started for the hills, and inspected each fort in turn. They were about commencing the fort previously referred to from which Balidah was to be bombarded; but while Mr Brooke was reconnoitring it, he was perceived by the enemy, who immediately opened fire upon the party. They shot wretchedly ill ; but under cover of the smoke about thirty or forty men crept out and advanced stealthily to interrupt the work. The Ma- lays, however, received them steadily, whilst the Chinese in the other fort placed them between two fires, and by a discharge from one of their famous tubes knocked down one man, the only one who had as yet fallen during these attacks. The enemy showed anxiety to possess themselves of their comrade, whilst the opposite party shouted, " Cut off his head ! " But he was carried off, and the enemy, when they had saved his body, fled in all directions. Some fierce alarms were given of an attack 1840.] PANGERAN USMAN's SPEECH. 39 bj water, but they came to nothing, though both sides kept up a desultory firing until evening. 28th. — ^The stockade was completed during the night with ranjows stuck round the outer defence : it was admirably situated for battering the opposing fort. During that day about 150 of the Sow and Singhi Dyaks joined, increasing the working portion of the army to about 500. Most of these men showed all the charac- teristics of a wild people, — never openly resisting their masters, but so obstinate that they nearly always got their own way, opposing threats and entreaties by a determined and immovable silence. On the 29th the English guns arrived, but it was not till the 31st that they were dragged up to the fort When once in position, however, they soon silenced the fire of the enemy, and struck down the stockade in such a way that a breach was opened by which several men could enter abreast Seeing the eCTect of the fire, Mr Brooke proposed to Makota to storm the place with 150 Chinese and Malays, as the way from one fort to the other was protected. The enemy dared not show them- selves on account of the showers of grape and canister, and nothing would have been easier than to take the place by storm; but Mr Brooke's proposition caused a commotion which it was difficult to forget, and still more difficult to describe. The Chinese consented, and Makota, the commander-in-chie^ was apparently willing, but his in- feriors were backward, and there arose a discussion which showed the violence of Malay passions, and their infuriated madness when once roused This scene let Mr Brooke describe in his own words. "Pangeran XJsman urged with energy the advantage of the proposal, and in the course of a speech lashed himself to a state of fury : he jumped to his feet, and with demoniac gestures stamped round and round, dancing a war-dance after the most ap- 40 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [cHAP. n. proved fashion. His countenance grew livid, his eyes glared, his features were inflamed, and, for my part, not being able to interpret the torrent of his oratory, I thought the man possessed of a devil, or about to *run amuck ;'^ but after a minute or two of this dance he resumed his seat, furious and panting, but sQent In reply, Subtu urged some objections to my plan, which, however, was warmly supported by Illudin, who apparently hurt Subtu's feel- ings, for the indolent placid Subtu leapt from his s^it, seized his spear, and marched to the entrance of the stock- ade with his passions and his pride despemtely aroused. I never saw finer action than when, with spear in hand, pointing to the enemy's fort, he challenged any one to rush on with him. Usman and Sirudeen, the bravest of the brave, like madmen seized their swords to inflame the courage of the rest : it was a scene of fiends : but in vain, — for though they appeared ready enough to quarrel and fight among themselves, there was no move to attack the enemy. All was confusion ; the demon of discord and madness was among them, and I was glad to see them cool down, when the dissentients to the assault proposed making a road to-night, and attacking to-morrow. In the meantime our six-pounders were ready in battery, and it is certain that the assailants might walk nearly to the fort without any of the rebels daring to show themselves in opposition to our fire." Pangeran Usman was really a brave man, and in 1854 I saw him perform an action worthy of the Victoria Cross. To this I shall have to refer at the proper moment November \st, — ^The guns were ready to open their fiery mouths, and their masters ready to attend on them, but both had to wait till mid-day, when the chiefs of the grand army, having sufficiently slept, breakfasted, and bathed, lounged up with their straggling followers. The ^ In Malay, amok. \ \ 1840.]. MR BROOKE RETURNS TO KUCHING. 41 instant the main division and headquarters of the army arrived at the battery, Mr Brooke renewed his proposal for an assault, which was variously received. If the Malays would go the Chinese agreed to fight, but the Malays had grown colder and colder. In order to encourage them, Mr Brooke opened fire on the rebel fort to show the effect of his guns ; and having got a good range, every ball, as well as grape and canister, rattled against and through the wood. Air Brooke then urged them again and again, but in vain. The coward chief displayed that dogged resolution which is invincible, an invincible resolution to do noth- iog ; and the cold dumb looks of the others at once told the amount of their bravery. A council of war was called; grave faces covered timid hearts and fainting spirits. The Chinese contended, with justice, that in fairness they could not be expected to assault unless the Malays did the same. However, the latter would do nothing, and one of the chiefs delivered himself of a wise harangue to the effect that, "during the last campaign, when they had a fort, how had the enemy fired them, stabbed them, speared them ? — and without a fort assault- ing them ! how could it be expected they should succeed ? how unreasonable that they should go at all!" But even his stolid head seemed to comprehend the sarcasm, when Mr Brooke asked him how many men had been killed during all this severe fighting. After waiting a couple of days, and finding that there was no serious intention to do anything, Mr Brooke saw that it was useless for him to stay further with the army, and therefore intimated his resolve to return to his ship. This caused the deepest surprise and vexation; but Mr Brooke was firm, and having embarked his guns and followers, he started for Kuching. His arrival was greatly felt by the Eajah Muda Hassim, as he now saw that the leader on' whose assistance he had placed the greatest 42 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [chap. U. reliance was about to leave him. He begged and prayed him to remedn, but Mr Brooke fully explained to him the situation of affsdrs, the uselessness of his stopping with the army as long as the present system of procrasti- nation was allowed, — that, in fact, he saw no end ,to this devastating civil war under Makota's management Muda Hetssim was deeply moved by the thought of the dis- grace that would attach to him should he fail in putting down the rebels : he knew that the prestige he had acquired by having a white ally was one of the reasons why other aid was coming in. He therefore again begged and entreated Mr Brooke not to desert him, and o ffered him at last the government of the province of Sarawa k iTTiVwould stay and aid him to su ppress the insurgen ts. For the moment Mr Brooke declined to accept the grant, as he knew that it would be impossible for him to govern the country unless he had the Rajah's undoubted and spontemeous support. He remained at Kuching about a month, in daily communication with the Malay chief, and believing at length that the latter was really sincere and showed signs of true friendship, Mr Brooke no longer refused to return to Siniawan, particularly as Pangeran Bedrudin, Muda Hassim's favourite brother, was now with the army, and he was reported to be as brave as he was undoubtedly intelligent. Having prepared everything, Mr Brooke again started for the interior at the head of his sixteen gallant fol- lowers, with his guns and ammunition, and soon found himself with the grand army. The guns were mounted in their old positions, and everything was made ready for serious work. Mr Brooke found that during his absence nothing had been dona The Borneons were in a state of torpor, eat- ing, drinking, bathing, and walking up to the forts daily ; but having built those imposing structures, and their 1840.] MAKOTa's subterfuges. 43 appearance not having driven the enemy away, they were at a loss what to do next, or how to proceed. On Mr Brooke's arrival he renewed his proposal to assault Balidah under cover of the fire of his guns. As Bedrudin warmly seconded the proposal, Makota was forced to express his assent, and the assaulting party was arranged as follows : Mr Brooke and ten of his men to lead, the rest of the Europeans to remain in the battery to serve the guns ; Bedrudin, Makota, and all their chiefs and warriors were to attack by one path, while the Chinese were to push on by another. The Dyaks in the mean- time were to remove the obstructions that might delay die advance. At 8 A.M. the next morning Mr Brooke and his followers were in the battery, and at ten they opened fire and kept it up for an hour. The effect was severe : every shot told upon the thin defences of wood, which fell in many places, leaving practicable storming-breaches. Part of the roof was cut away and tumbled down, and the shower of grape and canister rattled so as to prevent the enemy from re- taming the fire except from a stray rifle. At mid-day the main forces came up to the fort, and it was then discovered that Makota had neglected to make a road, because it had rained during the night ! It was evident that the rebels had gained intelligence of the projected assault, as they had erected a chevatuode-frise of bamboo along their defences on the very spot that the besi^ers had agreed to mount Makota fancied that the want of a road would delay the attack ; but Mr Brooke knew well that delay was equivalent to failure, and so it was at once agreed that all should advance without any path. The poor man's cunning and resources were now appa- lently nearly at an end, but he proved equal to the occa- sion. He could not refuse to accompany the assaulting party, but his courage could not be brought to the point. 44 LIFE OP SIR JAMES BROOKE. [oHAP. n. and pale and embarrassed he returned. Everything was ready, Bedrudin, the Capitan China, and Mr Brooke were at the head of the men, when Makota once more appeared, and raised a point of etiquette which answered his pur- posa He represented to Bedrudin that the Malays were unanimously of opinion that the Eajah's brother could not expose himself in an assault ; that their dread of the Rajah's indignation far exceeded their dread of death ; and in case any accident happened to him, his brother's fury would fall on them. They stated their readiness to assault the place, but in case Bedrudin insisted on leading in person, they must decline accompanying him. Bedrudin was angry, all were angry, but anger was un- availing: it was clear that they did not intend to do anything in earnest, and after much discussion, in which Bedrudin insisted that if Mr Brooke went he would go likewise, and the Malays insisted that if he went they would not go, it was resolved that the English should serve the guns, whilst the Malays and Chinese should proceed to the assault. But Makota had gained his object, for neither he nor Subtu thought of exposing himself to a single shot. The artillery opened and was beautifully served, only three rifles answering from the fort Two- thirds of the way the storming-party proceeded without the enemy being aware of their advance, and they might have reached the very foot of the hill without being dis- covered had not one of the Malay chiefs, from excess of piety and rashness, or rather cowardice, began most loudly to say his prayers. The three rifles commenced then to play on them : one Chinaman was killed ; the whole party halted; the prayers were more vehement than ever ; and after squatting under cover of the jungles for some time, they all returned. In this afiair one of the Englishmen was wounded. As Mr Brooke and his men could not leave the battery. ^ w 1840.] A BATTLE AT LAST. 45 they had a house erected near it. It was a rough affair, about 20 feet long, with a loose floor of reeds and a roof of palm-leaf mats. After a time different attempts at theft induced Mr Brooke to have it fenced in, and divided into apartments: one at the end was used by Mr Brooke and his oflBcers and servants, while the centre served as a store and a hospital, and in the room at the other end were the seamen. The unevenness of the reed floor was so uncomfortable, that at length they had it covered with the bark of trees, and then it appeared quite a luxurious abode. Days and days were now wasted in building useless stockades, but at length it was resolved to push on to Sekundis, a spot from which the enemy would be out- flanked, and the command of the upper reach of the river secured. It was a most important position, as, if once properly protected, the Sarawak Malays would be deprived of the means of receiving any supplies or succour from the interior, cutting off as it did the most facile route to Sambas, whose chiefs, as I have said, were accused of aiding the insurrection by many underhand means. Now took place the only battle, if such it can be called, of the whole war. The Sarawak Malays, seeing the danger that menaced them, crossed the river with a small force and endeavoured to drive the besiegers from the stockade they were erecting. They advanced firing, and had nearly succeeded in their endeavour when intelligence was brought to Mr Brooke of the danger of his allies, among whom was the old Orang Kaya of Lundu. Against the warnings and remonstrances of Makota, Mr Brooke started with his own men, and crossing the intervening jangle to an open field, saw the enemy advancing close to the incomplete stockade. He instantly charged across the open with his dozen Europeans, his faithful Malay boatman Subu, and an ally, a brave Lanun, called Si Tundo. The 46 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [oHAP. H. effect was immediate : surprised by a manoeuvre to which they were unaccustomed, as charging is not known in their warfare, the enemy turned and fled, throwing away arms and ammunition, and, jumping into their canoes, they escaped eu^ross the river. This bloodless victory raised the influence of Mr Brooke above that of all pres- ent: though no one was killed, the daring shown was equally admired, and from that time forward the better class of natives began to look upon Mr Brooke as their leader. They compared his prompt and energetic con- duct with that of Makota and his followers, who arrived when all danger was over, and loudly s«mg their own praises. But from this time forward the bravest leaders of the grand army stuck to the English, and this in- creased the influence of Mr Brooke in all the subsequent operations. From this time forward, however, the resistance of the enemy became weaker, and they gradually abandoned their upper forts on the left-hand bank, though they still held possession of the strong fort of Balidah on the same side. During these skirmishes there arrived on the scene of action Sirib JafiQr and a party of warlike Dyaks from Lingga, and the chief soon informed Mr Brooke that the Siniawan Malays were anxious to yield, stipulating only that their lives should be spared. These Sherifs, or Siribs, as the Malays pronounce the word, are for the most part descendants of Arab adventurers who formerly settled on the coast, and who, giving themselves out as of the lineage of the Prophet, were enabled to marry well, and acquire an influential position in the country. Their influence, how- ever, was generally for evil. Their religious position led them to despise the infidel, and then greed induced them to encourage piracy and warlike expeditions in order to obtain slaves and plunder. On Mr Brooke's arrival in the IMO.] AN ENVOY FROM THE REBELS. 47 country, there were two or three of these Arabs exercising a certain influence in every district ; in some they gov- erned almost unquestioned. Sirib Jaffir was well acquainted with a Sirib Moksain, then with the Siniawan Malays, and by this means was soon enabled to arrange an interview between his friend and Mr Brooke. All parties present had agreed to this step being taken, but the whole affair was nearly spoiled by the meditated treachery of a Bomeon noble, who pro- posed that they should seize the envoy ; but on this being repeated in Mr Brooke's hearing he sprang to his feet, and drawing his pistol, declared he would shoot dead any man who dared to seize, or even to propose to seize, an envoy who had trusted himself to his honour. The scoundrel slunk away, and no more was seen of him. The place of meeting was arranged to be at Pangeran Dludin's fort, at Sekundis, and thither were collected Mr Brooke and his party, Sirib Jaffir and his warlike Dyaks, some Chinese, and a large crowd of armed Malays. I have often heard both Mr Brooke and Sirib Moksain describe this interview. The Sirib was a small man, perfectly polite in manner, and of good intelligence. He bad travelled, and had seen something of Europeans at Singapore, and at the Dutch possessions of Sambas and Pontianak, and therefore knew that the word of a white man was to be relied on. He, however, felt somewhat nervous when, landing from his boat on a dark night, he found himself surrounded by armed enemies, among whom be could distinguish some of the most treacherous of the Bomeons ; but he showed no sign of fear, and soon found bimself in the presence of the white stranger. He then explained his mission, which was that Mr Brooke should give his word that the lives of all should be respected. Tbis Mr Brooke was not authorised to do. During the whole interview the bearing of the envoy was firm, and 48 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [cHAP. IT. the only sign of uneasiness, as Mr Brooke remarked, was the quick glance of his eye from side to side. Though this first interview was not completely success- ful it led to others, and at last the insurgents surrendered at discretion, gave up the fort of Balidah, and destroyed their stockades, under Mr Brooke's guarantee that they should not be plundered or ill-treated until the pleasure of the Bajah Muda Hassim was known. Then came Mr Brooke's great difficulty — the greater from his being imperfectly €tc- quainted with the causes of the rising — to save the lives of the chiefs of the insurgents, which he was fully con- vinced Muda Hassim intended to take. For this pur- pose he went down to Kuching, and begged as a favour to himself that the Eajah should pardon them. To this the Malay prince would by no means consent. He urged that their lives were justly forfeited, and that they must pay the penalty of their rebellion. To this Mr Brooke could only reply that he had taken part in the war, and aided to bring it to a successful conclusion, under the full con- viction that the Sajah would exercise clemency ; but as he refused this favour to himself, he could not help doubt- ing the sincerity of his friendship, and that therefore he bade him farewell. On this the Eajah yielded. Throughout the interview Mr Brooke was oppressed by the conviction that the leaders had justly forfeited their lives ; whereas, had he known the truth — to what oppression the people had been subjected before they rose in arms — he would rather have demanded the punishment of Makota, who was the cause of all the evils that had occurred. Thus ended the civil war. The SarayraL-MilsJss^r- rendered their arms, ammunition, and propertyjaS3~~the chiefs gave their wives and families as hostages. Sinia- wan was now abandoned, the inhabitants were dispersed, the chiefs had fled, the army was disbanded; and the 1840.] END OP THE WAR. 49 Chinese, finding themselves alone at Siniawan, destroyed the Malay houses, and built a village for themselves in the neighbourhood. The civil war in Sarawak is now looked upon by the Malays as one of the most noteworthy incidents in the history of their province ; and as it jwas, Jhfi_indirect means effacing, them unde r EqgU sh rulgj it is j^erhaps the most im portant event m their local hist ory. D 50 CHAPTER III WRETCHED STATE OF THE COUNTRT — BROOKE ASSUMES THE GOVERNMENT OP SARAWAK. 1840-1843. After these warlike operations there followed a period of comparative peace, during which Mr Brooke could look around and study the true position of the country. Tg^ those who are accustomed only to thejnegulwjaarch of alaii^ under European"TJovernments, it is^ difficult to convey' an idea of what passes in countries so far re- moved from civnisation as Sarawak. SaSwak was a dependency of the Sultan of Brunei, inhabited by Malays and Dyaks, and a few nobles from the capital The gov- ernor was appointed by the Sultan, and Pangeran Makota had, before the commencement of the civil war, been nom- inated to the post. Under him were three Malay chiefs, — two who had charge of the Dyaks in the interior, called the Datus Patinggi and Bandar ; the third, the Tumang- gong, looked after the coasts, the mouths of rivers, the fisheries, and the villages on the sea-shore, and ruled those Dyak tribes established on the streams which ran into the sea between Cape Datu and the river Lundu. The laws and usages of Borneo strictly defined the rel- ative duties of these difierent authorities ; but Pangeran Makota was no respecter of either laws or traditions, and immediately endeavoured to get all power into his iwo.] makota's MISGOVERNMENT. 51 own hands. Uufortunately for the inhabitants, a bright mineral was discovered, which was at first mistaken for silver, but which was in reality antimony, and would fetch a fair price in the British settlement of Singapore. Makota thereupon set every one to work for it on whom he could lay hands. Malays, Dyaks, and Chinese were pressed into his service, and shiploads were soon pro- cured; but Makota did not choose to remember that workmen must eat to live, and the price he paid for the ore was so small that it was impossible for the people to obtain sufficient food. The natural consequence was that the mines were deserted, and force had to be employed to induce the people to return to their work. The next manoeuvre of Makota to obtain money was founded on a custom of the country, though doubtless a gross abuse. This is the aerra dagang or forced trade. A Malay Rajah will send to a tribe specially under his con- trol a certain amount of salt, iron, and cloths, which the Dyaks are expected to take at a fixed price — generally a veTy exorbitant one. When this is purchased the tribe is free to trade with whom it pleases. The Rajah's followers generally stick a spear in front of the Dyak chiefs house, to show that the Rajah's trade is still going on ; or if a narrow river leads to the village, a string is drawn across it, with the flowers of a palm attached to it, as a sign that no one is to pass. Any one trading with the tribe until these signs are removed is liable to a severe fine. In Sarawak the Malay chiefs had almost similar privil^es to the Rajahs, and exercised them with some severity, but seldom with enough to induce resistance. On Makota's arrival, however, all this was changed. Not content with one serra, he would keep his followers thus engaged all the year round ; and as he was followed by a number of the greatest scoundrels in Borneo, they worried the people on their own account quite as much 52 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [cHAP. III. as they did for their master. When the rice and other commodities of the Dyaks were exhausted, they seized on the best-looking girls and the most likely lads, and carried them off as slaves ; and whenever the tribes murmured, they were threatened with an attack of the sea Dyaks, the piratical tribes of Seribas and Sakarang, always ready to come at any one's call, so that heads and plunder could be promised. The poorer Malays fared as ill as the Dyaks : they were lent a few dollars' worth of goods at heavy interest — ^ten or twelve, even fifty per cent per month. This soon accumu- lated to a formidable sum, and as they could never pay, they and their families were seized as slave-debtors, and had to work for their masters, and were too often treated as real slaves and sold out of the country. This oppression, pushed to its utmost limits, at length exhausted the patience of one Dyak tribe, the Sows, and they refused to give up the rent of their rice or to permit their women and children to be taken. This resistance was of evil omen, and had to be suppressed at once ; so the sea Dyaks were called in, and 3000 wUd savages, under the guidance of Sirib Sahib of Sadong, were let loose on the country. They surprised the villages of the Sow tribe, killed about thirty of the men, and carried off upwards of two hundred women and children. As one of the Sows feelingly said to Mr Brooke : " You might, sir, a few years ago, have sought in this river and not found a happier tribe than ours. Our children were collected, we had rice in plenty, and numerous fruit-trees; our hogs and fowls were in abundance : we could afford to give what was demanded of us, and yet live happily. Now we have nothing left. The Sadong people and the Sakarang Dyaks attacked us ; they burned our houses, destroyed our prop- erty, cut down our fruit-trees, killed many of our people, and led away our wives and young children into slavery. mo.] PROSPECTS OF SARAWAK. 53 We could build other houses ; we could plant fruit-trees and cultivate rice; but where can we find wives ? Can we foi^get our young children?" Though premature, let me state here that Mr Brooke did ultimately force Sirib Sahib and his followers to return about two hundred women and children they had captured from the Sow Dyaks. Such acts as these at length aroused all to resistance : the Sarawak Malays and Dyaks combined to expel Makota from the country, but he found allies in the neighbouring provinces, with whose assistance he held his own. At length Muda Hassim was sent down from the capital to put an end to the civil war, but he could do little or nothing except add to the misery of the country. The opportune arrival and assistance of Mr Brooke saved him, and put an end to the insurrection. But pestilence and comparative famine then desolated the land, and reduced the remnant of the people to a fearful state of poverty. Half at least of the inhabitants had fled from the coimtry — many of the Dyak tribes having crossed the frontier and entered Sambas, while the Malays were dispersed through all the surrounding districts. There was no trade, the antimony was scarcely worked, little rice was culti- vated, — in fact the task of governing and regenerating the people appeared wellnigh hopeless. Mr Brooke thought over these things, and often felt inclined to continue his voyage of geographical discovery, and leave Sarawak to its fate. He reasoned that, with his very limited means, he could scarcely do much good, that he was surrounded by enemies, that Makota would nat- urally oppose all his measures and endeavour to ruin him, that he was only supported in a lukewarm fashion by Muda Hassim ; and he had yet to discover what reliance he could pleu^e on the support of his late opponents, the ilalays of Siniawan. However, he was not dismayed: he first of all deter- 54 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [chap. UI. mined to connect Sarawak with Singapore, and therefore proceeded to the latter place in the Eoyalist and pur- chased a schooner, the Swift, to carry on trade between the two places. He loaded his two vessels with an assorted cargo, and returned to Kuching. The first step taken by Mr Brooke showed how totally unfit he was to fill his new character as a trader. The Eajah Muda Hassim, on hearing of the arrival of the cargoeS) promised to load the two vessels with antimony ore in exchange, and Mr Brooke permitted him to take all his goods without being assured that any antimony ore was ready, or even that any one was engaged in procuring it. Mr Brooke treated Muda Hassim as a gentleman, whose word was sacred, forgetting that though he might be of good faith at the time, there were others who were deeply interested in Mr Brooke's never obtain- ing payment for his goods. He soon found that where before there had been zeal, now there was lukewarmness : no one talked of the return cargo, nor was any mention made of the promise to hand over the government of the country to the Englishman. Mr Brooke waited with patience, but finding months elapse, he determined to send away the Swift to Singapore with the few tons of antimony that he had been enabled to collect, and to start the Eoyalist for Borneo Proper to endeavour to relieve the crew of a shipwrecked English vessel that was detained there in confinement by the Sultan. He, with three followers, stayed behind in a sort of native house that Muda Hassim had built for him, and continued to urge on the Malay prince the necessity of paying for the goods which he had received. Mr Brooke had also many other causes of anxiety. His two vessels were gone to sea, and he knew that they would have to run the gauntlet of the pirate fleets which were cruising outside. One of these squadrons which had visited 1840.] A DYAK EXPEDITION STOPPED. 55 Eaching during the previous mouth consisted of eighteen vessels, well anned with guns, swivels, and musketry, and manned by at least 500 fighting men, and an equal num- ber of rowers. The pirates were principally brave Lanuns, whose prowess is well known to all frequenters of the Eastern seas. Other pirates were also ofT the coasts, less formidable to European vessels, but, if possible, more destructive to native trade, and these were the Sakarang and Seribas Dyaks, led by the warlike Malays of those districts. Be- fore the sailing of the Boyalist, above a hundred of their long swift bangkongs, or native war -boats, had ascended the river — nomincdly to pay their respects to the Bajah, but really to obtain permission to attack an inland Dyak tribe living on the borders of Sambas. Although Muda Hassim knew perfectly well that these men would respect neither the lives nor the property of his own Dyaks, he gave them leave to proceed up the river to attack the tribe in question. All the land Dyaks and Chinese were in fearful alarm, knowing what was in store for them, as all heads are good that come in the way of the Dyak on the war-path. Fortunately Mr Brooke was warned, and by energetic remonstrances forced the Bajah to give the order for their immediate return, which they did sulkily, and with an evident intention to try their strength with the white power that had interfered with their raid. But the signs of complete preparation induced them to waive their intention : they soon fell down the river, and disappeared for the time. This action of Mr Brooke raised his fame among the people, and they now began to put their trust in him, and the belief soon grew general that he could and would beMend them. The conduct of Muda Hassim on this occasion was another proof of the incapacity of the Malay princes to rule that or any other country; and was, in fact, but an in- 56 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [chap. III. stance of what is constantly done by other Sajahs in those countries in which they have influence. This particular raid, however, had been organised with a deeper motive than mere plunder. All the descendants of the Arab adventurers who infest the coasts of Borneo have an in- stinctive feeling that where the white man gains influence their power declines. Makota also felt that Mr Brooke was more considered and consulted by the Borneon prince than he was, and that should Mr Brooke be installed as governor of the province, farewell to his own power. He therefore entered into a plot with the Arab Sirib of Sadong, and it was agreed between them that the latter should collect a large force of piratical Dyaks, while the former obtained the necessary permission from Muda Hassini that the Dyaks might ascend the river to attack an in- terior tribe. The bribe offered was a large share of the slaves taken, and a proportionate amount of the valuable plunder. As the Bajahs were interested in the business, all having to receive shares, there was no one found near the ruler to counsel him not to commit so great an infamy. Makota thought that if once the Dyak force were in the interior, Mr Brooke's authority would decline among the Sarawak Dyaks and Malays, and also among the indus- trious Chinese, as it would be a proof of his want of both power and influence to protect them. He also reasoned that Mr Brooke, disgusted by the breach of faith shown by Muda Hassim, would sail away and leave the Malays to themselves, when his own influence would be again su- preme. But the event had a contrary effect. Mr Brooke was kept in a state of constant uneasiness by the prolonged absence of his vessels, particularly as he knew that large fleets of pirates were cruising outside. At length the Swift and the Eoyalist arrived, but the latter did not bring the shipwrecked crew, as the Sultan had refused to deliver them up; but immediately after, the HE.L Company's 1841.] BROOKE OBTAINS THE GOVERNMENT. 57 steamer Diana arrived, and finding that the Eoyalist had not succeeded in obtaining the captives, steamed off to Brunei The Sultan was thoroughly frightened when he saw the ** fire-ship" advance into the midst of his town, and hastily surrendered his captives. The visit of the Diana greatly strengthened Mr Brooke's hands. Makota, how- ever, continued his evil ways : he plundered the Dyaks to their little children and slaves, and, under threats of fine and imprisonment, he prevented the natives from visiting Mr Brooke, for fear that they should complain of their ill- treatment. He also continued his intrigues with the Sultan of Sambas, in order to retard the pacification of the country, fearing that Muda Hassim would then fulfil his promise to Mr Brooke, and return himself to the capital. At length a robbery and attempted murder, by some of Ma- kota's followers, brought things to a crisis. Mr Brooke determined that a settlement should be made, one way or the other ; and therefore he armed his vessels, landed his crew, and marched to the palace, where he explained to the Malay prince the treachery and crimes of Makota. Mr Brooke soon found that he might count upon sufiScient support The Siniawan Malays sent and offered their assistance, while none but a few of his immediate slaves rallied round Makota. As Mr Brooke says, " After this demonstration, affairs moved cheerily to a conclusion. The Bajah was active in settling; the agreement was drawn out, sealed, and signed ; guns fired, flags waved ; and,^n the 24th September 1841, 1 became the governor of Sarawa k with the fullest power s.*' One thing, however, Muda Massim completely forgot to do, and that was, to pay for the cargoes. The acceptance of the government of Sarawak was in- deed a venturesome step. We are so accustomed to hear of the riches of the isles of the Eastern seas, that many imagine we have but to step in to reap a rich reward. / .:.A ' N 58 LIFE OP SIR JAMES BROOKE. [chap. III. But the fact is, that the riches spoken of have to be de- veloped or created ; that, though the soil of Sarawak will bear most tropical productions, it did not then yield any- thing in a commercial sense — and even now, almost forty years after, it produces very little but the natural resources of the forest, minerals of course excepted. Capital and an intelligent government are necessary to develop a country; and these necessities Sarawak has not had to the extent one might have expected. When Mr Brooke took over the government of Sarawak, the Dyaks did not cultivate sufficient for their own sus- tenance; the Malays were dispersed, and picked up a pre- carious living by fishing, and by the produce of a few small gardens; two or three hundred Chinese were washing for gold and working antimony on a small scale. From what sources, then, were revenues to be raised ? Mr Brooke's faith in the future was all he had to supp ort him iif these Trials. Mr Brooke's tliree chief objects in assuming the govern- ment of the country were : to obtain the women and chil- dren of the Siniawan Malays, whom Bajah Muda Hassim still held as hostages ; to collect together again the old Malay population ; and, thirdly, to conciliate the Dyaks. In the first he fairly succeeded, though he could not obtain all the women, as the Bajah's brothers having honoured them with their notice, they could not be permitted to leave their harema However, all but ten were returned to their families. Makota, after the conclusion of the civil war, had made every effort to collect the Siniawan Malays together ; but he was too little trusted to succeed. He might force some families to establish themselves in the town, but in a few days they or others disappeared, so that his efforts had but little success. Mr Brooke, however, gave out that the Malays were free to come or go as they pleased — ^to live 1841.] CONSOLIDATING THE GOVERNMENT. 59 at Enching or elsewhere, as it best suited their convenience —and that no one had a right to interfere with them. This and the recovery of the hostages had a great effect ; and gradoallythe population collected, and began to form the nucleus of the present town. The greatest difficulty, however, was with the Dyaks : they had been so long used to oppression, that they looked with suspicion upon any one who talked to them as a friend. Mr Brooke, however, assembled their chiefs, and it was agreed that each Dyak family shoiQd pay a pasu (I bushel) of rice as a yearly revenue, and that then they should be free to trade with whom they pleased; and that no man had a right to demand anything further of them. SiK)uld any one attempt such a course, the chiefs were instantly to bring the case before the governor. From the 24th September 1841, when Mr Brooke was appointed Chief of Sarawak, to Ap ril 1843, he was em- ployed in consolidating the gover nment He remained dnnng the whole of this time in Borneo, to watch over his rising settlement, to protect the Dyaks, curb the licentious followers of the Rajahs, and oppose the intrigues of Ma- kota, whose chief end was to disturb the confidence that was beginning to show itself. The most difficidt task, however, was the administration o f jnsti ce. Almost every day the Court was opened in a long room in Mr Brooke's residence. He sat as chief, with the brothers of Muda Hassim beside him ; to the right and left were rows of chairs, on which were seated the ihiee Malay chiefs of Kuching, and any other respect- able native who chose to take part in the proceedings ; in &(mt sat on mats the persons whose case was to be ad- judged; and behind them a miscellaneous crowd of Malays, Chinese, and occasionally a few Dyaks, or some wondering stranger from the coast. My own experience entirely confirms Mr Brooke's, when 60 LIFE OP SIR JAMES BROOKE. [chap. Ul. he states that he received the greatest assistance from the knowledge, acumen, and sense of justice shown by the Siniawan Datus. Unless some personal interest of theirs was involved — unless a relative was engaged in the litiga- tion — these three chiefs might be completely depended on ; and those who succeeded them were equally, if not more, worthy of trust. And it now became an established rule, that if a Datu was in any way interested in a case he stayed away, and left it to be settled by the others. As long as the cases only involved the interests of the Dyaks, the Chinese, or the Siniawan Malays, all went smoothly — the Eajahs cared for none of these ; but directly their own followers were accused and brought up for jus- tice, their susceptibilities were aroused. The Bomeons who had accompanied Muda Hassim from the capital were bad specimens of a very bad class: they robbed, cheated, even murdered, with comparative impunity, and were rarely, if ever, punished by their chiefs. To be a follower of a Borneon Eajah was to secure immunity from every punishment But Mr Brooke was decided, come what may, that, whenever a case came before the Court, he would have even-Jbanded justice administered ; and this was soon so well understood, that the Rajah's followers, rather than be brought up before the stem white man, would hasten to compromise a case, and thus give an instalment of justice. The education of a Malay Bajah is such that he cannot be made to comprehend that others are entitled to any consideration at his hands. He thinks, like the French lady, that the Almighty will consider twice before pun- ishing persons of such distinction. Makota himself, clever as he was, could not constrain his avaricious greed. He often said, "I know that the principles on which you govern are good; I have seen the success of Singapore under your rule; but I was brought up to plunder the 1841.] "THE FRIEND OF THE DYAK." 61 Dyaks, and it makes me laugh to think that I have fleeced a tribe down to its very cooking-pots." Mr Brooke's courage and patience were, however, equal to the calls made upon them, though a great diffi- culty from which he suffered was the want of power. By one or two stern examples he had put down head- hunting and resistance within the territory of Sarawak, yet he could not completely prevent his own Dyaks from the attack of his neighbours. Sirib Sahib of Sadong was the most mischievous : he incited the piratical Dyaks to make inland incursions, and news was continually reach- ing Kuching of the death of now three, now eight of a tribe. 5irib Sahib also often sent parties over to collect the taxes that were really due to Mr Brooke, and occa- sionally attempted, with the aid of Makota, to raise dis- turbances in Sarawak itself. As yet Mr Brooke was not strong enough to suppress these disorders : he did something, however, and the little he could do inspired confidence. Tribe after tribe came over the frontiers, for, as one of them said, " They had heard, the whole world had heard, that the so n oF Europe~was "the frien J of the There is one thing that I may note here, and on which I shall hereafter have often to dwell, and that is, that whatever was done in Sarawak at this time was done by Mr B p[^Ea^ aAone^ He "had no aidT or assistance: his followers were, a colotired interpreter from Malacca — a useful but not a very trustworthy man; a servant who could neither read nor write ; a shipwrecked Irishman, fonnerly a clerk, brave as a lion, but not otherwise of much use ; and a doctor — a first-rate companion, but so httle interested in the country that he never even learned the language. When Mr Brooke left on his last visit to Singapore, Muda Hassim made a promise to build for him a suitable 62 LIFE OP SIR JAMES BROOKE. [oHAP. lU. house. As usaal, however, he did not keep his word, so that on Mr Brooke's return to Kuching, he found that it had not even been commenced. However, better late than never : his Highness at length set to work, and the promise was fulfilled. As it will give a good idea how Mr Brooke lived at that time, I will let him give the account in his own words. " I may now mention our house, or, as I fondly style it, our palace. It is an edifice 54 feet square, mounted on numerous posts of the Nibong palm, with nine windows in each front The roof is of Nipa leaves, and the floor and partitions are all of plank. Furnished with couches, tables, chairs, books, &c., the whole is as comfortable as man could wish for in this out-of-the-way country; and we have besides a bathing-house, cook-house, and servants' apartments detached. The view from the house to the eastward comprises a reach of the river, and to the west- ward looks towards the blue mountains of Matang ; the north fronts the river, and the south the jungle. Our abode, however, though spacious, cool, and comfortable, can only be considered a temporary residence, for the best of all reasons, that in the course of a year it will tumble down, from the weight of the superstructure being placed on weak posts. "The time here passes monotonously, but not un- pleasantly. Writing, reading, chart-making, employ my time between meals. My companions are equally en- gaged, — Mackenzie with copying logs, learning naviga- tion, and stuffing specimens of natural history " (he was afterwards killed by Chinese pirates); "Crymble" (the brave Irishman) " is teaching our young Bugis and Dyak boys their letters for an hour every morning, copying my vocabularies of languages, ruling charts, and the like; whilst my servant Peter learns reading and writing daily, 1842.] CHINESE DECEIT. 63 with very poor success, however. Our meals are about nine in the morniiig and four in the afternoon, with a cnp of tea at eight The evening is employed in walk- ing, never less than a mile and a half, measured distance; and after tea, reading and a cigar. Wine and grog we have none, and all appear better for it, or at least I can say 80 much for myself. Our bedtime is about eleven." At this time the coast of Sarawak was completely blockaded by large fleets of Lanun and Balagnini pirates who with perfect impunity cruised along the coast, fre- quented the Natuna and Tambilan groups of islands, carrying oflf captives by hundreds, and taking every native trading vessel that came in their way. The only intercourse with the neighbouring districts was by small boats, which kept inshore, and generally made their voyages under cover of the night. The head-hunting Dyaks were also out on their forays, which made it dangerous even for small boats, and for the fishing villages, which were generally concealed up small creeks. In 1842 Mr Brooke had his first specimen of the obstinacy and deceit of the Chinese. In recompense for some services, Eajah Muda Hassim had granted to a com- pany of Chinese permission to work gold and antimony on the right-hand branch of the river, in Upper Sarawak. This company was placed under the strictest discipline by its own self-dected chiefs, and every member was expected implicitly to obey the behests of the governing council. AfBdrs proceeded quietly enough at first, but at length some other Chinese expressed a wish to establish another com- pany on the left-hand branch of the river. This roused the jealousy of the older company, and they announced their intention to oppose any concession tx> their countrymen. A bug conference ensued, when it was found that the Malay document, simply allowing them to work, had 64 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [chap. ill. been converted in the Chinese translation into a deed of gift of the interior. It is not necessary to enter into the de- tails of this affair, as it ultimately came to nothing. Mr Brooke firmly adhered to his deteimination to grant to a new company on the left-hand branch the same privileges which had been granted to those on the right, but it was only by a display of force that the latter could be brought to give their consent. Here was evidently an imperium in imperio, from which Mr Brooke foresaw future trouble ; but his own power increased so rapidly that he had no serious difficulty with the Chinese for fifteen years, until the union of a number of unfortunate circumstances weakened his prestige, and brought about the bloody insurrection of 1857. I may at once say that the company on the left-hand branch never came to much, and, after a sickly existence, vanished from the, scene. About this time Mr Brooke calculated that the revenue of the country was about £5000 a-year. How he arrived at this estimate I do not understand, as the whole income of the country consisted of a few hundred bushels of rice, a little profit from opium, and the net proceeds of the anti- mony. I can readily imagine that he was incorrectly in- formed by his treasurers, who were such poor accountants that, on examining their books, I found that all expendi- ture was put under the head of revenue. His agents, too, were very careleas, and on one occasion an error was dis- covered in which a bill of £1000 drawn by him was put to his debit. Mr Brooke knew nothing of accounts, and those he employed knew very little more. In the course of a Chancery suit, it became necessary to give detailed ex- planations of what had been the revenue and expenditure of Sarawak before 1848. Mr Brooke naturally employed his treasurer to get up the figures, but the Court of Chan- cery sent back the document : it was so confused that no 1842.] KEVENUES OF SARAWAK. 65 one could understand it One of the chief officers, Mr Crookshank, could have mastered the figures, but he was otherwise engaged, so later on Mr Brooke in despair asked me to undertake it. Never was there such confusion seei^. The poor treasurer could give no explanations. DoUars valued at 4s. 2d. and reals worth 3s. were treated as equivalent coins, and added together. It required weeks to unravel all these mysteries, and in the end it was pos- sible to arrive at only an approximate result. Thus Mr Brooke never really knew what was the true state of his affairs. What he did know was, that every now and then he was informed that there was a balance against him, and h e^drew biUs on his privat e fortune, until it b^an gr a duaUy^ vamshjto notching. The revenues of Sarawak never met its expenses until after the great influx of Chinese in 1850, which enabled Mr Brooke to establish various imposts in the indirect fomi of farms: then things went on prosperously, and have continued so until the present time, opium being the most productive of all the taxes. Mr Brooke soon became convinced that as long as Muda Masslm, with the other JKomeon Kajahs" and" their ^nrol y followers, remained in Sarawak, it would be quite i mposs i ble to dev elop the trade, or to inspire true confi- dence in the people. Nolradmg prahvs would enter with cargoes from the neighbouring districts, as it would have been impossible to prevent the Bajahs from going or send- ing on board to obtain as presents or on credit the most valuable articlea Besides, the natives would not believe that Mr Brooke might not some day tire of his task and sail away. So nothing was done : no trading vessels were built, no cultivation undertaken, and a feeling of rest- lessness prevailed all over the country. Mr Brooke therefore made up his mind to visit the capital of Brunei, and see the StQtan himself. Muda £ 66 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [chap. hi. Hassim was pleased, directed two of his brothers to ac- company the governor, and prepared letters for his royal nephew and chief. After many tedious formalities and an affectionate farewell, Mr Brooke got away from Kuch- ing on July 14, 1842, and immediately setiled for the capital. The parting between Muda Hassim and his two brothers was very touching, and is thus feelingly described by Mr Brooke : " The Kajah addressed a few words to his brother, requesting him to tell the Sultan that his heart was always with him ; that he could never separate from him, whether far or near ; and he was, and always had been, true to his son. Bedrudin then rose, and, ap- proaching the Rajah, seated himself close to him, bending his head to the ground over the Eajah's hand, which he had grasped. The Eajah hastily withdrew his hand, and, clasping round, embraced, kissing his neck. Both were greatly agitated, and both wept ; and I could have wept for company, for it was no display of State ceremony, but genuine feeling. It is seldom, very seldom, they show their feelings, and the effect was the more touching from being unexpected. It is a part of our nature — our better nature — to feel when we see others feeL Pangeran Marsale followed. Both brothers parted from Muda Mahomed in the same way, and they certainly rose in my opinion from this token of affection towards each other. My adieux followed. \Ve all rose ; the Eajah accompanied us to the wharf, and as we embarked I could see the tears slowly steal from his eyes. I could not help taking his hand and bidding him to be of good cheer: he smiled in a friendly manner, pressed my band, and I stepped into my boat." Mr Brooke had now an opportunity to view the north- western coast of this great island. It is not very inter- esting seen at a distance from the shore — generally lowland, with a few bluff points, and lofty mountains in 1842.] VISIT TO BRUNEI. 67 the interior. The true beauty of the coast begins to the Dortb of the capital In a few days the Boyalist reached the mouth of the river Brunei, and cast anchor off the low^ sandy island of Muara, famous for its wild pigs and its good fishing. The Brunei river is really a pretty one. As you enter the small bay into which flow so many rivers, to the south you see a row of pretty hiUs. As you advance you pass several islands, — to the right, one whose summit is cut flat, with a heavy embankment and embrasures fit for the heaviest guns — an old Spanish construction, it is said. From this island a mole has been thrown across, so as to completely shut up the true entrance of the river ; but as the water was forced to seek a passage, it has found one on the eastern side, where the river deepens to four fiathoms. It is a difficult entranca You then leave Pulo Cherimin, or Looking-glass Island, on the left, and advance up the stream between two rows of lovely hills, from 500 to 800 feet in height, gay with every variety of colour. Generally the verdure in the East is sombre ; here it is not You have the dark green of the forest, the bright green of cultivation, the waving cocoa-nut, the graceful areca palm. Cottages scattered here and there, a fisherman's house poised on the banks, and occstsionally patches of red soil, add brightness to the scene. And the waters of the Brunei river are generally gay. You meet the Singapore trader heavily laden with sago ; the unwieldy but picturesque Malay prahu ; the fast fishermen's boats palling as no one but Bomeons can pull, to be the first arrival at the market ; and then the prawn - catchers gracefully poising themselves on the prows of their little caDoes, and throwing the cast-net with such marvellous skill that, though often eight yards in diameter, it falls in a perfect circle on the water. If you lazily pull up in a small boat, you will see the alligators swimming, or rather 68 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [ohap. ill. floating, near the surface of the water, a line of their back and their two ravenous eyes alone visible. After a few miles' advance you turn sharply to the right, and then catch sight of the first houses of this "Venice of hovels," as Mr Brooke called it. It is at high water a pretty place — a sort of basin into which several rivers and streams flow. It is almost surrounded by hills ; and on the mud- banks formed in this little lake, but seen only at low water, are built the houses, on slight piles, so that the inhabitants can pull roimd or under or between long rows of houses that at the distance look picturesque. It is, however, but a wretched place ; the dwellings are mean, being mostly composed of the stems of the Nibong palm, and thatched and walled with different kinds of mats made from the leaves of the Nipa palm. A few are roughly planked, but it is a tumble-down, wretched place. I knew it well, having lived there so many years that I seemed to recognise every face in it ; and every nook and corner in its neighbourhood were familiar to me. Mr Brooke had visited Brunei for three reasons. The first was, to assure a reconciliation between the Sultan and Muda Hassim, in order that the latter might be enabled to return to the capital ; to secure the release of twenty- five shipwrecked Lascars of a recent wreck, the Melbourne; and thirdly, to obtain from the Sultan a confirmation of his appointment as (Jovemor or Eajah of Sarawak. After some preliminary ceremonies Mr Brooke went up to the capital, and was much struck and pleased with the lively scenery of the river. The town he saw in all its filth. He was received and lodged at the palace in a small room behind the audience-hall, and soon became familiar with the people around him. I must describe a few of them, as they are all important personages in this biography. The first in point of dignity was the Sultan. Mr Brooke, in his Journal, has well described him ; and as he knew 184i] THE COURT OF BRUNEI. 69 him 80 much more intimately than I did, I shall rather trust to his account than to my own recollections. At the time of this visit (1842) the Sultan was a man of abont fifty years of age, short and puffy in person, with a countenance that very obviously showed the weakness of his mind, which, as indexed by his face, appeared a perplexed map of confusion, without astuteness, without dignity, and without good sense. He was ignorant, mean, and avaricious, fond of low society and of stupid jokes ; and, when I knew him, he was suffering so much from a cancer in the mouth, that it was disagreeable to approach him. He was, however, full of pride, and had a high opinion of his own dignity. Pangeran Mumein, the next in position, and the present Sultan, was more fitted to be a trader than a ruler ; but he was not cruel, and I found him a likeable man. Pangeran Usup, however, was the ruling spirit in Borneo; very active and intelligent, and though nomi- naUy a great friend of Muda Hassim's, was in his heart that prince's most determined opponent. At this time, however, Mr Brooke did not see through his ambition. The objects of Mr Brooke's visit were soon settled : the most flattering invitations to return to Brunei were written to Muda Hassim ; the imprisoned Lascars were released ; and that most important document, the confirmation of Mr Brooke's appointment as Governor of Sarawak, was signed, sealed, and delivered. When these afiairs were arranged, Mr Brooke took leave of the Court, and set sail for Sarawak, where he was re- ceived with such demonstrations of welcome as were most gratifying to him. The Bomeon Pangerans were delighted with his success, as they longed to return to the charms of the capital The scene that took place at the reception of the despatches was highly curious and characteristic. On the evening of the 18th August the Sultan's letters 70 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [cHAP. III. were produced in all the state which could possibly be attained. On their arrival they were received and brought up amid large wax torches, and the person who was to read them was stationed on a raised platform. Standing on the step below him was Muda Hassim, with a sabre in his hand ; in front of the Bajah was his brother, Pan- geran Jtiffir, with a tremendous kampUan, or Lanun sword, drawn; and around were the other brothers and Mr Brooke, all standing, the rest of the company being seated. The letters were then read, the one appointing Mr Brooke to hold the government of Sarawak last. After this the Bajah descended from the steps of the platform and said aloud, ''If any one present disowns or contests the Sultan's appointment, let him now declare it." All were silent He next turned to the native chiefs of Sarawak and asked them, — they were obedient to the will of the Sultan. Then the question was asked of the other Fangerans, " Is there any Rajah that contests the question ? Fangeran Makota, what do you say ? " Makota expressed his willingness to obey. One or two other ob- noxious Fangerans who had always opposed themselves to Mr Brooke were each in turn challenged, and forced to promise obedience. The Eajah then waved his sword, and with a loud voice exclaimed, " Whoever dares to dis- obey the Sultan's mandate now received, I will split his skull ! " At the same moment some ten of his brothers jumped from the veranda, and drawing their long knives began to flourish and dance about, thrusting close to Makota, striking the pillar above his head, and pointing their weapons at his breast. This amusement, the vio- lence of motion, the freedom from restraint, this explo- sion of a long-pent-up animosity, roused all their passions; and had Makota, through an excess of fear or an excess of bravery, started up, he would have been slain, and other blood would have been spilt. But he was quiet, with his 1843.] DISCOMFITURE OF MAKOTA. 71 face pale and subdued, and as shortly as decency would permit after the riot had subsided, took his leave. Had he been slain on this occasion, many hundreds, nay, thousands, of innocent lives might have been saved. An interval of tranquillity followed, and Mr Brooke could indulge in serious reading. No. XC. of the Oxford Tracts fell into his h ands, a nd he set to work to an swer it. as he cons idered it a very^ Jesuitical performance . I have the original MS., but I must confess that I have not read it. Though he himself at this time complained that he had read every book in his library, I do not think he went so far as the English planter in Java, who, finding himself banished into the interior for twenty years, turned to the only book he had, the ' Encyclopcedia Britannica,' and beginning at the letter A, read it through to the end, and with such profit, too, that he was enabled to take an important post in Singapore, and to creditably fulfil its duties. Things appeared now so quiet, the country being tran- quil, and having some desire to refresh himself with a Uttle civilised society, Mr Brooke thought that he might safely indulge in a trip to Singapore, from which he had been absent about two years ; but before he started he inti- mated to Pangeran Makota that he must leave the country, as it was certain that as long as that clever, but always in the end unsuccessful, intriguer remained, the people would be uneasy. Makota began therefore preparing his prahu, and collecting his people, but was so slow in his move- ments that Mr Brooke had left for Singapore (February 8, 1843) befoi'e his arrangements were complete. The idea of visiting Singapore was indeed a happy one, as he was destined there to become acquainted with Cap- tain Keppel, whose energy and dash, and quick apprecia- tion of the earnest purpose of Mr Brooke, had so great an effect on the future of Sarawak. 72 CHAPTER IV. FIRST EXPEDITIONS AGAINST THE 8ERIBAS AND 8AKABANG PIRATES — CAPTAIN KBPPEL. 1843-1844. Mr Brooke arrived in Singapore in February 1843, and after a short stay proceeded to Penang, and foimd there H.M.S. Dido, Captain the Hon. Henry Keppel, the senior officer in the Straits Settlements. They soon became ac- quainted^ and that acquaintance ripened into friendship, as they at once recognised each other's good qualities. Mr Brooke could readily admire the dash, the vigour, the eager- ness for action, which was displayed by Captain Keppel ; while the latter, above all littleness and petty jealousy, qualities too often shown on these occasions, was eager to aid in the good work of pacifying the coast^_5f Borneo, and saw at a glance, with the instincts of a gentleman, that he had no adventurer, no schemer to deal with, but a true-hearted man, whose whole soul was concentrated on one object — which was, to raise in the scale of civilisation and comfort the natives of his adopted country. It was about this time that Mr Brooke began to dwell on a subject which was, in my opinion, the great error of his life, and one of the causes of the comparative want of success of Sarawak. In his eager desire to establish a permanent government on the coast of Borneo, he began to doubt his own power to command success, and to urge 1845.] PIKATES. 73 on the British Grovernment the necessity of taking over the country. Already he hinted at other alternatives — a powerful company, or even a foreign Government, if our own would have nothing to do with it. There was at this time some cause for uneasiness, as although he had established perfect tranquillity in Sarawak, yet the coast was infested with the Lanun and Balagnini pirates, and the strong marauding tribes of Seribas and Sakarang, under tiieir Arab and Malay chiefs, were continually cutting off the traders who ventured to leave the ports for Singa- pore and Java. In England his chief trust was first in his agent, Henry Wise, who in reality cared nothing for Mr Brooke or for Borneo, but who thought only how he could best serve his own ends by working the question. He was a clever, active, plausible man, who hung about the public offices requesting and obtaining audiences of Ministers, and acquiring thus a little reflected importance. The second friend was Mr Templer — familiarly termed Jack Templer. I never knew him ; but, judging by his actions and his correspondence, I should say he was clever, but so injudicious in his conduct and advice that he was the cause of much of the estrangement between the Eajah and the British Government. In May 1843 the Dido set sail from Singapore with Mr Brooke as a guest on board, and, being a good sailer, soon arrived on the coast of Borneo. After cruising for pirates during a few days. Captain Keppel sent away his heavy boats on the same errand. The expedition wds commanded by lieut Wilmot Horton, and Mr Brooke accompanied the party, as he alone was versed in the language, and had a sound knowledge of the kind of vessels used by the pirates. The very day they left the ship they came on a fleet of Balagnini vessels ; but though distant shots were exchanged, the marauders got away easily on account of the superior swiftness of their vessels, propelled as they are both 74 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [chap. iv. by sail and by thirty to fifty oars. As they sailed in the direction of the Natnnas, the English boats steered also on the same course, and anchored for the night under one of these islands. At daylight, while reconnoitring in a cutter, Lieut Horton and Mr Brooke came upon six war prahus^ which advanced upon them, beating their gongs, shouting, and making every warlike demonstration. Lieut. Horton returned to his force, and there drew up his three boats in line of battle : the enemy, confident in their numbers and in the size of their vessels, advanced with all the speed that their oars could give them ; but as they approached near, Mr Brooke felt confident that there was some mistake, as the build was not that of pirate vessels. A white flag was therefore hoisted, and he shouted to them for a parley, but the only reply was a discharge of musketry. Lieut. Horton kept his men well in hand, and not a shot was returned until the prahus were within 50 yards, when he poured in a most destructive fire of grape and canister, and the marines bowled over every one who attempted to show near the enemy's guns. In a few minutes the affair was over ; the largest prahu surrendered, and the other five fled, keeping up a running fire on the chasing cutters. The captured prahu turned out to be one belonging to the Bajah of Khio, an island dependent on the Dutch, that had been sent with the others to raise tribute in the Katuna group. They were greatly astonished to find that they had been engaged with the boats of an English ship- of-war, — declared that it was all a mistake, that they were at that moment searching for a fleet of pirates that had plun- dered one of the islands, that the sun being in their eyes they had not distinguished the flag, and urged every other excuse possible. Lieut Horton, thinking perhaps that they had been sufficiently punished by the loss of twenty- five killed and wounded out of a crew of thirty-six, accepted their excuses, and sent the surgeon on board the prahu 1843.] THE DIDO. 75 to attend to the wounded^ and gave up his prize, as well as the others which the cutters had captured, deserted on the beach. These rascals had in fact mistaken the Eng- lish force for boats from some wreck, or as some pretended, Dutch boats from Sambas ; and as the Bajah of Bhio, in these days^ sent the greatest scoundrels in his dominions to collect tribute, they would have had no hesitation in plundering or murdering any unfortunate survivors from a wreck who could not defend themselves. After this adventure, the boats proceeded to Sarawak, and found the Dido anchored at the entrance of the Tabas, called the Muara Tabas,^ or mouth of the Tabas. Captain Keppd could also laughingly tell of how he had been de- ceived by the artful trick of three pirate boats, and how they had got away scot-firee from under the guns of the Dida This was an eventful day for Mr Brooke. It was the first time that the natives could understand that true Englishmen are rarely abandoned by the force that above all others is the visible sign of the power of England. The Dido was a beautiful 18-gun corvette, in splendid order; and when she first anchored in the Stu^wak river below the town, her tapering masts overtopping the tallest jungle-trees, her crowds of white-dressed sailors running up the rigging, her 32-pounders booming forth a salute, were enough to strike the coolest native with awe, and to drive wild with excitement the warmest well-wishers of Mr Brooke's success. It was a beautiful sight, the whole river covered with boats and prahtis of every description, draped out with gay flags, crowded with half the population in gala costume. Every old musket ^as brought into requisition, guns were fired, muskets were discharged, gongs were beaten, and an everlasting dinning was kept up. Presently Mr Brooke landed with ^ Generally spelled ** Morotabas.'' n 76 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [chap. iv. all the honour of a governor, under another salute of the heavy guns, which awoke the echoes in many a surround- ing mountain, and no doubt made many a Dyak heart jump, as the roar of these guns must have appeared to him worthy of a combat of the gods. Captain Keppel visited Muda Hassim in state, and no ceremony was left undone which might please the royal prince, and cement his growing friendship for the English. He soon returned the visit> and was evidently astonished with what he saw, as previously nothing had entered the Sarawak river but the Boyalist and a few small trading vessels from Singapore. Here was order, cleanliness, and power, and this he felt. Captain Keppel, in his ' Voyage of the Dido,* has given us a very good account of the house in which Mr Brooke lived in 1843, and of which I have already given Mr Brooke's description, though the engraving in that work representing a Sarawak house was really that of Pangeran Makota. Captain Eeppel says that Mr Brooke's residence, although equally rude in structure with the abodes of the natives, was not without its English comforts of sofas, chairs, and bedsteads. It was larger than any other house in the place, but like them was built on Nibong piles, and to enter it, it was necessary to make use of a ladder. The house consisted of but one floor : a large room in the centre, neatly ornamented with every description of firearms, in admirable order and ready for use, served as an audience- hall and mess-room, and the various apartments around it as bedrooms, most of them comfortably furnished, with matted floors, easy-chjdrs, pictures, and books, with much more tetste and attention to comfort than bachelors usually display. But the fact is, you could never enter any place where Mr Brooke hcwi passed a few days without being struck by the artistic arrangement of everything : his good taste was shown even in trifles, though comfort was never \ IMS.] DINNER AT MR BROOKEfS. 77 sacrificed to show. The house was surrounded by pali- sades and a ditch, forming an enclosure, in which were to be found sheep, goats, pigeons, cats, poultry, geese, ducks, monkeys, dogs, and occasionally a cow or two. Then, as later, the great hour of meeting was sunset, . when, aflier the preliminary cold bath to brace the nerves \; relaxed by the heat of the day, all the party met to dine. ' When Captain Keppel was at Kuching, all the officers of the Dido were welcome, and many a merry evening was passed at Mr Brooke's house. I have often heard Mr Brooke speak of that glorious time : then the future was all hope — ^no disappointments had soured the mind, and the cheerfulness of the host was sympathetic. I have never met any one who in his playful mood was more charming at a dinner-party : he told a story well, he was animated in discussion, fertile in resource, and when beaten in argument would shift his ground with great dexterity, and keep up the discussion, to the entertainment and admiration of us alL An appreciative observer once wrote : " The Bajah certainly has a most uncommon gift of fluency of language Every subject he touches derives an additional interest from his mode of discussing it, and his ideas are so original that to hear him speak is like opening out a new world before one. His views about Saraws^ are so grand that it is with real pain one thinks how very little has been done to aid him in his noble efforta" Captain Keppel was also a capital story-teller, so that between the two, with occasional assistance from others, the time never lagged, and it was often well on in the small hours before the party broke up. Already the custom of the natives coming in during and after dinner was observed. The house was open to all— rich or poor, Malay, Dyak, or Chinese, any were wel- come. Often a very poor man would creep in, take up his position in the most obscure comer, and there remain 78 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [cHAP- iv. silent but attentive to all that passed. There he would wait till every other native had left, neither addressing Mr Brooke nor being addressed by him, but when the coast was clear the Governor would call him to his side and gently worm his story from him. Generally it was some tale of oppression, some request for aid. None of these stories were forgotten : in the morning careful but cautious inquiries were made as to their truth, and rarely was it found that the suppliant had attempted to deceive wil- fully. Eedress or aid soon followed ; and the custom was kept up, and should have been kept up to this day, but the presence of ladies and the advancement of civilised ways of governing have made those who have at various times acted for Mr Brooke during his absence and since his death neglect a custom, not without its inconveniences, but pro- ductive of much good, not only to the poorer natives, but to the governors, as a hint may be then thrown out of con- spiracy or of danger which a Malay or Dyak would never dare give but under the shelter of night, and when almost alone with the white man. But gaiety did not absorb the tima Captain Keppel had come with the firm determination to attack both the Seribas and Sakarang Dyaks, and put an end to their piracies ; but sudden orders for China forced him to content himself with giving one blow, and Seribas was selected to receive it. Captain Keppel had heard much of their pira- cies before he reached the coast of Borneo, but here he was indeed surprised at the extent to which it was carried, and at the horrors that were almost daily enacted, as it was rare that during the fine season one or two squadrons were not foraging for heads, slaves, and plunder. To imderstand the operations now about to be described the map should be examined, and it will be readily per- ceived that in the deep bight lying between Datu and Serikei Points, are the rivers Batang Lupar and Seribas. 1843.] THE SEKIBAS. 79 These were the districts occupied by the two marauding tribes, who had even pushed their way down to the banks of the next great river, the Rejang, and occupied the Eanawit and Eatibas branches. The Seribas is a fine- looking river, and is navigable for a considerable distance ; but the tides are rapid, and near the town of Boling there commences a " bore " that is exceedingly dangerous. The first of the flood-tide comes up with great force, and when it meets a narrowing river and sandy shallows it rises Uke a foaming wall from bank to bank, and upsets what- ever boat or prahu it may meet in its impetuous passage, unless these are in deep water or sheltered in regular anchorages; and the crews, when such accidents occur, are generally drowned. The Seribas and Sakarang Dyaks are of the same tribe and speak the same language, and in 1843 they were under the influence of Malay chiefs and Arab adventurers, who had first taught them piracy and encouraged them to fre- quent the seas for plunder and slaves. At first the Dyaks were contented with the heads taken during the expedition as their share, but now they had become the real masters, and only shared the plunder when Malays accompanied the expedition with guns and musketry. It was soon known that a force was preparing to attack the pirates in their stronghold, and every eflbrt was made by them to perfect their defences. Their forts were strengthened, booms were placed across the river, and lofty trees were partially cut through, so that when the supporting ratan ropes were severed they would fall athwart the stream and stop the progress of the attacking force. Mada Hassim having officially called upon Captain Keppel to put a stop to the piracies of the inhabitants of the Seribas and Sakarang, preparations were made for the expedition. Mr Brooke determined to accompany the 80 LIFE OP SIR JAMES BROOKE. [chap. IV. boats of the Dido with as large a force of natives as he could collect. At first all hung back, and his native chiefs entreated him not to go. The Seribas were so great a terror to them that they thought them invincible, but, seeing Mr Brooke determined, they gave in and com- menced fitting out their war-boats. While these preparations were going on, Mr Brooke was fortunate enough to get rid of Pangeran Makota. Though ordered to leave in January, he was found in May still getting ready, but the sight of the Dido was enough for him. He instantly packed up and disappeared with his people, going off to join Sirib Sahib of Sadong, the greatest instigator of piracy on the coast. It is strange, but true as it is strange, that those who have attacked the policy pursued of putting down the piratical communities of Seribas and Sakarang have rarely found fault with Captain KeppeFs proceedings, but have reserved their censure for those of Captain Farquhar. I will follow their example, and reserve my account of the conduct of these tribes until I have to treat of the afiairs of the year 1849, when the "great battle'' of Batang Marau was fought. The force which left Sarawak during the first week of July 1843 was a large one. It consisted of the pinnace, cutters, and gig of the Dido ; a native-built boat called the Jolly Bachelor, manned by thirty Didos ; and a vessel laden with stores and ammunition. The native force consisted of about 300 Malays and 400 Dyaks, all thirsting for revenge, but considering the expedition as almost desperate. As the mosquito fleet ascended the Seribas, it passed, on the right bank, first the Eembas branch, and then the Paku, up each of which there were fortified towns, which it was their intention to destroy later. Padi, the furthest inland town, was now the object of attack. The boats brought up at Boling 1848.] A PIRATE TOWN ATTACKED. 81 the first night — ^a deep bend where the dreaded "bore" has but little effect, though the tide runs with great force. During the night no enemy came to disturb them ; but the distant beating of gongs, and the occasional discharge of ordnance, served two purposes : it kept up their own courage, and might intimidate the enemy. Next morning Ae force advanced with the flood-tide: the beating of gongs, the yeUs of thousands of Dyaks in the woods, heralded the approach to the scene of action. Mr Brooke was with Captain Keppel at the head of the force; and as they were swept up the river by a strong flood-tide, it was indeed an exciting scene. Presently they came upon a cleared hill, with a fortified house on the summit, upon which dozens of men were performing a most awe-inspiring war-dance. As they neared, however, hundreds of war- riors sprang up from the long grass, and rushed down upon what seemed an easy prey ; but after giving them a couple of shots, the boat swept past them. An instant after, the report of a heavy gun showed that the pinnace was near. On they went, and in a few moments found them- selves opposite a strong boom, with a very narrow open- ing in it For this. Captain Keppel had steered his gig : and the speed at which they went enabled them to squeeze through, and to find themselves in front of three formidable- looking forts, which instantly opened fire on the little gig. Fortunately the guns were laid for the boom, and the shots went over their heads ; but hundreds of warriors rushed down to the banks, and hurled their heavy javelins at the daring strangers. The pinnace was now thrown up against the barrier, and all the other boats were stopped ; but the natives, with their sharp - cutting parangs or choppers, soon severed the fastenings, and the boats got through and opened fire on the enemy with both grape, canister, and musketry. -While the pinnace used her 12-pounders, the others dashed on, and the blue-J£u>kets, under their F 82 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BEOOKE. [cHAP. iv. gallant officers, sprang ashore, and rushed at the nearest fort This method of warfare was so new, so unexpected, that the garrison, without for a moment considering their superior numbers, or the strong position they held, fled panic-stricken into the jungle, and the fort in a few min- utes was in the hands of the Didos. After this stockade had fallen there was little further resistance, and the na- tive force dashed on for the town, and after having plun- dered it, burnt it, as well as all the surrounding villages. Next day parties ascended both branches of the river to complete the work ; but finding that the left-hand branch was the most encumbered with obstructions, a strong party was sent up this. The Seribas Malays and Dyaks determined to make a last effort, and to endeavour to de- stroy this detached party. As night closed, an attack was made on the boats from all sides, particularly from a slop- ing bank, where the pirates could wade to within a few yards of the invaders ; but the pinnace's heavy gun, and the steady musketry-fire, proved so destructive, that they were forced to beat a retreat. There was no sleep for any one that night : the rain poured down, but the marines had to stand sentry through it all ; and the big gun had constantly to be used to stop the work of obstructing the river. A simple signal-rocket having been fired, however, the enemy retired before what they did not understand, and left the English at peace. Next morning preparations were made to continue the advance, when a white flag was seen to be hoisted by the enemy, and in a few minutes a truce was established. The chiefs came down ; and after Mr Brooke had fully explained to them the causes which had led to the attack, called upon them to give up piracy, and take to honest trading. This they promised to do, but they pointed out that, unless the same punishment was inflicted on the two other towns, they could not prevent pirate squadrons 1843.] DEFEAT OP THE SERIBAS. 83 from leaving the river, while they were assured that the compact would not be neglected by the English. During the previous skirmishes, there had arrived reinforce- ments in the shape of about 1000 Balow warriors — brave Dyaks, from the Lingga branch of the Batang Lupar — who, though of the same tribe originally as the pirates, had never joined in piratical acts. These men had suf- fered so much from the Seribas that they did not miss this occasion to retaliate, and the country was laid waste for miles around — a most just and necessary measure, and the only way to put an end to piracy when it is encouraged and fostered by a whole people. Let them feel in their own homes the misery they so often inflict on others. The Padi forces were estimated at 500 Malays and 6000 Dyaks, brave against native enemies, but incapable of opposing any disciplined force. The English and native forces now dropped down the river, and soon found themselves at Boling, where the store -vessel was anchored. She had received and re- turned a few shots, but no serious movement had been made against her. Then followed attacks on the pirate settlements of Paku and Bembas. There was little resistance, as the defenders, both Malay and Dyak, had been cowed by the defeat and destruction of their allies at Padi. It is worth while, however, mentioning that at Kembeis there was found a vessel 92 feet in length, and of 14 feet beam, capable of carrying several guns, and a crew of 150 men. The in- habitants of these places soon hoisted flags of truce, and the chiefs agreed to proceed to Sarawak to arrange the terms of future peace. The chastisement they received was enough to discourage them for the moment — and even for a few years they ceased sending fleets to sea ; but the spirit of piracy was too ingrained in them to be driven out by one lesson. 84 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [chap. iv. Sakarang was the next point of attack ; but when Cap- tain Keppel reached the Dido he found imperative orders for China, so that expedition had to be put oflf. On their arrival at Kuching, they were treated as conquering heroes ; and, to the native mind, their achievements merited that honour — for in the space of a fortnight they had done what, for fifty years, the whole power of the Sultan had- failed to do, — they had bruised the head of piracy as rep- resented by the Seribas, and the other black sheep trem- blingly waited their turn. Twelve months elapsed before Captain Keppel could return a second time to the coast, and during that year many interesting events occurred. No sooner had the Dido left than the Samarang, commanded by Sir Edward Belcher, arrived. This visit was strictly an official one, and was as useless as such visits usually are. What can the most acute naval officer in the world understand of a country during a few days' or weeks' visit ? He can de- scribe more or less accurately its outward appearance ; but to imderstand its internal politics is not possible in the time. And yet on such comparatively valueless re- ports the British Government relies in a majority of cases. Mr Brooke suffered more than any other pioneer of civil- isation from this system. Mr Brooke explained everything fully to Sir Edward, showed him the country, and pointed out to him the favourable and the unfavourable side of the question. After a short sojourn at Sarawak, Sir Edward invited Mr Brooke to accompany him to Brunei, where he wished to inspect the coal ; but in descending the river the Sama- rang grounded on a rocky bank, and when the ebb came, fell over on her side and filled. This, in some respects, was a fortunate circumstance for Mr Brooke: it drew the attention of the Admiral to Borneo ; and Mr Brooke was enabled to aid so materially in the recovery of the 1843.] SECOND VISIT TO BRUNEI. 85 vessel as to merit tlie official thanks of that chie£ The recovery of the vessel was a triumph of naval skill, which reflected the greatest credit on the captain, officers, and all concerned. Among the young officers on board was a midshipman named Brereton, a bright intelligent lad, who afterwards joined the Eajah in his arduous task of governing the sea Dyaks. In August Mr Brooke proceeded to Brunei in the Samarang, that vessel having been recovered in the short period of eleven days. A squadron — sent to her aid, but arriving too late — ^was with them, consisting of H.M.SS. Harlequin, Wanderer, Vixen (steamer), and Diana, with the Soyalist, and a merchant vessel, the ArieL Never had such a squadron appeared in Sarawak waters. I cannot help noticing here what false notions are given of countries by the imaginative pens of young travellers. One of the officers, in describing the kind way in which Mr Brooke housed the shipwrecked, speaks of the nightly visits of wild hogs, porcupines, wild cats, guanas, and various other animals, not to speak of swarms of mosqui- toes, scorpions, lizards, and centipedes, that failed not to disturb them with their onslaughts during the whole night. All this is pure imagination. A wild hog might come near the house, and so might a guana. During thirteen years in Borneo, I saw two guanas near a house, once a wild hog, never a porcupine or wild cat. Scorpions and centi- pedes were almost equally rare, except among old wood ; while the lizards are of the smallest and most harmless description. So much for travellers' tales During this visit to the Sultan, his Highness confirmed his grant of Sarawak to Mr Brooke, and, in addition to the previous stipulations, ^ve hi m the powe r of n aming his heir in the government. As this concession was possibly 86 LIFE OP SIR JAMES BROOKE. [chap. iv. due to the presence in the river of a British squadron, Mr Brooke, with great delicacy, considered that H.M.'s Govern- ment was now entitled to the refusal of the country. Mr Brooke soon returned to Sarawak and passed three months of quiet there, necessary to him, as he had been living al- most in public for the last five months. No man enjoyed those periods of rest more than he. After having carried on active operations, after having passed through a round of entertainments — receiving every day a dozen officers at dinner — ^he rejoiced in repose, when he could enjoy his books, his writings, and meet his people, and carry on the government in a quiet, unpretending manner. Besides, after so much suspense, the almost inevitable fever and ague followed, and he thought it better to make a short voyage to Singapore, where he hoped to meet Sir William Parker, the Admiral, who then commanded the station, and explain to him the position of affairs in Borneo. But on his arrival there he found that the Admiral had left for Penang, and he received at the same time the news of the death of his mother. This was a great affliction, for not only had he the greatest love for her, but she was one of the few who thoroughly understood her shy, sensitive boy, and who urged him on in his careerjof use fulness. To the last hour of his life he ever spoke of her with that tender affection which was one of the most winning points in his character. Mr Brooke followed the Admiral to Penang, and arrived about the time that an expedition was preparing to punish the piratical towns on the coast of Sumatra. These towns were nominally under the sway of the Sultan of Achin, but in reality were independent; in fact, the coast of Sumatra was, like the coast of Borneo, a series of nests of pirates. Mr Brooke, finding that his services would be highly appreciated, offered to accompany the expedition, as a knowledge of Malay and an acquaintance with the 1848.] EXPEDITION TO ACHIN. 87 court life of Asiatics were unknown accomplisliments in the fleet^ H.M.SS. Harlequin and Wanderer, with the steamer Diana, were. told oflf to punish the pirates of Batu and Murdu ; but first of all they set sail for Achin, to meet the nominal suzerain of these districts. Achin is a decay- ing empire, but the late war with the Dutch shows that courage is not wanting. As the Sultan could do nothing to punish the pirates, the squadron sailed for Batu, and all satisfaction being refused the town was burned. At Murdu greater preparations were made for defence, and various stockades were erected to repel the invadera The last crime committed by the people of Murdu was to seize a merchant vessel, pillage the cargo, and murder a portion of the crew. It was intended to land a party above the stockades, but a very strong tide carried some of the boats past the landing-place, among others the gig in which Mr Brooke was a passenger. It was swept right under a stockade full of Malays, who instantly opened fire on the English. There was nothing to be done but spring on shore and dash for the defence, and try and shoot down every one who showed himself. The Malays resisted with vigour, and Mr Brooke soon found himself among the wounded : a shot struck him inside the right arm, and as he approached the stockade, a spear was jobbed over, which caught him on the eyebrow, and cut through to the bone. The rush of blood firom the wound blinded him and made him look a ghastly object, and gave the idea of a much more serious injury. The blood streamed over his face and clothes, and almost closed his eyes. The action was kept up for about five hours, the x^iss Jacob, desirous to give her hero every accomplishment, speaks of the facility with which Mr Brooke picked up native langnages, including the Lanon. In reality, however, Mr Brooke never spoke but one native language — the Malay — but that, though acquired slowly and laboriously, he ipoke well ; and in court Malay he had no equal among the Europeans. 88 LIFE OP SIR JAMES BROOKE. [cHAP. iv. resistance being obstinate ; but ultimately discipline pre- vailed over irregular valour, the town was taken and destroyed, the enemy losing heavily, while the English had two killed and twelve severely wounded. Among the latter was Lieutenant Chads, who, dashing ahead, found himself face to face with a Malay chie^ who boldly ad- vanced to the combat They both struck together: the Am, with the edge of a razor, nearly cut through the left arm raised instinctively to guard the blow, and inflicted a severe wound on the body ; while the cutlass did not penetrate the silk jacket. Before, however, the Malay could finish his work, a ball from a marine's musket laid him low. It is a curious circumstance that Lieutenant Chads was considered one of the best single-stick players in the fleet, and yet, in actual combat, he forgot his sword exercise, and cut instead of parrying. Single-stick exercise is generally of little use, as players seldom strike homa The battle of Murdu took place on the 12th of February 1844, and Mr Broo ke's gal lantry was so appreciated by the blue-jackets that they asked permission to give him a parting cheer when he left the Wanderer ; and this they did right heartily, manning the rigging as he went over the sida On their return to Penang, Mr Brooke met the Admiral and his friend Keppel, and was delighted to hear that the Dido was to be sent again to the coast of Borbeo. Sir William Parker had highly approved the conduct of Keppel and his dashing achievements on that coast, and wished him to complete the work. Sir WiUiam was most kind to Mr Brooke, and fuUy appreciated the enlightened views which he laid before him for the development of Bri- tish influence and commerce in the Eastern Archipelago : but these views are unappreciated by the public still, and particularly by statesmen and politicians, though the gov- ernors of Singapore have commenced a new system which is likely to awaken from its torpor the fruitful peninsula 1844.] HIS NEW HOUSE. 89 of Malacca. The British Government usually leaves to its agents the initiation of a new policy, and its agents are in general afraid to undertake the responsibility. Mr Brooke remained in Singapore awaiting the arrival of Eeppel and the Dido till the end of May, but finding when she came in that she was carrying treasure to China, he left in the Harlequin for his home. Captain Hastings was in command. They found a large pirate force on the coast At the time, Mr Brooke was disappointed that nothing was done to destroy this fleet ; but even had the boats of the Harlequin been a match for the enemy, such an engagement would not have had the moral effect which arises from the destruction of the strongholds of the pirates, who, after months of preparation, reckoned confidently on repulsing any attack. Mr Brooke, after six months* absence from Sarawak, arrived to find all prospering : there had been no serious crime committed, no attack had been made on his people, trade was increasing, and now he could write — " I like couches, and flowers, and easy -chairs, and newspapers, and clear streams, and sunny walks." All these he had in the new house which he had built on the left bank of the Sarawak river, on a rising knoU between two run- ning streams, with the broad river flowing below. It was a pretty spot. A four-roomed, lofty house, surrounded by broad verandas ; in front his well-stocked library, a splen- did hall or dining-room, with a couple of bedrooms behind them. When I knew it, a special wing had been added for Mr Brooke's own use, and the rest was given up to his followers. Around the house was the thick foliage of fruit-trees, with lawns and paths bordered by jasmiue plants and the Sundal Malam, that only gives out its fra- grant perfume during the night. Pigeon-houses, kitchens, and servants' rooms were partly hidden by trees, and here and there were planted and tended with uncommon care 90 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [chap. iv. some rose plants, Mr Brooke's favourite flower. "All breathes of peace and repose, and the very mid-day heat adds to the stillness around me. I love to allow my imagination to wander, and my senses to enjoy such a scene, for it is attended with a pleasing consciousness that the quiet and the peace are my own doing." While in the full enjoyment of this repose, he was rudely awakened by the news that the piratical Dyaks had attacked and killed a couple of his people. In- stantly, with his usual energy, he called out his war- riors, manned his war-boats, and started off in pursuit, and was fortunate enough to inflict some loss on his savage enemy. " Oh for Keppel ! " was his constant cry, and he could not but spur the willing horse. At length, on the evening of the 29th July, the Dido anchored in the Morotabas entrance of the Sarawak river, and found there the Phlegethon steamer, that had been sent on ahead to await her arrival. At daylight on the 30th Keppel arrived at Kuching, to receive a welcome such as so appreciative an oflScer deserved. As everything had been prepared for his arrival, the expedition was ready to start on 5th August, and this was a more formidable one than the last, when fear of the pimtes caused many to hesitate and hang back. Even Pangeran Bedrudin had insisted upon accompany- ing his friend, and Muda Hassim had given his consent, for all had confidence in the "Eed-haired Devil,'* — for by that euphonious name was Henry Keppel called by friend and enemy. The Batang Lupar river, into which the Sakarang flows, was to be the scene of the new expedition. Its entrance is marked by two hills, one on either bank, with the island of Trisan in the centre. It is a broad, noble-looking stream, being from three to four miles wide for the first six leagues; but the land is low, and there is nothing 1M4.] THE PATUSAN PIRATES. 01 Striking in the scenery. The forests are dense, and filled with firuit-trees, affording nourishment to herds of pigs, which boldly swim the stream when in search of pastures new. We once fell in with a drove there, which gave us an exciting chase ; when, in endeavouring to decapitate one with a cavalry sword, I nearly performed the same ofiBce for a too eager follower. Here also is found the Mias Papan or the gigantic Orang Utan,^ which is, in my opinion, a very different creature from the Mias Eambi about which Mr "Wallace writes. About twenty miles up the river on the left-hand bank the Lingga joins the great stream. This is inhabited by the numerous tribe of Balow Dyaks, brave, but untainted with piracy. There was also a village of Malays under the com- mand of an Arab, Sirib Jaffir, the chief who initiated the peace negotiations with the rebels at Siniawan in 1840. The river still ntaintains a great breadth, but it is more encumbered with shoals, and soon the spot is reached where the bore commences, a terrible enemy to strangers or unskilful mariners. Passing the hill of Tisan, ) the rapid stream carries you on to the town of Patusan, and then, after twenty miles' further ascent, to where the river divides into three — the Undup, the Sakarang, and the Mani, still called the Batang Lupar. Two Arab pirate chiefs commanded her. Sirib Sahib, formerly of Sadong, had retired to this river, and had strengthened the forts at \ Patusan, until he believed them impregnable; and Sirib Mulla had a position further in the interior. Makota, or the Serpent, had established himself as Sahib's chief adviser; and, secure in the difficulties of the river, the strength of their fortifications, and their numerical supe- riority, these men awaited the attack of the English. ) I have often been up the Batang Lupar river, and shall never foi^t the fearful velocity of its current, when at 1 In Malay, " Man of the forest." 92 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [cHAP. iv. new or full moon the hore is at its height. And this was the place that, with the steamer Phlegethon, the boats of the Dido, and the native squadron, Keppel determined to attack. The unknown was the greatest element of danger, as Borneon pilots were not accustomed to handle steamers. The expedition moved up the river, and when off the mouth of the Lingga, directions were sent to Sirib Jaffir not in any way to support or countenance the pirates. It then moved on and anchored a short distance below Patusan, Sirib Sahib's stronghold. Next morning, with a slashing stream, the force moved up the river, and soon came in sight of the enemy's forts, that opened fire immediately on the coming foe. The Phlegethon's anchor was let go, the boats formed in line, and a rush was made for the nearest defences. The forts continued their fire until the blue-jackets and marines were at the embrasures, and then the garrison broke and fled, not understanding this peculiar mode of fighting. In a few minutes the enemy were driven out of all their stockades, and the whole town was in the possession of the combined forces, as this time the Sarawak men were but little behind their white allies. The town proved extensive, and nearly all newly built, as it had been made the rendezvous of the neighbouring pirates, when Sirib Sahib, no longer feeling himself safe at*Sadong, left that place for a stronger. At Patusan there is a small river, the Grahu, up which Ma- kota had established his village. He was not forgotten : in fact, three days were spent in destroying every vestige of dwelling, embarking sixty brass guns, and throwing a large number of iron ones into the river. Thus the rendezvous of the worst pirates established near Sarawak was destroyed with the loss of but one killed and a few wounded. There were stiU three other communities to punish, — the Sakarang, the Undup, and the Batang Lupar. The last 1S44.] DISASTER TO THE SPY-BOAT. 93 two attacks were but repetitions of previous ones : trees cot and dropped across the river to arrest progress, firing from the banks, dreadful yells, followed as usual by defeat, destruction of forts and villages, and the dispersion of the pirates. In the attack on the Undup, the first lieutenant (Wade) of the Dido was killed, from rashly rushing ahead of his men. Keppel in vain warned him, but as the two were 100 yards ahead of the others, it would seem that the commander did not practise the caution that he preached. During the attack on the Sakarang, the Dyaks showed much skill in defending the approaches to their capital, and one of their stratagems, which caused the attacking party considerable loss, is worth recording. After proceeding a certain distance up the river, the flotilla either anchored or the boats were fastened to the banks of the stream, and all hands were piped to break- fiat While Captain Keppel and Mr Brooke were thus engaged, Patinggi Ali, the most daring of the Sarawak chiefs, asked permission to go ahead with the fast spy- boat to reconnoitre. He was permitted to do so, but strict directions were given that at the least sign of the enemy he was to return and report. Unfortunately, a Mr Stewart, a young merchant, who had volunteered to accompany the expedition, found means. to conceal him- self mider the mats in the spy-boat, and passed on with the rest It is supposed, and it is highly probable, that being imacquainted with native warfare, he urged on the brave but usually cautious Patinggi Ali to proceed further from his supports than prudence warranted. The spy-boat proceeded onward until the river narrowed, and the confined stream came down with a swift current which slackened the speed of the advancing party. No enemy was seen, no yell heard : this ought to have warned them that some ambuscade was prepared The moment 94 LIFE OP SIR JAMES BROOKE. [cHAP. iv. the Sarawak party was well in the narrows, loud shouts and yells arose on all sides, and at the same instant bamboo rafts were thrown across the stream to cut oflf retreat, and six large war bangkongs came sweeping round the point, and closed on the doomed party. The spy-boat had no chance, — the crew could only sell their lives as dearly as possible. As their boat sank under them, Mr Stewart and Patinggi Ali endeavoured to board the nearest of the enemy's boats, but they were soon overpowered and their heads secured. On the first shot being fired, and the diabolical yell heard, Keppel pushed oflf in his gig, and soon came upon a mass of confusion, — rafts, boats, war bang- kongs, all pell-mell together ; the Sarawak Malays in re- duced numbers still defending themselves, and fighting single combats on the rafts ; enemies and friends mixed so together that it was impossible for the English to fire. At last a raft caught a snag in the river, which made an open- ing through which Keppel pushed his gig, and giving the helm to Mr Brooke, he opened a rapid fire on the enemy. Seeing only half-a-dozen whites on their side of the con- fused mass, the Dyaks rushed down to the banks to secure their prize ; but the steady fire kept up at so short a range disconcerted them, and soon another English boat came up, and the rockets dispersed the enemy who crowded the banks. The entire force was soon on the ground, and the Dyaks fled in all directions, after incur- ring very heavy loss. The attacking party had also suf- fered: the killed amounted to twenty-nine, and the wounded to about sixty. No further serious resistance was offered to the advance ; and shortly after, the flames and smoke issuing from near the banks told all the country round that the Sakarang capital had been reached by the invin- cible invaders, and that the " Eed-haired Devil " had in- flicted a severe lesson on its piratical inhabitants. The deaths of Lieut. Wade, Mr Stewart, and Patinggi Ali, were 1844.] MUD A HASSIM's DEPARTURE. 95 greatly regretted, as each in his own manner had nobly distingnished himself. The expedition now returned to Sarawak, meeting on its way the boats of H.M.S. Samarang, which had come to help, but waa too late to join in the attack. No sooner, however, had the force reached Kuching, when news ar- rived that Sirib Sahib had fled to the inner waters of the lingga branch of the Batang Lupar, and that, with the assistance of his brother, Sirib Jaffir was rallying his forces. With his usual energy, Captain Keppel imme- diately returned to lingga, and the boats of the Dido and Samarang proceeded in search of the enemy. This energy was too much for the late fugitives from Fatusan : they fled in all directions, Sirib Sahib taking refuge over the mountains in the Dutch tributary states. To complete the work, Jaffir was deposed from the government of Lingga, and new authorities named in his place. Thus these three Arab adventurers disappeared from the scene, and almost ceased hereafter to exercise any influence. Makota was also taken prisoner, but was allowed to go free : far better would it have been, how- ever, for the inhabitants of north-western Borneo, had Mr Brooke suffered Muda Hassim to punish his crimes with death. It is important to notice that when these proceedings were brought before the High Court of Admiralty in England, the Sakarangs were declared to be pirates. The Dido and Samarang soon left — the former for Eng- land; while the latter, after visiting Singapore, returned with the Phlegethon to remove Muda Hassim and his family to Brunei, and to search for a white woman said to be held captive at Ambong, a pretty bay to the north of Brunei The families of Muda Hassim and his brothers were with the greatest precaution removed from the houses 96 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [chap. iv. to the steamer. Screens were put up, each woman well wrapped up, and covered with cloths, so that no indecent eye should be able to view her charms. To render the operation more secure, midnight was chosen, when the dull light of the torches showed little more than that bundles of dirty linen were being carried below. As a rule the female relatives of the royal family are not more worth looking at than the ugly men. Sir Edward Belcher thought that by the light of the torches he could detect sorae fair women among them, but the fairest are of a light yellow, — a sickly yellow, obtained from living in darkened rooms and being never exposed to the sun ; a sickly yellow, like the leaves of plants which have never been exposed to the light of day. The poor women, who with their slaves might be numbered by dozens, were crowded into the small cabins below, and were suffocated by the heat, and one died during the voyage from the effect of the vitiated atmosphere, and all were covered with rash. Yet Muda Hassim would not permit them to come on deck, even under the protection of screens. It was an absurd jealousy, as from his own experience he might have known that none of his precautions would render his women faithful : on the contrary, enough was seen on board the Phlegethon to show that the harem system was an absurdity. I have seen many of the young women belonging to the royal family, and my own experience confirms that of Mr Brooke. They are generally broad-faced and ugly, though their manners are pleasing and gentle, A favour- ite pastime among them is to go on picnics, and when they passed any house in covered boats, the women would pull down the mats to have a good look at the stranger ; and after I had built the Consulate-General at Brunei, there was quite a movement among the wives and daugh- ters of the Bajahs to inspect the imposing building, and \ 1844.] . BRUNEI. 97 see the wonderful mirrors and other furniture supposed to exist there. On one occasion, notice was sent me that some of the Sultan's relatives were coming to inspect the house, and a request was made that I would send all the men-servants away. I oflfered to go myself as weU, but that was not permitted. They came, about eighteen in number, the elderly taking little care to conceal their features, and about a dozen with silk sarongs over their heads, showing only a bright black eye. Presently one of them sprang into an American rocking-chair, which immediately turned over. As I ran to pick up the young girl, the rest dropped their head-covering, as if by acci- dent, and came forward to help. I then had a good look at them all, and certainly there was not a pretty one among them. They were from fourteen to twenty years of age, almost all flat-faced, but with bright black eyes, and long black hair. The impression was certainly not favourable, and I had a fair chance of judging, as after I had seen them once, little trouble was taken to conceal their faces during the rest of the visit The Phlegethon started for Brunei, and the Samarang followed : on their arrival at the mouth of the river, they found the whole place in arms. The English were coming to seize the country, and all the batteries were manned. However, it was sooii known that Muda Hassim and .his &mily had arrived, and the hostile party were obliged to succumb and to receive him. His family were dis- embarked from the Phlegethon, to the relief of the oflScers, and Muda Hassim was established beside his nephew, the Sultan, as his chief adviser ; while his late minister, Pan- geran TJsup, was allowed to occupy an inferior position. Mr Brooke and Sir Edward both expressed their sur- prise that any hostilities should be dreaded from the ^gUsh after all the late amicable intercourse ; but the piratical party, ignorant of the strength of the foreigner, G 98 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BBOOKE. [ohap. iv. were longing for a rupture. Muda Hassim, however, with the consent of the Sultan, sent large parties down the river to destroy the batteries, and peace appeared to be established in 'the capital War squadrons then left for Ambong Bay to search for the lady said to be in captivity, but it was soon proved that no such person had ever been held captive there. Mr Brooke was delighted with the country, — in fact, there is no part of Borneo equal to that neighbourhood for beauty. Taking leave of Sir Edward, who sailed for Manilla, Mr Brooke returned in the Phlegethon to Sarawak. It was during this visit to Brunei that Mr Brooke obtained from the Sultan the ofifer to cede the island of Labuan to the British Crown ; and at the same time coal was found near the north-eastern point of the island. As I shall have much to say hereafter on the subject of Labuan, I will defer any description of that island until the period of establishing our Government there. Coal was also found at several places near the capital, and the quality was pronounced good. 99 CHAPTER V. EVENTS IN BRUNEI AND ON THE NORTH-WEST COAST — MURDER OP MUDA HA88IM AND HIS FAMILY — CAPTURE OF BRUNEI. 1844-1847. Mr Brooke returned to Sarawak in November 1844, and b^an nQw to rPAlly gP Yern the country. He ha d pre- yious to this time been hampered hy thft prpsence of the MaIay"Bajah 8, but the removal of Mu da Hasgjm, and His insubordinate followers swept at one stroke the chief difficulties from Jiia path. He now remained the_QiiIy c hief to whom all looked up ; he had his Europeans and ins three Sarawak Datus to aid him, and quiet being restored in the interior, trade commenced to prosper. The Dyaks living in the surrounding countries began soon to send emissaries to Sarawak to discover whether it was true that the " son of Eui-ope was the friend of the Dyak;" and on their reports, hundreds of families began to move into Mr Brooke's territory. In two months over two hundred had passed the Sarawak frontiers, to the intense disgust of the Malay rulers, from whose tyrannical gov- ernments they were flying. On the coast, also, peace was almost established. The severe lessons given by the Dido had for the moment awed the piratical tribes, and now there were only the Lanuns and Balagdinis who infested the neighbouring seas. And even these had observed that ships of war 100 LIFE OP SIR JAMES BROOKE. [chap. v. were now more numerous on the coast, and therefore they themselves visited it less, as these pirates' trade is to plunder, not to fight. While enjoying this precious tranquillity, Mr Brooke was startled by the arrival of his agent, Mr Wise, and of Captain Bethune in H.M.S. Driver, which anchored in the Sarawak river on the 17th of February 1845, and brought a despatch from Lord Aberdeen appointing Mr Brooke confidential agent in Borneo to her Majesty, and directing him to proceed to Brunei^ to convey a letter on the subject of the suppression of piracy ; and Captain Bethune was authorised to select a spot on the coast where a British settlement could be formed. Mr Brooke spoke of Captain Bethune as intelligent and liberal, and he proved himself to be so. Little time was spent in Samwak, as the Driver started on her mission the 21st of February, and on the 24th anchored oflF the Brunei river, to find all quiet at the capital The Queen's letter was received with all honour, the presents were accepted with pleasure, and every one pretended to be delighted with the determination of her Majesty's Government to put down piracy. I say pre- tended, as the nobles felt that if piracy were effectually put down, slaves would be more difficult to procure, and they were too blind to see how their riches would increase by the natural development of their country. It was quite clear, however, that Muda Hassim could do nothing to put down piracy, unless backed up by our English force. On March 12th Mr Brooke and Captain Bethune arrived at Labuan to examine its capabilities, and firom thence re- turned to Sarawak and Singapore in order to meet the new Admiral, Sir Thomas Cochrane. I do not dweU on these journeys, as they were so similar in most respects, but ^ It may be mentioned here that Brunei is the ** Borneo Proper " of old maps and voyagers. 1845.] PANGERAN USUP. 101 reserve details for more important expeditions. Another visit to Brunei convinced both Mr Brooke and Captain Bethune of the dangers to which Mnda Hassim and his party were exposed from the intrigues of Pangeran Usup, supported as the latter was by the piratical communities of the north, headed by the dreaded Sirib XJsman, an Arab adventurer, who had gained considerable influence at Maludu Bay and in the neighbouring countries, — an influence which was much increased by a marriage with one of the daughters of the Sultan of Sulu. The Sultan of Brunei also, who was a pirate at heart, secretly favoured the enemies of Muda Hassim : in fact, though this was not known at the time, the Malay prince was only supported by the traders, or the men of the district of Burong Ping^. Mr Brooke saw the danger to his friends, and returned to Singapore again to lay the whole case before the Admiral. Sir Thomas Cochrane now determined to act, and collect- ing a squadron, the largest that had ever appeared on the coast of Borneo, sailed for Sarawak, where after a short stay he proceeded to Brunei. Sir Thomas felt that there could be no peace on the coast until Pangeran Usup was driven out of the capital, and until the piratical strong- hold at Maludu was destroyed. Fortunately, Pangeran Usup held two British subjects in slavery, and had re- fused to give them up. Upon this the Admiral, who had ascended the river to the capital with H.M.S. Vixen and two other steamers, called upon the Brunei Government to punish the man who not only had committed this crime, but who was in constant correspondence with the pirates, and was encouraging them in their pursuits. The Sultan, awed by the fine present, pretended to be willing, but said that Pangeran Usup was too strong for him, and begged the Admiral to take his punishment into his own hands. Usup was sent for, but refused to come : he assumed a defiant attitude, loaded his guns 102 LIFE OP SIR JAMES BROOKE. [cHAP. v. and said he would resist force by force, — in fact, he did not believe that the English would act. There were three war-steamers in the river, besides the boats of the squadrons— enough force to capture the whole island of Borneo; but stiU this boasting noble would not peld, though during the night he removed his treasures and his women to a place of security, and gave out that he intended to surprise one of the steamers. Precautions were, however, taken on board the ship of war. Next morning a shot was fired over Pangeran Usup's house, which he returned by firing at the steamers. In a few minutes such an iron shower had fallen on the place as never before had been known in Borneo. Pangeran Usup and his followers, however, had discreetly dis- appeared after firing their first volley. Having thus energetically supported Muda Hassim's authority in Brunei, Sir Thomas set sail for Maludu, on the north coast of Borneo, to look into Sirib Usman's proceedings. Mr Brooke, though on board H.M.S. Agincourt, the flag- ship, was not actually present at the attack on Maludu, Sir Thomas very properly thinking that a civilian should not expose himself unnecessarily in such expeditions. But the account given of the afiair shows how severe a struggle it was. I have been to the spot several times, and am rather surprised at the comparatively small loss. The attacking force, under the command of Captain Talbot, consisted of 24 boats and 550 men — blue-jackets and marines. They ascended the river to a spot where a strong boom pre- vented further progress. A treacherous attempt was made to take prisoners some of the leaders of the force, but this failing, the action began by the enemy opening fire upon the boats. This was returned ; but for fifty minutes the boom resisted all attempts, and during this time the Eng- lish were exposed to a very heavy fire indeed. Fortu- nately Malays and Sulus fire badly, or we should have 1S45.] DESTRUCTION OF MALUDU. 103 suffered worse. Once the boom was cut and broken, the boats pulled on, and in a few minutes the forts were in our power. We had but about twenty killed and wounded, but the enemy had suffered severely. Sirib Usman was carried away severely hurt, and soon after died : many of his most warlike chiefs were likewise killed, and all their riches were lost. The place was full of evidences of piracy — the spoils of many a captured European vessel In this action one of the officers engaged was Charles Johnson, the present Bajah of Sarawak, who here, for the second time,^ became practically acquainted with the pirates of Borneo. Among the little incidents which marked this affair, I may notice that a woman was found, twenty-four hours after the action, lying in a canoe with her arm fractured, unable to move, and dying for a drink of water. Playing about her was a little child, who was vainly seeking its accustomed nourishment. She was taken on board one of the vessels, her arm amputated, and Mr Brooke, on finding that she was a slave, offered to take her to Sarawak, to which she assented. I often saw her there coming up to visit her benefactor, with her little child; and although she quickly found a husband, she occasionally showed herself in order that Mr Brooke might not forget his accustomed largess. The destruction of Maludu was the greatest blow that had been struck at piracy, and did infinite honour to Sir Thomas Cochrane's judgment. The effect was great ; for although it afterwards became necessary to punish other pirate communities, no stronghold was again formed, and the good done was permanent. After the action a visit was paid to Balambangan, an island lying off the north of Borneo, and formerly held by ^ Mr Johnson was present at the attack on Patusan with the Dido's force in 1844. 104 LIFE OP SIR JAMES BROOKE. [ohap. v, the English. The first time we were driven out by the Stilus, the next it was abandoned as useless. The Admiral now departed with his squadron, and Mr Brooke and Captain Bethune left in the Cruiser to touch at Brunei, and from thence to Sarawak and Singapore. At Brunei they had the welcome intelligence of the energetic action of Bedrudin, Muda Hassim's favourite brother, in repelling an attack of Usup, and in driving him out of the country, forcing him to leave the capital and take refiige in Kimanis, a district about thirty-five miles to the north of Brunei When it was known that Usup had taken refuge there, a chop^ or order was sent by the Sultan to the headman to seize and put lo death the rebellious nobla I have listened to the chief's account of what occurred, and it strangely illustrates the ways of the natives. The Orang Kay a* of Kimanis was a very respectable man, who was exceedingly puzzled what to do. Usup had been kind to him, but if he disobeyed the order he would very likely sufiFer death himself oa the first occasion that he visited the capital Usup had naturally great suspicion that the Orang Kaya had re- ceived the order for his execution : he therefore took every precaution. His followers had dispersed, and there re- mained with him but one man, and that was his younger brother. When Usup slept, his brother sat by him with a drawn Am, or sword, in his hand ; when he bathed, similar precautions were taken : Usup in his turn performed the same office for his brother. Two or three weeks passed in this way, the Orang Kaya doing the honours of his house as if nothing had occurred, but at the same time keeping near him two or three strong men who were to take advantage of the first favourable opportunity. "It was here,*' said the Orang Kaya, pointing out to us the ^ A mandate with the seal of the Saltan or ruler. * Orang Kaya means chief, or literally "rich man." f m] EXECUTION? OF PANGERAN USUP.. 105 steep steps that led to the stream, '^ that I at last seized them. Usup was batlung ; his brother sat at the head of the steps, kris in hand ; my followers and I sat near chew- ing our 9iri; when Usup called from below that he should like a little of that leaf. The brother bent forward to give it, and in doing so let his kris rest flat on the floor. At this moment I gave the signal, and my followers sprang upoD him and secnred him and the arms. Usup would have fled, but it -was useless : my men rushed down the steps and secured him. They were taken into an inner loom, and there strangled with all the respect due to their relationship to the Sultan. Usup bitterly reproached me with my ingratitude and treachery, but I could not but obey the orders of my sovereign. There is his grave," added he, pointing to a neighbouring low hill, where a stone marked the spot of Usup's last resting-place.^ Pangeran TJsup was an able man, but unfortunately could not read the signs of the times: he thought the English were but birds of passage, and knew nothing of our power. Had he frankly accepted our advent, his ability might have been of singular service in a country where ability is rare. Mr Brooke returned to Sarawak, and Captain Bethune, after another tour among the Dy- aks, departed for England in order to lay his report on tlie north-west coast of Borneo before the British Gov- eimnent A little before this time an American frigate had visited Brunei, and had endeavoured to secure a cession of the coal, offering in return to protect the Government This Midueed Mr Brooke to compare the energy of the Amer- icans with our own slow proceedings. But a Uttle reflec- tion would have shown him that the captain of the frigate wanted to get the cession, and that the subsequent protec- I There were variotis versions of this story, though differing only in iBuior details. I think the one I now give is perhaps the most correct L 106 LIFE OP SIR JAMES BROOKE. [chap. v. tion would have been nominal, 'as the United States had only one vessel in those seas, and nothing but a force con- stantly in or very near the capital could have saved Muda Hassim's Government The rest of this year was passed in peace. An attempt made by some Arab adventurers to lead a Sakarang fleet to sea was defeated by the bravery of the Bolings, who surprised them ; and the pirates, thinking that these Dyaks were but the advance-guard of the Sarawak force, fled, leaving eighteen war prahus in the hands of the brave warriors of Lingga. In Sarawak everything was peaceful — trade was im- proving ; the people, instead of being half starved, now began to import rice, which showed what quiet could do for their prosperity. Thus closed the eventful year of 1845, during which much had been done to secure Mr Brooke's position. Before proceeding further, let us glance at those who now aided Mr Brooke in his attempt to govern Sara- wak. His chief foreign supporters were Messrs Euppell, Williamson, and Crookshank. Mr Buppell was. a good- hearted and a good-natured man, but did not understand administrative work : though bred to trade, he showed a similar incapacity in account-keeping. Mr Williamson, originally an interpreter, had the faults of those who are bom and educated in the East : he was able, and under- stood the natives, but was not suflSciently frank in his dealings with the poorer Malays. He was distrusted by Mr Brooke during the last years of his life, as it was evi- dent that he was too much influenced by the female rela- tives of the Malay chiefs. It is necessary to tell the exact truth about his oflScers, or otherwise Mr Brooke's career would be but half understood. Mr Crookshank, who had been bred to the sea, wjw one of those few men who are not thereby rendered unfit for shore pursuits. Of all IWe.] DEATH OP MR WILLIAMSON. 107 those who entered Mr Brooke's service, Mr Crookshank was the one who best understood the natives : no other ever arrived at that perfect knowledge of the language, that almost instinctive insight into Malay character, that patience to follow a difficult case, or to unravel a web of native intrigue. He was certainly a most useful and competent officer, and did what none other did, — he re- mained a faithful follower till long service entitled him to a pension. Perhaps I should add that he was one of the few sportsmen who succeeded in providing the larder vith venison ; and his hunts of the wild boar were as famous as was his good dog Kejang. Two melancholy events ushered in the new year : the first was the death of Mr Williamson, who, falling from his boat, was drowned. The circumstances were indeed 3ad. I have mentioned that he was too much under the infiuence of the relatives of the Malay chiefs, — so much ao indeed, that Mr Brooke had reason to suspect that jus- tice was not administered to the poor during his repeated absences ; that, in fact, they were left without protection, and that some of the old abuses of Malay government were creeping in. Inquiry having proved this to be the case, Mr Brooke had been forced to leave the administration in the hands of Mr Euppell, and to direct Mr Williamson to act as his assistant : he treated the latter also with marked coldness, and never invited him to join the plea- sant diimers at Government Housa At length the Malay chiefs interfered: they pointed out to Mr Brooke that Mr Williamson's errors had probably arisen from thought- l^sness ; and the Datu Patinggi also felt inwardly that if the English subordinate had erred, he himself had been the great culprit, as it was through his instigation that his relatives had exercised the wrong influence. At length Mr Brooke relented, as he felt that the severity he had already shown would probably deter Mr Williamson 108 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [cHAP. V. in future, and be an example to be avoided by others. The next morning he sent him an invitation to dinner, and in the evening he came. Everybody noticed how cheerful Mr Williamson was, now that the cloud between him and his chief had passed away. He stayed later than usual, and after a most affectionate farewell to all, went down to the river's side and stepped into his canoe. In- stead of sitting down, as w£^ his custom, he stood up, and his servant began to paddle him across. Unluckily the canoe bumped against some driftwood, Mr Williamson lost his balance, and was pitched head-foremost into the river. He did not rise; and though the neighbourhood was roused by the shouts of his servant-boy, and people hurried thither in canoes, it was not possible to do aiiiy- thing, as the tide swept the body away from the spot where he fell. Thus Mr Brooke lost an experienced and useful follower, who with many faults had yet many qualities, which made his death appear a public loss. I have described what occurred thus fully, as in later days, when passion was at its height, Mr Brooke was accused of having murdered this young officer. I have already noticed the removal of Muda Hassim, his brothers, and their followers to Brunei. Sir Edward Belcher having kindly undertaken this task, and estab- lished this branch of the royal family in the capital, it was believed that they would be advantageous to British interests. I have also noticed the opposition with which they met, and the spirited conduct of Pangeran Bedrudin in driving Pangeran Usup, their most prominent enemy, from the neighbourhood of the capital The death of this redoubted chief, however, did not clear the city of the enemies of the legitimate branch of the royal family. The Sultan of Brunei, like many men of weak intellect, delighted in the society of persons of inferior rank, and had collected around him a set of scoundrels inferior to none in IMS,] PLOT AGAINST MUDA HASSIM, 109 villany. He bad also near him his own illegitimate children, or those who passed for his children, and these had gained a decided influence over him. The presence, therefore, of Mnda Hassim and his brothers was irksome to all those who saw that they were aiming at supreme power, and that their own ambitious projects were likely to be foiled. When, therefore, Muda Hassim forced the Sultan to recog- nise him as heir to the throne, although a strictly legal act, conspiracies arose, and it was d etermine d toget rid of this branc h of the ro yal family. Mr Brooke at the time bought that the determination to massacre Muda Hassim and his brothers had its origin in the engagements entered into by them with the English to aid in putting down piracy, and to protect legitimate commerce. No doubt this added fuel to the fire; but I believe that, whether they had entered into engagements or not, they would have been destroyed, as the Sultan would have no equal near his throne, and the comparatively respectable charac- ter of Muda Hassim and his family was utterly opposed to his own conduct. The advocates of friendship with the pirate communities no doubt supported the scheme, Haji Saman being at the head of this party. Numerous meetings were held in the palace, and it w£^ some time before the Sultan would give his consent to the massacre of these his nearest relatives ; but after Muda Hassim had obtained from him the declaration that he was the Intimate heir to the crown, he no longer hesitated, and preparations were made to surprise all the brothers. So secretly was this scheme conducted that no details of the plan reached them. They did, however, receive some warnings; but feeling confident after the destruction of Maludu and the deaths of Sirib Usman and Pangeran Usup, and thinking that they had adequate support in the friendship of Mr Brooke and the aid of the English navy, they took no efficient precautions. 110 LIFE OP SIR JAMES BROOKE. [chap. v. One nighty when the brothers were scattered, the signal was given : bands of armed men left the palace, and pulling silently in the darkness, arrived unobserved near the houses of the different brothers. They attacked simultaneously. The young princes had but few followers with them. Bedrudin fought gallantly : he defended the entrance of his house for some time, but with three or four followers he could do little against a murderous band of forty or fifty. Finding that he with his kris held his own, and that they could not force an entrance into the house, one of the assailants fired. The shot took effect in Bedrudin's left wrist, and as that arm fell he received a severe wound in the right shoulder and several wounds in the body. His few followers were either killed or fled. He managed, however, to gain the inner apartments, where he found his sister, a favourite concubine, and Japar, a slave lad. The latter he commanded to reach down a barrel of powder, and spread the contents on a mat. He then called the women to sit near him, and turning to the lad said : " You will take this signet-ring^ to my friend, Mr Brooke, tell him what has occurred, let him inform the Queen of England that I was faithful to my engagements, and add," he said, " that my last thoughts were of my true friend, Mr Brooke." He then ordered the lad to save himselt Japar opened the lattice-like flooring, slipped down a post into the water, and swimming to a small canoe was enabled to paddle quietly away, while the murderers, suspicious, were cautiously making their entrance into the house. Japar had not proceeded many yards when a loud explo- sion told him that the gallant prince had set fire to the powder, rather than fall into the hands of his enemies. Muda Hassim was attacked at the same time, and pro- bably would have escaped had he pulled directly to the Burong Ping^ kampong, the inhabitants of which would ^ One which Mr Brooke had given him. 1846.] MURDER OP MUDA HASSIM, 111 have protected him. After a gallant defence, he too, wonnded and overpowered by numbers, was forced to destroy himself. Of the fourteen brothers, but two or three escaped : one, Muda Mahomed, whom I knew after- wards, was desperately wounded ; another became insane ; and this unfortunate family ceased to exist as a power. Although Mr Brooke endeavoured to do something for the survivors, they have almost disappeared as a political element in Brunei. Mr Brooke has often said before me that the destruction of this family was a misfortune to their country. Perhaps it was ; but I who lived several years in the capital heard many things which accounted for the unpopularity of these princea Malay court etiquette, when carried to extreme, is etiquette run mad. With all the apparent servility of the Malays, they are a democratic people, and during late years had become more so. One of the customs of Brunei was, that when a non-noble passed before a house inhabited by a royal personage, he was obliged to fold his umbrella and expose himself either to the hot rays of the sun or to the rain. The custom had fallen into desuetude, but these princes determined to revive it The principal street of Brunei is the main river. Whenever a non- noble was seen passing before Muda Hassim's palace with his umbrella up, officers were ordered to pursue and bring his canoe to the landing-place, and he himself was to be brought before the Eajahs to be fined. This gave rise to much abuse. The insolent followers of the princes, secure from aU punishment, beat and otherwise ill-treated the most respectable members of the commercial class, and thus alienated from the cause the most devoted par- tisans of Muda Hassim. I give this as but one instance ; but similar efforts to revive an obsolete etiquette, and many acts of great oppression whilst raising revenue, practised by irresponsible agents, loosened the bonds of 112 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [cHAP. V. respect which once united the cause of the people with that of the family of Muda Hassim. With these faults of education, however, it was not possible to treat with indifference the claims to respect to which Bedrudin was entitled. Brave, courteous to a degree even to be remarked by the most punctilious of a punctilious service, ready to be influenced by a foreign civilisation, and wanting near him but a wise and appre- ciative European to render him a superior ruler, I have ever regretted the death of Bedrudin at a moment when English influence was about to be established on the north-west coast of Borneo. I can well imagine the effect which was produced on Mr Brooke by the news of the death of his friends. His excitable nature was roused almost to madness : it made him ill to feel that he was without power to fall upon their murderers and exterminate them. He blamed the British Government for not having followed his advice, and stationed a vessel in the Brunei river until the power of his friends was fully established ; but he could not but afterwards confess that such an act of treachery on the part of the Sultan, after the recent triumphs of Bedrudin, was not to be foreseen. In fact, all appeared in their favour ; but we had yet to learn how utterly without forethought are the Malays, — how, in their ignorance of the power of foreigners, they brave their enmity, when it could be avoided by the dictates of the most ordinary prudenca Directly the news of the massacre of Muda Hassim reached Sarawak, Mr Brooke applied to the Government of the Straits Settlements at Malacca for a steamer to enable him to keep the coast quiet pending the decision of the Admiral. At that time Lieut-Colonel Butterworth was the Governor, and he readily complied with the re- quisition. . He sent the E.I.C. steamer Phlegethon to Borneo, and directed Commander Scott to place himself 1846.] SIR THOMAS COCHRANE. 113 at the service of H.M.'8 Agent. With the aid of this steamer Mr Brooke was enabled to keep the piratical rivers quiet, and to prevent the contagion from Brunei from spreading. Already secret emissaries had been sent from the capital to endeavour to incite disturbances in Mr Brooke's province, and, if an opportunity offered, to get rid of that agent of new ideas, the disturber of the good old order of things, and the possible future avenger of the death of his friends. Mr Brooke chafed at his inability to move with his own force, and the necessity of waiting for the decision of Sir Thomas Cochrane ; but he afterwards felt how much better it was to act with the power of England at his back. Directly the Admiral heard of the death of those who had so earnestly urged an alliance with England in order to extirpate piracy, he determined to look into the matter, and if necessary to act. He felt, as the responsible agent of England in these seas, that we had no right to inter- fere in the internal arrangements of the country, or to punish crimes that might arise from local jealousies, or from causes with which England had no concern. He had admired Bedrudin, had felt how superior he was to those around him, but at the same time he knew that the Saltan who had committed these crimes was the lawful ruler of the country, and that England had no right to call him to account for them, unless at the same time he broke his engagements with his new ally. It is seldom that a naval chief has either the time or the inclination to master the politics of a native state, but it is to the honour of Sir Thomas Cochrane that he did attempt to understand the position of parties in Borneo Proper, and^ understanding them, had the courage to act. As soon as circumstances permitted, he set sail from Sii^pore with a powerful fleet, and in a few days reached Sarawak. Anxious to promote the peace of the coast, he H 114 LIFE OP SIR JAMES BROOKE. [cHAP. v. cruised quietly along, and left the squadron, to visit the Bejang, the finest river on the north-west coast ; steamed above a hundred mUes up it in the Phlegethon, and warned the different chiefs against giving any aid to the piratical tribes, or listening to the evU advice of the emissaries from Brunei The sight of this powerful squadron had a great effect for the moment, but the natives used to look upon us as birds of passage, so that the effect was not permanent. The fleet anchored at length off the island of Muara, at the entrance of the Brunei river, and preparations were made for a visit to the capital Mr Brooke had received full information that the Sultan had summoned aU his sup- porters, that the inhabitants of the capital had been forced to work at extensive fortifications, that guns were mounted on many batteries, and that the armed bands comprised more than 5000 men. While the fieet was preparing for an expedition, a boat was observed pulling towards the flag-ship, and the yellow umbrellas denoted that some man of rank was approaching. It soon drew alongside, and two persons dressed in great state came on board bear- ing a letter from the Sultan, addressed to Mr Brooke. It requested him to pay no attention to rumours ; but shoxdd he desire to visit his Highness, to come in two small boats only, as no other force would be allowed to pass the bat- teries. Mr Brooke asked the messengers a few questions, and instantly suspected that these were low men who had been sent to act the part of nobles ; and it proved to be so. The Admiral determined to take no notice of the re- striction as to numbers, but to ascend the river as he had done the year before, with a similar force to support him. Two steamers and two sailing vessels were told off, and all the principal boats of the fleet were prepared. On passing the bar of the Brunei river the Hazard grounded, and the Admiral was forced to proceed with the other three vessels. The Phlegethon led the way. For some 1846.] CAPTURE OP BEUNEI. 115 time nothing of an opposing force was seen ; but no sooner did the squadron arrive at the reach below the great bend than they saw several formidable batteries before them, crowded with armed men. These batteries were posted with great judgment, and were mounted with very for- midable artillery. When the advance party was within about 1000 yards, the enemy opened fire, fortunately aiming too high, so that the whole volley passed over the English force and ploughed up the water in their rear The fire was quickly returned; guns, rocket-tubes, and musketry were brought into requisition ; the blue-jackets and marines dashed ashore, and in a few minutes the enemy abandoned their guns and fled into the jungle. The squadron then advanced and steamed up the main street In front of them, where the mosque now stands, Haji Saman, the head of the piratical party, had erected a battery that he considered invincible. As soon as he saw the English force before him he fired, and the heavy shot from his guns did some damage to the advancing ships ; and even his grape pierced the thin iron plates of the Phlegethon, which would have sunk had she not been built in compartments. But resistance was useless ; the English guns soon drove the Malays from the batteries, and the landing - parties took possession of the guns. These batteries were formidably armed. Some of the cannon were 30 and 40 pounders, mostly of old Spanish manufacture, and were elaborately ornamented. Thirty- nine pieces (nineteen of which were brass) fell into the hands of the British force. The marines were landed and occupied the hill behind the palace to prevent annoyance during the night; but the Bomeons were too cowed by the large force to attempt doing anything further. The city was found completely deserted, and thousands of houses full of property lay at the mercy of the con- 116 LIFE OP SIR JAMES BROOKE. [chap. v. querors. But private property was strictly respected. The Sultan fled into the interior, and tried to fortify himself, but he was followed up by anned parties under the command of Captain Mundy of the Iris, and he had again to fly into the swamps, leaving his property to be destroyed. Some of the less guilty chiefs, finding that the town was respected, began to return, and in a few days Mr Brooke was enabled to establish a sort of provisional government. The Admiral went so far as to say that, although the ultimate decision remained with the English Qovemment, yet, on proper submission, the Sultan would be permitted to return to his capital The capture of Brunei by the English squadron was a great event in the annals of the country. When, some years later, I travelled in the interior, the oppressed aborigines, after cautiously glancing round to see that no Bomeon was present, would express to me their delight at the defeat of their own Government, and describe in vivid colours the flight and terror of the nobles. " Tou should have kept the country," was the invariable finish to their stories. The provisional government which was established consisted of Pangeran Mumein, who, though not of really royal blood, was at the time considered the best man that could be found — a reason which some years subse- quently induced all parties to make him Sultan, — and of Pangeran Muda Mahomed, brother to Muda Hassim — a man originally of little wit, and that little much lessened by the terror of that night of murder, and the desperate wounds which he himself had received. Afiairs being thus settled, the squadron left Brunei, a single ship re- maining to preserve order, and proceeded along the north-west coast to look after the piratical communities of Pandassan and Tampasuk. These were punished for recent marauding acts. Maludu was visited, but found deserted. The Admiral then proceeded to China, Captain 1846.] THE sultan's SUBMISSION. Il7 Mundy of the Iris being left to look after the coast and punifih Haji Saman, the promoter of piracy, who, when driven out of Brunei, had retired to Membakat, where he fortified himself. He was quickly routed oat of this, and Mr Brooke proceeded to Brujifi^jvhere he found the Saltan ready to make every submission. Our agent in- sisted on the punishment of the murderers of Muda Hassim, but as the true murderer was the S ultan himself, only inferior agents could be punished. TEe^ Sultan was very humble, renewed all his engagements, even to a re- gift of Sarawak, and granted the right of working coal to Mr Brooke. This last he accepted to prevent any other nation obtaining exclusive rights, and held it at the disposal of her Majesty's Government. Having thus finished the political part of the business, Mr Brooke collected the survivors of Muda Hassim's family and removed them to Sarawak, where for some years they remained at the sole charge of Mr Brooke. There were about thirty or forty women and children, and a few men, none of whom were csdculated personally to excite any interest. While these events were taking place, the English Gov- ernment had determined to take possession of Labuan, an island opposite the mouth of the Brunei river. There had been a change of Ministry, and Lord Palmerston acted, as usual, promptly. It was during this year that my atten- tion was first turned to Borneo. I had read KeppeFs book with interest, and my father being acquainted with Mr Wise, Mr Brooke's agent in England, we.were kept informed of all that was passing on the momentous Borneon question. My father had constant interviews on the subject of Labuan with Lord Palmerston, both before and after he returned to the Foreign Office, and that enlightened statesman was glad to be able to obtain information from one who had really studied and taken great interest in the question. 118 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [chap. v. When the orders arrived to take possession of Labuan, Sir Thomas Cochrane directed Captain Mundy to proceed with a small squadron to Brunei and obtain a cession of the island, and then to take possession in the name of her Majesty. This he did, while Mr Brooke proceeded to Singapore to meet the Admiral, with whom he was desirous to communicate before his return to England. Mr Brooke remained absent from Sarawsik four months, only returning there in May 1847, having passed the in- terval with the Admiral at Penang, where the delicious climate of the Government house, 2500 feet above the level of the sea, aided in restoring his health, somewhat shattered by exposure. Having received instructions from her Majesty's Grovem- ment to negotiate a regular commercial treaty with the Sultan of Borneo Proper, he left Singapore in the East India Company's steamer Nemesis, Captain Wallage, and after touching at Sarawak to find all quiet and prosperous, proceeded to Labuan, and from thence to Brunei, accom- panied by Commander Grey of the Wolf, and Lieutenant Gordon of the Royalist, and a guard of marines. He found the capital quiet, and had little difficulty in induc- ing the Sultan to sign the treaty, by which Labuan became definitively a British possession, and future commercial and other arrangements settled. With the treaty in his possession, Labuan under the English flag, and secure of the Sultan's conduct after the lesson he had received from Sir Thomas Cochrane, Mr Brooke began to think of home. He made up his mind to pass a few days in Sarawak, and then to start for Eng- land overland. But before he left he was destined to have another brush with his old enemies the pirates. As the Nemesis steamed towards the mouth of the river she was hailed by a Borneon prahu, and Mr Brooke was able to msike out that there was a squadron of Balagnini out- 1847.] THE NEMESIS AMONG THE PIRATES. 119 side that had chased the Bomeon to the entrance of the river. Whenever the steamer cleared the point, the look- oat man at the mast-head shouted that he could see some prahus chasing another ; in a few minutes he could make out eleven in full pursuit of a fishing-boat that was be- ing urged with vigour towards Labuan. As soon, how- ever, as the smoke of the steamer became visible, the pirates gave up the chase and pulled into shallow water, and tried with might and main to get down the coast to some smaU river in which they might seek temporary shelter. But the Nemesis, though forced to make a detour to avoid the shoals, gained rapidly on the Balagnini, who, seeing flight impossible, as their vessels made slow way in a chopping sea, drew up in battle array in a small bay. Their stems were placed towards the shore, their bows to the sea, and to keep them well in line they were con- nected by a line of cable stretched across their bows. The Nemesis approached them, and Commander Grey, the senior oflBcer, to prevent any idea of mistake, directed a boat to be lowered, and an oflScer volunteered to approach them and discover who they were. It proved a useless precaution. Before the boat could shove off from the side, the pirates opened fire on the steamer, by which one man was killed. The fire, of course, was immediately returned, and rotmd-shot and grape were vomited forth from two 32-pounders on this formidable-looking enemy. The fire was kept up by the pirates with great spirit. The practice on board of the Nemesis was not good, even allowing for the roll of the sea, as the action lasted three hours and a half before it was thought advisable for the boats to make a dash, and even then it was too soon. When the pirates saw that the boats were about to attack them, three put to sea and steered to the northward, a fresh breeze having sprung up. The Nemesis gave chase. No sooner did the Balagnini observe that the steamer was off, than the crews y 120 LIFE OP SIR JAMES BROOKE. [chap. V. of three praJiua which they had abandoned ran down and manned them, and boldly engaged the boats. Had they fired decently they would have got the best of it, but the steady fire from our side kept them oflE In the mean- time Captain Wallage of the Nemesis, becoming aware of the danger of the boats, gave up the chase and returned. This soon chamged the face of affairs ; some of the prahus were again driven on shore, while three more were en- abled to escape. The action, while it lasted, was severe. The English lost two killed and many wounded, while the enemy had above fifty killed, whose bodies were seen, be- sides those who may have suffered in the other prahus : ^ there were also fifty or sixty men who were forced to take refuge on shore. The firing was heard at the capital, which, in a straight line, is not very distant from the coast, perhaps eight miles, while not a sound was noticed on board the English war -vessels at Labuan, though not more than fifteen miles distant, otherwise not a prahu would have escaped. As it was, of the six who got clear qf the Nemesis, three foundered from the injuries received during the engagement^ so that but few returned home to tell the tale. The Nemesis, after this encounter, communicated with the capital, Mr Brooke writing to the Sultan to request him to take care of the captives taken by the pirates, many of whom had been enabled to escape ashore. They were taken care of, and subsequently forwarded to Singa- pore. They were mostly either Chinese or Dutch subjects. The firing being, as I have said, heard in the capital, much alarm was felt, and the authorities collected together their armed men to be ready for any eventuality. Very ^ These prahus carry from 40 to 50 men each,— besides captives, who row in doable tiers. The vessels are lateen-rigged, and are armed with two bow-gons, several swivels, muskets, spears, swords, &c. 1S47.] BORNEON JUSTICE. 121 soon the villagers came flockiiig in to report what they had seen from the neighbouring hills. In the meantime the pirates who had landed were left without any ineans of escape. Six of their prahus had disappeared, and the English had seized the five remaining. Being without provisions they marched inland, and coming upon some small cottages after dark, they surprised the inhabitants in them' and wantonly killed those who had no time to escape. When this news spread, the whole country was in arms, and by the morning hundreds of men arrived from the capital and surrounded the houses where the pirates were staying. They were summoned to surrender, and being without food or chance of escape, they agreed to do so provided their captors would take them into the Sultan's presence. This was done. His Highness first offered to permit the escaped captives to kill with their own hands those who had treated them so barbarously, but they declined the task Upon this the Sultan gave the signal, and the young Sajahs rushed upon the pirates and hacked them to pieces. One of the young nobles who was engaged in this affair told me that these Balagnini behaved with the utmost courage, not one having begged for his life, but all declaring that their death would be thoroughly avenged by the Sultan of Sulu. The result of this action was most important : for many years after the Balagnini gave the north-west coast a wide berth, not caring to meet again one of the English Eajah's fire-ships. This engagement proved also how dangerous it is to send small boats to attack large pirate prahus, whose crews must fight or be taken. The inhabitants of all the north-west coast greatly rejoiced at the result of the fight. For many years the Bomeon seas had been rendered in- secure by them, and trade had languished, as every one feared to expose himself to a hopeless captivity. It took the Balagnini about fifteen years to forget the lesson. 122 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [cHAP. V. Mr Brooke left Sarawak under the care of Mr Arthur Crookshank, to whom I have before referred, feeling per- fectly secure that nothing would go wrong in his province. His reputation was then at its height on the coast, and no one dared to oppose him. Dr Treacher and Mr RuppeU, with their subordinates, were associated with Mr Crook- shank in the task of holding Sarawak during its Bajah's absence. I have no details of the voyage to England. Mr Brooke embarked with his friend Mr Hugh Low. He left Singa- pore in July, but on arriving at Point de Galle found the Calcutta steamer gone, and that he must wait in Ceylon for a month. Not to have to pass this time in such a place as Galle, he determined to visit Colombo, and then the up-country, where he fell in with an old friend, Mr Jolly, with whom he spent his time very pleasantly. He used often to recur to this visit, and express his admiration of the beautiful culture to be seen in the coffee plantations. In August Mr Brooke was enabled to start again, and finally reached Southampton on the 1st October 1847, after an absence of nearly nine years. He was met at South- ampton by Captains Keppel and Mundy, many members of his family, and by some of his old friends. What a happiness it must have been to his affectionate heart to find assembled there all whom he loved best ! This visit to England was one of the most interesting episodes of his life. He could not co mplain that his countrymen had overlooked his merit s : on the contrary, no one was ever better received, nor has any one's qualities been more generally appreciated. I fear, however, that but few materials are at my service to give a clear account of all that took place, as his letters during that time are brief, and personally I saw but little of what passed, though I had the pleasure of being introduced to him at Mivart's. 123 CHAPTER VI. MB BROOKE VISITS ENGLAND. 1847-1849. Mr Brooke's visit to England was in every way satisfac- tory. He found himself surrounded by an affectionate family and by a crowd of enthusiastic admirers, was treated with friendly consideration by the Ministers, and he acquired the respect and friendship of many who ever after remained steadfast to him. Among the most in- fluential of these were Lords EUesmere and Grey, the latter of whom has lately shown how fully he understood and admired Mr Brooke's noble qualities. Mr Brooke could not but feel that his countrymen thoroughly appreciated his services. London presented him with the freedom of its ancient city ; the principal clubs and City companies paid him every attention, and made him an honorary member; and Oxford honoured herself in honouring him with her distinctions. The undergraduates received his name with enthusiasm, for he was pre-eminently the man to create that feeling among young men. I find by his notes that he was dining with Lords John Bussell, Grey, Lansdowne, Leicester, and Auckland, making a round of country visits to Lords Lansdowne, EUesmere, Haddington, and to Sir Patrick Stewart, yet giving as much time as he could spare to his family and frienda 124 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [oHAP. Ti. Whilst in London he lived at Mivart's Hotel, and there surrounded himself by his most intimate friends, and con- tinued his Bomeon habit of staying up half the night in merry converse. One day, at breakfast, a waiter brought in a letter, which Mr Brooke asked permission to open immediately. He then said, "This is a very curious one." It was from some lady, who, enamoured of his deeds, pro- posed herself in marriage. The letter continued, that if Mr Brooke had no intention of manying, he was to destroy a note which was enclosed, and which contained her name, her address, and all particulars as to her family and fortune. The guests laughingly said, " Have an intention to marry, and open the note:" but Mr Brooke immediately rose from the table, saying, " I have no intentionjDfjaarrying/' and put the letter and the enclosure into the fire. If the lady be still living, it will be a comfort to her to know what became of her communication. My father used greatly to enjoy these meetings, and many a night has he sat up with his friend talking to two and three in the morning. I must notice one incident particularly, as it may tend to explain many an attack subsequently directed against Mr Brooke. In 1846, Mr Wise called to express his thanks for the tone of the articles my father had written about Borneo in the ' Morning Chronicle,' * Foreign Quar- terly Eeview,' &c. From this there arose a great intimacy, and Mr Wise urged me to turn my attention from Persia, where I expected an appointment, to Borneo. We noticed how enthusiastic Mr Wise always appeared to be when he referred to Mr Brooke ; but as my father used to say, he was too enthusiastic. This lasted about a year, when one day, after a very long conference with Mr Wise, my father said to me, " Our friend has been letting out a great many things about Mr Brooke : he accuses him of all sorts of crimes, but says these must be kept a profound secret \ 1847.] VISIT TO ENGLAND. 125 Perhaps you had better give up the idea of going to Borneo." When, however, Mr Brooke arrived, Mr Wise was the first to get him to attend a large dinner at his house, and then made a most fulsome speech when proposing his health, citing him as a paragon of goodness, philanthropy, and humanity. When my father told me this, I instantly set Wise down as a humbug; and further intercourse with Mr Brooke made us understand that some secret cause of enmity existed on the part of his agent. I afterwards dis- covered that his change of tone commenced from the date when he found that he could not induce Mr Brooke to intrust him with full powers to form a great company which was to acquire Sarawak for a very large sum, of which Mr Wise was to have half. He had stomached the expression that " a friend was worth a dozen agents," which by carelessness he was allowed to see in one of Mr Brooke's letters to his mother, but he could not stomach the loss of the great fortune which he had anticipated. This particular account is necessary to understand what followed. Another circumstance must not be forgotten. Captain Mundy having decided to bring out an account of the voyage of the Iris, had received permission from the Bajah to incorporate into his book that portion of his journals which had not already been published by Cap- ^^ KeppeL My father undertook to prepare this work for the press; but as his partial blindness prevented him reading the proofs, that share of the work fell to roe, and I regret to add that my want of familiarity with the names of Dyak tribes caused several transpositions, which were subsequently used to attack the Rajah out of his own mouth. The Eajah tried to correct the proofs, bat his engagements were too numerous. However, he did tty, as I find by the following extracts from notes to my father: ** January 13, 1848. — I send this corrected, but 126 LIFE OF SIE JAMES BROOKE. [chap. vi. it is nonsense, written on my first acquaintance with Bor- neon affairs." " I cannot write any more journal" " The names are frightful — much of the information valueless, from subsequent inquiiy." It is important to note these remarks, as even to this day his detractors have endeav- oured to attack his fame on account of some contradic- tions in his journals. Not only did the Ministers show their appreciation of what Mr Brooke had done in Borneo, but her Majesty testified her approbation by inviting him to Court — so that among the numerous visits which Mr Brooke paid, one of the most interesting was that to Windsor Castle. He gave a description of what occurred in a short letter to a niece, and although it has been already published, I will reprint it It is as follows : — " Wdtdsor Cabtli, 25^ OcUiber 1847. " I know, my dear Mary, that all you young ladies will be dying of curiosity to hear all about my visit here, and I hasten therefore to tell you that I am sitting in a room, a very comfortable room, with a good fire, a neat bedstead, and every other comfort and luxury which a gentleman could desire. I am sitting in this said room writing to my dear niece, and I much regret to say that I have not met with one single adventure, nor have I seen one precious face since being in this celebrated Castle, excepting Prince Albert's vald de cluimbre, who is a very well-spoken, well-dressed, civil gentleman — at which circumstance I am rather astonished, as I had always entertained an idea, a very vague and indistinct one, that all subordinate persons in all palaces were addicted to insolence and vainglory. Thus, my dear girl, you have the wonderful and entire history of all the events which have befallen me since I arrived; and as the time draws towards half -past seven, I must lay down 1847.] VISIT TO THE QUEEN. 127 my pen and dress for dinner. By the by, I asked the civil and well-spoken valet (whom you must know is a German) what dress it was strictly proper to appear in, and he very discreetly informed me that a black or blue coat, white waistcoat, white cravat, tight peintaloons, with black stockings, was the right thing — ^your shoes without buckles^ and neither hat nor gloves. Heaven help me ! how little I dreamed once that 1 should ever think of dress more ! how little I thought in my wildest imagina- tion that I should be here, her Majesty's guest ! So let us say with all our hearts, God bless the Queen ! 1 will go on to-morrow morning, if I have time. " 26th, — Three minutes before eight, the groom of the chambers ushered me from my apsu^tment in the York Tower, conducted me along a splendid gallery, resplen- dent with lights, and pictures, and statues, decorated with golden ornaments, the richest carpets, and bouquets of fresh flowers, and ushered me into a drawing-room as fine as mortal eye could wish to see. Directly afterwards Lady Westmorland and Lady Peel, with Lord Westmore- land and Sir Eobert, entered, with the lord-in-waiting (Lord Morley), equerries, and grooms : then came the Duke and Duchess of Bedford, &c., &c., and last the doors were throMm wide open, and the Queen and Prince Albert and the Duchess of Kent were ushered in, attended by the Court ladies. I had to kiss hands on my presentation : her Majesty said very sweetly that she was happy to make my acquaintance. 1 bowed to the ground. The Queen took the arm of the Prince, and led the way to the dinner-room. I handed out Lady Emily Seymour, the music played, the lights glittered, reflected from golden ornaments, the hall was splendid, the sideboard resplen- dent. What shall I say of the dinner, the plate, the cookery, all befitting royalty, and neither coldness nor stifiness ? The Queen was seated between Prince Albert 128 LIFE OP SIR JAMES BROOKE. [chap. VL on one side and the Duke of Bedford on the other, and — can you conceive it, Mary ? — she ate and drank just like any other mortal, but all in the most ladylike manner possible. After dinner we all stood, and her Majesty conversed first with the Duke of Bedford, then with Sir Eobert Peel, aud lastly with myself. She said all that was kind, talked with me for nearly ten minutes, and then we returned to the drawing-room. Prince Albert likewise honoured me with a long conversation, the Duke of Bedford talked to me. Sir Bobert shook me by the hand, and said I was no stranger to him. I was presented to Lady Peel, et hoc germs omne, which being translated means, " all them there nobs." Such are my adventures, my dear Mary; and in return I beg of you not to let any person read or see this letter, excepting our own families of Lackington, Cheltenham, and Hillingdon. Fare- well, dear Mary. It is now nearly time to go to chapel, after which I breakfast with the equerries, and start for London ; and I may conclude by saying that, highly hon- oured as I have been, delighted and pleased, yet I shall be glad when it is over." The Queen asked Mr Brooke, how was it that he found it so easy to manage so many thousands of wild Borneons ? His reply was characteristic. He said, " I find it easier to govern 30,000 Malays and Dyaks, than to manage a dozen of your Majesty's subjects. At which reply the Queen laughed, and said, "I can easily imagine that." Mr Brooke ever spoke of that visit to Windsor Castle with pleasure, and was pleased in after -years to learn that though not again invited to Court, it was from no want of sympathy on the part of her Majesty, but rather from the desire which Prince Albert expressed, not to appear to take even an indirect part in the discussions which waxed warm before Mr Brooke again returned home. 1847.] APPOINTED GOVERNOR OP LABUAN. 129 Among the many schemes to which Mr Brooke's arrival in England gave rise, was that of establishing a mission in Borneo. A great meeting was held in Hanover Square Sooms, where friends were collected and speeches made. Among the speakers was the Eev. F. T. McDougall, who had been selected to be the chief of the mission. The tone of his speech made Mr Brooke sigh, but it was hoped that his actions would be more sensible than his words. Many of Mr Brooke's friends and admirers thought that the Government would have taken the opportunity of his visit to England to give him some special mark of its approbation; but whatever hints he may have received of coming honours, he left England as he arrived, plain Mr Brooke. It was during this visit to England in 1847 that the late President of the Eoyal Academy painted that life- like portrait of the Bajah which shows what he was in his bright days, when hope still kindled his eye, and disease and sorrow had not bowed his frame. The Bajah fully appreciated, and often spoke of, this handsome gift of Sir Francis Grant.^ During his stay in England, Mr Brooke was appointed Crovemor of the new settlement of Labuan, and several officers were selected to serve under him. As these were numerous, it was determined that they should pro- ceed to their destination in a ship of war, vid the Cape of Grood Hope, instead of taking the overland route — a most unwise determination, as during this long voyage were sown the seeds of strife and heartburning, which sprouted and grew, and later on ripened into very un- pleasant fruit. Besides being Governor of Labu an, Mr Brooke was ^ I bought this picture at a sale of the effects of the late Rey. Charles Johnson, Sir J. Brooke's brother-in-law. I 130 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [chap. vi. Commissioner and Consul-Generaj ^in Borne o, and through this appointment I became associated with his work, I had read Keppel's book, had taken a warm interest in everything appertaining to Borneo, and had written in- numerable articles on the subject; and, as I have said, when Mr Wise suggested to me that I should seek an appointment in Borneo, I quickly caught at the idea, and determined to carry it out. My father introduced me to Mr Brooke at Mivart's, and I was then struck with that winning manner which in those days made every one who approached him his friend. Mr Brooke applied to Lord Palmerston to name me as his secretary, but as there were some diflSculties in that straightforward course, I received my appointment in a peculiar manner. Mr Hawes, Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, wrote to Governor Brooke that I was appointed his private secretary, and Lord Palmerston allowed me in a roundabout way £200 a-year. I re- ceived this announcement on the 24th January, with orders to be ready to start from Portsmouth on the 1st February 1848. From that time to the day of his death I was in con- stant communication, either personally or by letter, with the subject of this biography. As I have said, our party being a large one, the Govern- ment determined to send us out in the Meander Mgate, Captain the Hon. Henry KeppeL The vessel was spe- cially prepared for action against the pirates, being fur- nished with extra boats drawing but little water, so as to be able to carry a large force up the shallow rivers. How full of hope we all were on that, to me, memorable day when we sailed from Portsmouth under our renowned Captain, February 1, 1848 ! We had on board the follow- ing passengers: Mr Brooke, Governor of Labuan, and Commissioner and Consul-General in Borneo ; Mr Napier, 1848.] THE PASSENGEBS OP THE MEANDER. 131 lieutenant-Grovemor ; Mr Scott, Surveyor, now Sir John Soott ; Captain Hoskins, Harbour-Master ; Mr Hugh Low, Secretary to the Government, now H.M/s Eesident at Perak ; Mr Spenser St John, Secretary to Mr Brooke as Commissioner, now H.M/s Minister Eesident at Peru. There were also several other passengers, as Mrs Napier, Miss Napier, Mr Gwynne, Captain Peyten, &c. There is no greater error in the world than turning vessels of war into passenger-ships, particularly when ladies are concerned. Every spot is occupied beforehand, so that the unfortunate passengers soon discover that they are de trop wherever they endeavour to find a resting-place. And the comfort of the officers and the discipline of the ship suffer from having a miscellaneous crowd of idlers on board. Though every desire was shown both by the Captain and officers to render the passengers comfortable, it had but poor success Mr Scott, Mr Hoskins, myself, and a Lieut. MuUer, were stuffed into one small cabin with only two beds, and I had to resign myself to swinging in a hammock during the voyage, and dressing as I could in the cabin of an officer, a good-natured feUow of the name of Jeans. Mr Brooke was naturally better off, and was provided with a very spacious cabin constructed on the main deck ; while M^ Napier and the ladies had all the cabins on the starboard side to themselves. The beginning of our voyage was a rough one. Scarce had we left the harbour when a heavy wind and a head sea drove the unfortunate passengers to seek shelter where they could. The luggage was banged about, the sea broke in the glass ports and deluged us, and all was discomfort until, after calling in at Plymouth and Cork, we found ourselves at Funchal. We did enjoy Madeira. Mr Brooke called on and after- wards dined with the Queen Dowager, who was residing 132 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [chap, vl on the island for the sake of her health ; and baUs and picnics and parties marked our stay. We were sorry to leave. I now began to have opportunities to study Mr Brooke's character, and I notice frequent references in my journal to the growing enthusiasm which our intercourse created, though I was not bUnd to the inconvenience of the pres- ence of so good-natured a man on board of a ship of war. Mr Brooke, as I have said, had a large cabin, and this was the rendezvous of as unruly a set of young officers as it has been my fortune to meet. He had a nephew on board, Charles Johnson, a staid sub-lieutenant, who endeavoured to preserve order, but it was of little avail The noisy ones were in the ascendant, led by a laugh- ing, bright-faced lad, who, when he was a midshipman in the Agincourt in 1845-47, had become acquainted with Mr Brooke, and whose fondness for cherry-brandy was only equalled by his love of fun. No place in the cabin was respected: six or seven would throw them- selves on the bed, careless whether Mr Brooke was there or not, and skylark over his body as if he were one of themselves. In fact he was as full of play as any of them. The grave Secretary seated at the writing-table could but look on with astonishment at the liberties taken with his chief, for whom he felt then almost veneration, so highly did he esteem the work he had been performing in the East But these young imps thought of nothing but fun: they ate his biscuits, drank his cherry - brandy, laughed, sang, and skylarked, till work was generally useless, and nothing was done. One can readily imagine how all this was injurious to disciplina There were some twenty in the midshipmen's berth, and nearly all considered themselves at liberty to use Mr Brooke's cabin as a sort of club. The conse- 1848.] VOYAGE OF THE MEANDER. 133 quences were soon felt : the senior officers thought them- selves slighted in favour of their juniors, whose natural impatience of control was heightened by the injudicious encouragement they received; and I, who lived in the gun-room, soon began to fear that this coolness augured ill for our future proceedings in Borneo. To add to our troubles, disagreements soon arose among us about the lady passengers ; and what was intended to cement the friendship of all those who embarked on board the Meander, had the effect of producing disagreements from which we all suffered afterwards. Mr Brooke passed the principal portion of his time in reading, reclining in his bed or on an easy-chair ; for although capable of great exertion, he was very fond of lounging. Occasionally he wrote, but much work was impossible, unless the bolt was drawn, and intruders thus shut out From Madeira to Bio Janeiro the voyage was pleasant. The trade-winds blew steadily, and we forged ahead at a good pace, sometimes touching 13 knots an hour. No- thing worthy of notice occurred at this capital of Brazil, and we soon passed on, making the shortest cut to Anjer, in Java, by trying the great-circle sailing. We did not actually go far enough south, but quite far enough for comfort, as we had heavy winds, rough seas, and bitter cold. Captain Eeppel had a passion for making rapid passages, and carried on sail until the ship was half buried in the sea: the consequences were loss of spars and canvas to the ship, and loss of comfort for aU. Wq grumbled — officers, men, and passengers — ^but it was of no use ; drive ahead we must, and drive ahead we did. It was a great pleasure to be invited to one of Captain Keppel's dinners. When in good spirits, Mr Brooke kept the table alive with his talk, and Eeppel was an excellent TOJOcmJUnt/r. On one of these occasions the band kept on 134 LIFE OP SIR JAMES BROOKE. [chap. vi. playing after dinner; and on striking up a polka, Mr Brooke jumped up from his seat, seized hold of an ofBcer, and danced about the cabin to our great amusement : the band changed into a waltz, and Mr Brooke immediately continued his dance with one of the ladies, and, after every species of fun, sat down to piquet, and laughed and talked the whole evening, to our great satisfaction. As we approached towards the end of our journey, every one seemed to gather fresh spirits; and on the quarter-deck in the evenings games were inaugurated, and high-cocko- lorum was greatly appreciated. Mr Brooke, active as a kitten, made the most wonderful jimips, only approached by one or two on board. It was an amusing sight — ^first a little naval cadet, then the tall lieutenant-Govemor of Labuan, then a fat mid, till the line was most irregular in height, and a heavy-weight would send the whole floundering on deck together. One day we had suffered from calm and light winds ; the sea was unrufiSed as a mill-pond; the mids were whistling for a wind ; Mr Brooke and I were leaning on the taffrail and talking of the future. The ship was still, the sun had set; we gradually sank into silence, fix)m which I was drawn by a sort of ejaculation from my companion, "What a beautiful scene!'* — and beautiful indeed it was. The moon, but a few days old, appeared brighter than usual, and shed its soft rays on every side, tinging the waters, and illuminating the ship's wake The sky was of the deepest blue, and the stars appeared to stand out from it, while occasionally the light fleecy clouds coursing above added charm to the scene, and gave signs of the coming breeze. What an interesting moment it is on board to watch the springing up of a breeze after a long calm ! We stand anxiously at the stem, and watch with intense anxiety the approaching wind, as it raises the waves and curls them IMS.] *' TAKING A PRIEND'S WATCH." 135 in the distance. The course of the breeze is easily dis- tinguished by the darker appearance of the water. This time, as the breeze caught us, we flew before it, and presently found ourselves in a calm : again the wind came up, and sent us merrily on our way. Mr Brooke was so great an admirer of these scenes at sea that he would often get up and keep the middle watch with a friend, walking the deck from 12 P.M. to 4 A.B1, or at least a good portion of it. When in London, Mr Brooke was describing to a very ingenuous American lady the pleasures of a long voyaga "For example," he said, "you c€ui take a Mend's watch" "What! Do you gentlemen on board steal each other's watches ? " was the startled reply. I seldom troubled the deck myself during the middle watch, but as we approached land I so longed to sight it that I got up at half-past two one night to catch a glimpse of Java, and asked Mr Brooke to accompany me. When we came on deck we found the ship almost still, although the wind blew freshly ; but we had hove to, for fear of running on shore. The rain fell heavily, and towards the north a deep loom proclaimed the vicinity of land. The scene, however, looked cheerless : the rolling of the vessel, the dripping rigging, the sloppy decks, the splashing of the rain, all combined to render it desolate, but I felt an inward satisfaction in knowing that we were near land. Mr Brooke soon went below, while I stayed to enjoy a mid's simple supper, served on the capstan, where five, possessing only a couple of plates between us, managed to stow away a goodly amoimt of salmon and biscuit, watered by the everlasting cherry-brandy and a little grog. As the voyage di*ew to a close, Mr Brooke began to draw up minutes for the guidance of the different oflBcers ; and as I did most of the copying, the bolt of the cabin- door was more frequently drawn than before, much to the 136 LIFE OF Sm JAMES BROOKE. [chap. VI. disgust of our mids, ^ho must have looked on me as a dreadful bore, not being able to work amid their noisea I find very few references to this voyage in the Eajah's correspondence, except as to the Meander being an un- happy ship. I am afraid that the passengers, not except- ing Mr Brooke himself, were the original cause of the troubles on board. At length we sighted the hill of Singapore, and a boat came off with all the wonderful intelligence of the French Revolution and the fall of Louis Philippe. How inter- ested Mr Brooke was, — ^how eager for news ! The post- ofQce boat brought oflf our correspondence, and we spent half the night in reading it. We had had no news whatever from England since we left Cork on the 15th February, and now we were arrived at May 20. How different from the present time, when the telegraph pursues you everywhere, to tantalise you with but frag- ments of news ! We were all pleased to reach Singapore, particularly Mr Brooke, who had become tired of the eternal squab- bling that marked the last few weeks on board. The day after our arrival in Singapore Roads Mr Brooke landed in state, and was received at the wharf by Colonel Butter- worth, Governor of the Straits Settlements, and a guard of honour. Next day a ball was given to the new arrivals, which was really well worth seeing. I have spoken of the discords which broke out on board the Meander, — these separated the lieutenant-Grovemor from the Navy ; an in- cident which occurred at this ball separated him for good from the Grovemor of the Straits, and produced evil fruit for our new settlement. I will not say that the Lieutenant- Governor was altogether in the wrong, except that in a public position an ofQcer can be too sensitive to apparent slights. After about three weeks' stay in Singapore, Mr Brooke 1W8.] MADE A K.C.B. 137 sent on Messrs Scott and Hosldns to prepare the site of the town which was to be built at Labuan, while the rest of t]ie i>arty remained in Singapore. Here was the first error. The officers sent on were unaccustomed to a tro- pical climate, while those who remained knew exactly what should be done. This arose from too kind a feeling towards the ladies of our party, and an unwillingness to separate them ; but the presence of one conversant with Malay was so apparently necessary, that we were sur- prised at the time that our chief could be talked into the arrangement, which proved almost disastrous. We passed above three months in Singapore. There was much to be done in preparing framework houses for Labuan, but the work was more suited to a carpenter than to a couple of governors. Singapore is a very favourite place, — a settlement where the sagacity of its founder, Sir Stamford Eaffles, has been borne out by its prosperity, and where the merchants, fairly prosperous, are hospitable to every one who will be at the pains to seek their society. No one who has any employment need be dull in Singapore. During our stay, news reached us that her Majesty had been pleased to confer upon Mr Brooke the Order of the Bath, — that he was now a KC.R - ^Sir Jam es Brooke for the future^ The installation took place in Singapore. How we regretted that the news arrived before we sailed ! as we should have liked to have had the ceremony per- formed amid the wild beauties of the Bomeon forest 138 CHAPTER VII. RETURN TO SARAWAK. 1848-1849. Every arrangement being completed, the Meander sailed for Sarawak on the 28th of August, leaving the Lieutenant- Governor to follow after the arrival of the mail. We were a small party, consisting of Sir James Brooke, Mr Grant, and myself. Mr Grant had been a midshipman on board the Meander, but had left the service to become Sir James's private secretary. He was the one with the laughing eyes, who was the leader of the noisy fun in Mr Brooke's cabin. We soon reached the coast of Borneo, to be welcomed, as Sir James had been during his first voyage, by thunder, lightning, and rain; but a different welcome greeted us the day after our arrival at the entrance of the Sarawak river. I must give, in words written at the moment, an ac- count of the reception which the Bajah of Sarawak re- ceived from his faithful subjects. As his followers ever after called him ''the Bajsdi," I shall use this term as synonymous with Sir James. Sept. 4 — ^About ten o'clock in the morjiing native war- boats commenced issuing from the Morotabas entrance of the Sarawak river, and sailed towards the frigate. These were manned by the Sarawak people, come to welcome 1W8.] RECEPTION AT SARAWAK. 139 back their Eajah to the country of his adoption. They were in long light praJius, with tapering masts and "but- terfly" sails, ornamented with flags and streamers, and with all the crews dressed in gala costuma The chiefs came on board, and greeted their Eajah with heartfelt gladness, while from their own boats we were deafened by a con- tinual beating of gongs. Some of our visitors were rather fine men, but on the whole their outward appearance was very homely : their jackets, however, were tastefully orna- mented with gold embroidery, and when clustered together they looked picturesque. About one o'clock we left the Meander under a royal salute and manning of yards, — a ^aly royal treatment. Manning the yards has a singular effect — ^the whole of the spars covered with men in their clean white dresses, standing apparently hand in hand, and all of the same height. When the last echoes of the salute had died away, the blue-jackets gave three hesity cheers, and then swarmed like bees down the rigging. The war prahus kept up a constant firing of guns, much to our and their own amusement. The pull up the river was a long one ; but the appearance of the country was worth the ennui of six hours in a boat Near us, the scene was ever the same ; but in the distance the fine outlines of ranges of moimtains afforded a striking contrast to the low jungle around. Occasionally we passed fishing huts and boats, and once a small Chinese junk that fired a royal salute of three guns as we passed by. As we drew near the town, the shades of evening fell, — not, however, before a most brilliant sunset had delighted us. The prahus, sailing up at irregular intervals behind, the long snake-like Dyak boats, all kept up their firing and beating of gongs and drums, forming to me, a stranger, a most wild and picturesque scene. As we rounded the last point and came in view of the capital, we were sur- prised to find the whole town illuminated. Every house 140 LIFE OF SIB JAMES BROOKE. [oHAP. vn. had rows and clusters of lamps, whose light, reflected in the placid waters, rendered the effect doubly brilliant. We were welcomed at the Bajah's house by all the European inhabitants, and soon felt quite at home. The house was quickly filled by the native chiefs, while every available window and door presented crowds of eager gazers. There was a genuine feeling of delight at the Eajah's return, and I could perceive a glow of satisfaction beaming in his face, gradually settling down into a look of quiet happiness, and his observation proved it — " I feel more happy here than anjrwhere else in the world ; this is my home." Sir James Brooke's house was, as I have before remarked, oblong in form, and consisted of four rooms — a large din- ing-room, a library, and two bedrooms — while at one end was built a wing, in which he had his private apartments. Another wing was added afterwards for his nephew, and little cottages were built for his suite. Altogether it was a very charming abode. The interior arrangements were at a later period modified and improved, a noble library added, which was my chief delight ; in fact, in no other home have I spent more happy hours. When we arrived in Sarawak in September 1848, Kuching, the capital, was but a small town of perhaps 6000 or 7000 inhabitants, with a few Kling* and Chinese shopkeepers. There was but little trade, — ^the unsettled state of the coast prevented prahus from arriving ; the staple article — antimony ore — was unsaleable, on account of the disturbances in Europe ; and the revenues, minus the unpaid royalty on antimony, scarcely exceeded £1500 a-year. It was a dull prospect, but we were all full of hope. To show the style of intercourse which the Rajah kept up with his people, I will give an account of a visit he ^ Natives of the Malabar coast of India. 1848.] A MALAY LADY. 141 paid, four days after our arrival, to Mina, one of the wires of the principal Malay chief, the Datu Patinggi I will give it in words written at the time, as they have the merit of freshness. Sq>t 8. — We started up the river at one o'clock in a light canoe: every house and every landing-place were crowded with people to gaze on the Bajah, as the boat was rapidly paddled up the stream. There was every prepara- tion made for receiving us in state — flags, streamers, and gODgs as usual, with men assembled near the guns holding lighted matches ; and as we approached the landing-place, the salutes began, and were continued at frequent inter- vals during the whole of our visit From the wharf to the house white cloth was spread for us to walk on ; and as we entered we were greeted with a shower of yellow rice for luck's sake. Passing through an outer room, we en- tered the haU of audience— a large square apartment, without an ornament on its bare plank walls save a soli- tary old pistoL The floor was covered with mats, and on either side was ranged a file of chairs, facing each other, for Mina's European guests. At the upper end was a seat, with a piece of gold brocade thrown over it, for the Rajah, while cloth-of-gold was spread under his feet. At his right sat Mina, on the prettiest of mats. She had received us with a good deal of elegance. After a few words of wel- come, she rose, and, with her maidens, began to shower on us yellow rice, touched our foreheads with a golden ring, and then sprinkled our hair with gold-dust These greetings being over, I had leisure to look round the room and examine the assembled crowd. Behind us sat the women and girls, a few of the younger tolerably good- looking, and, for Malays, perhaps handsome ; but in gen- eral they were very plain. The other portions of the room were crowded with men and boys — some of the latter naked, others half dressed, while a few were decently 142 LIFE OF SIE JAMES BROOKE. [ohap. tu. clothed. Among the Malays, however, it is difficult to judge the rank of a man by his dress. Mina sat, as I before observed, on the Bajah's right, and entered readily into conversation. One of her observations is well worth re- cording. The Bajah paid her a compliment on her neat house, when she answered, " Ah, sir, were it not for you, I should not have had this house ; it is yours. We never had such a place as this until you came to live among us." Her voice is occasionally very sweet ; she is pleasant in her manner, and tolerable in her appearance — plainly dressed in a long black robe, with large gold buttons down the front, and rows on either sleeve. After partaking of a limcheon of sweetmeats, we retired with the same honours that had greeted our entrance. We paid many other visits to the wives of the different chiefs, — among others, to the second wife of the Datu, and we were much amused by his plaintive complaints, that now Mina had a new house, the other wife, Inde^ insisted on one for herself. A model of a large house was brought forward, and the wife and her fine-looking daughter, Fatl- msL, playfully insisted that the Bajah should order the Datu to comply with their desira He answered, amid much laughter, *' If you tease him enough, he will do it ; *' and he did it shortly afterwards. A few days before the latter visit. Captain Brooke of the 88th Begiment, Sir James Brooke's nephew and aide- de-camp, arrived, — a pleasing, considerate companion, with whom, for fourteen years, I lived on the most intimate and affectionate terms. The object of Sir James Brooke in visiting Sarawak before proceeding to Labuan was not only to see his peo- ple, but to organise a league of the different trading rivers against the pirates of Seribas and Sakarang, who, during the Bajah's absence in England, had recommenced their marauding expeditions. A great meeting was held on 1848.] THE FLAG OP SARAWAK. 143 the 21st September, at which the flag of Sarawak was hoisted amid general cheering and a salute of twenty-one guns : then the European inhabitants of Sarawak presented Sir James with a handsome sword, and he, in return, pre- sented the native chie& with swords ; the Meander's band played, complimentary speeches were made, and the cere- mony was over. The important object of the meeting then came off. The Eajah explained to the assembled chiefs that the flag of Sarawak might be used by any community allied with Sarawak for the repression of piracy, but at the same time he warned the chiefs of the neighbouring provinces who were present that if they held any intercourse with the pirates, they would be considered equally gidlty. The object chiefly aimed at was to stop as far as possible the supply of salt, iron, and flrearms, and thus facilitate the submission of the pirate communities. Neither the Seri- bas nor Sakarang made salt, and were therefore dependent on their neighbours ; but many chiefs, influenced by the large profits of the trade, clandestinely furnished the pirates with this indispensable article. The question of the Sarawak flag gave rise subsequently to much discussion. It was argued that in introducing this flag, Sir James Brooke not only desired to create a distinctive mark of country for his own people, but that he was influenced by the ambition to combine the whole coast under one Grovemment. This is no doubt true : it was impossible for good government to exist in Sarawak without its neighbours desiring the same advantage, and the feeling was almost unanimous that the Bajah should take possession of the adjoining districts. Those who opposed it were certain chiefs, who feared both loss of power and loss of incoma I should here notice that a few months before our arrival at Euching, the Society for the Propagation of the Grospel 144 LIFE OP SIR JAMES BROOKE. [chap. vn. had established a Mission in Sarawak, at the head of which was placed the Eev. F. T. McDougalL His remarkable medical talent was of the greatest service to us all, and no one in Sarawak can ever forget his unwearied atten- tion to them when struck down, as the officers often were, by the weakening fevers of the country. I have publicly differed with him as to the management of the Mission, but it is unnecessary to revive a forgotten con- troversy. Mr McDougall deservedly exercised more influ- ence over the European inhabitants than any one before or since : it was a happy party, until, many years later, the demon of discord entered there. Three days after the ceremony I have described, we left Kuching, and joining the frigate Meander at the mouth of the river, immediately sailed for Labuan, where we arrived in a few days. Labuan, the island chosen for an English settlement, was 11 miles long by 7 miles broad at the base of its angular shape. It was covered with forest, but had an open swampy plain, which formed one side of its fine har- bour on the southern shore. Coal had been discovered, and was already rudely worked by a Mr Miles. When we reached Victoria harbour we found that Mr Scott had erected a series of comfortable -looking mat houses on the dry sandy beach between the swamp and the sea. No more unfortunate place could have been chosen ; the site could not fail to be fever-stricken. I do not blame Mr Scott for this, as not only was he un- acquainted with tropical countries, but he acted under orders. The proper site for the first houses was, how- ever, on the ridge of hiUs, where Mr Low subsequently built his permanent residence. As soon as possible after our arrival, Sir James Brooke was sworn in as Governor, and then we started for Brunei in the Meander, to ratify the treaty with the Sultan. What 1848.] A DISMASTED SHIP. 145 a day of disasters! The south-west monsoon was blowing fiercely. Under easy sail the Meander was forging ahead so fast as to drag under water her launch which she was towing astern, and seriously to endanger her little steam- tender. Men and gear were seen floating in the distance as we shortened sail. Standing by the side of Sir James Brooke, at the stem port of the captain's cabin, I observed this curious scene. The wind was blowing hard, driving masses of cloud across the sky — the rain descended in torrents, and there was a heavy sea. Now and then appearing above the waves we could see the heads of the swimmers in the distance, the launch filled with water, the steam-tender cut adrift to save her from being dashed to pieces against the ship's side, the two cutters and the jolly-boat in search of the men and gear. Fortunately the men were saved, and a glass of grog put them to rights : one of them who could not swim had already had four such upsets on this coast. WhUe occupied in getting in the launch, the signalman reported that H.M.S. Eoyalist, which had left three days before, was in sight without a single mast standing. When she passed us she appeared a perfect wreck. A squall had taken her aback off Baram Point, and had swept every- thing away. Fore, main, and mizzen masts, had all fallen along the deck without seriously injuring a man, though several of the crew were sent sprawling under the weight of the rigging. These disasters induced Captain Eeppel to return to Labuan without accomplishing the object of our mission, and on the 14th October the Meander left us for Singapore. We now began to suffer from the effect of the ill-chosen site of our houses. One after another the officers were struck down with fever. In the midst of this distressing period, Rear- Admiral Sir Francis Collier made his appear- ance in the Auckland. He was a short, stout, shrewd 146 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [c5Hap. VII, man. I sat next to him at dinner, and he amused me greatly by his remarks. He was a clever, prosy, coarse, though often gentlemanlike man, a Tory of the old school " Did I think," said he, " I had a drop of Whig blood in my veins, I would have the barber to come and bleed me until it was all out of my body." He had once been summoned before a bench of magistrates, and having uttered a great oath, the chairman fined him five shillings for swearing. He looked grimly at the bench of three magistrates, drew a gold coin from his pocket, threw it on the table, and said, ** D your eyes all round, and that will make up the sovereign." Either alarmed by the sickness on shore, or for some other reason, the Admiral took a violent dislike to the new colony, and ever after tried to run it down. He remained but a few hours, embarked some invalids, and was then off. His report was no doubt deemed highly valuable and interesting. I cannot much wonder at his alarm, for in the midst of dinner I was called out to attend to one of our chief ofiScers, Dr Treacher, and found him sinking fast I ran back to tell the Eajah, who instantly came, and, seeing the danger, forced a glassful of brandy-and- water down his throat, and thus revived him. No wonder that the poor Admiral turned pale at the idea of the hotbed of fever in which he foimd himself. Most of our party having recovered fipom their fevers, an expedition was organised to enable us to proceed to Brunei to ratify the treaty. We had the little steam-tender of the Meander, called the Eanee ; a sailing gunboat, the JoUy Beichelor, belonging to Sir James himself, but manned by a crew from the frigate ; and a couple of other boats. This was to me a most interesting expedition. Our party, con- sisting of the Bajah, Govt. - Secretary Low, the Bajah's nephew Captain Brooke, his private secretary Grant, an energetic midshipman named Suttie, a few others, and 1848.] RATIFICATION OF THE TREATY. 147 myself were all inclined to enjoy the change from Labuan and the novelty of the visit. I have before described Brunei and its lovely river. We were as usual well stared at, and our little st^tmer enjoying the monopoly of favour, was weU saluted; but at length we landed and took pos- session of a large shed-like house near the shabby palace and stiU shabbier mosqua The ceremony attending the ratification of the treaty was very simple. We visited the Sultan in his haU, of which the only ornament was a rough sketch of a ship done in char- coal by some lad. Facing us as we entered, his Highness was discovered seated on a china bedstead as his throne, with Mumein, his prime minister, at his feet, while a few nobles were squatted around. At our entry his Highness rose, and advancing seized Sir James Brooke's hand and led him to the bedstead, and seated him on his left. A few complimentary speeches were made, the treaty was brought in, salutes fired, and the ceremony was over. One of the causes of his EUghness's lively satisfaction was, that the Eajah had brought with him £1000 to be divided among the members of the Government; and his eagerness to obtain the money was only equalled by his childish curiosity to know if there was not something else coming. Sir James, however, aided by Mr Low, entered actively into n^tiations with the authorities in order to insure the welfare of the new colony : he endeavoured to calm their apprehensions and to excite their interest, and before we left a much better feeling prevailed. We visited many sights of interest in the neighbourhood, particularly the coal- formations on the Kianggi stream. On the 31st of October we returned to Labuan, and next day there commenced the most distressing month that I have ever passed through. The weather was very impropitious : the south-west mon- soon blew with all its force ; the sea rose to an unprece- dented height and swept over the beach, filling the lower 148 LIFE OP SIR JAMES BROOKE. [cHAP.Tll. parts of the houses with water, and damaging the provi- sions stored there ; the rain fell in such quantities as to turn the swamp into a huge pool of fetid water, and the con- sequences were obvious. The Governor, the lieutenant- Govemor, the Doctor, Mr and Mrs Low, Captain Hoskins, Mr Grant, Captain Brooke, the marines, — all were down with fever at the same tima The only civilians who escaped were Mr Scott and myself Mr Scott, as surveyor and engineer, was the most actively employed of the whole party, and was always welL I, being half an idler, turned hospital nurse, and for a fortnight at a time slept on a mat beside one patient or another. The water rushing under our houses and through the store-rooms alarmed the rats, and dozens of them invaded our bedrooms. So bold were they, that while watching by the side of my patients I could prod with my sword the boldest that ran near, but very quietly, for fear of awakening my sleeping friends. A panic seized the servants, and most of them refused to aid under the plea of sickness, so that much unusual work fell to my shara The Governor's fever so reduced him that I began to entertain grave apprehen- sions, when on the 27th the Auckland arrived, to be fol- lowed next day by the Meander. Captain Keppel saw at a glance what was to be done. EUs friend was evidently in a low state. He must leave the fever-stricken island, and go for a cruise with him. To combine business with the pursuit of health, it was deter- mined to start for the Sulu Archipelago, and to call at various rivers on the way to open relations with the chiefs. Sir James Brooke, Captain Brooke, Mr Grant, Dr Treacher, and myself embarked therefore on the 3d December, and once more found ourselves among the companions of our outward voyage. We visited Kimanis, whence the chief came off to see the Rajah. We were, however, prevented from canying out our design of visiting other rivers by 1848.] EFFECT OF IMAGINATION. 149 the arrival on board of the. master of a British merchant- vessel, the Minerva, that had been wrecked on the island of Balambangan, at the extreme north of Borneo. He had not been able to save anything, as he had been frightened from his ship by the crowds of armed natives who rushed on board of her for the purpose of plunder. In the hope of saving something, Eeppel set sail imme- diately for Balambangan ; but when we arrived there, we found the wreck burned to the water's edga Nothing could be saved, nor could we find any natives, or a trace of the missing crew. We therefore stood over to Maludu Bay, and I took a message to the principal chief to invite him to visit Sir James Brooke aboard, as from him we hoped to obtain tidings of the missing crew, who, how- ever, eventually turned up in Labuan. It is not my intention to write a full description of our voyage, but only to touch on it when anything happened in which Sir James was concerned. We visited the lovely island of Cagayan Sulu, with its pretty lake, ap- parently an extinct crater, filled with the clearest of fresh water. I may notice an incident which occurred during this voyage to show what imagination will do. Sir James had taken a great prejudice against quinine, saying it did not agree with him. "Can you take gentian?" asked Dr Clarke, our clever senior surgeon. "Yes." So a bottle marked " gentian ^' was sent up. I was still nurse, and when helping the Bajah I noticed that it was quinine I was giving. I directly remarked that it was so, when the Eajah said, " No, it is gentian." On going into the gun- room I told Dr Clarke what had passed. " If you want the Bajah to die, you will tell him it is quinine," was his reply. The stuff was taken as gentian, and the patient recovered. Eighteen years afterwards, when I heard the Bajah refusing quinine, I was tempted to tell him this 150 LIFE OP SIR JAMES BROOKE. [oHAP.vri. story. He looked vexed, but he no longer made any ob- jection to the quinine, and it again did him good. We continued our voyage to Sulu, with the Saltan of which place Sir James was anxious to enter into Mendly relations, in order to attract trade to Labuan. We struck land just oflf a large village surrounded by groves of cocoa- nut trees. The first appearance of the island is very striking, — two high -peaked hills, with alternate patches clear of grass-land, and noble forest, scattered clumps of trees, and a long belt of cocoa-nut palms separating the park-like scenery from the sea. We arrived off the cap- ital. Sough, on the 27th. The Dutch had lately attacked this place, and had burned that portion of the town which was built on piles in the sea — the blackened remains being stiU quite visible at low water. Our visit was therefore regarded with very great suspicion. There were many other reasons for hostile feeling. The chief of Maludu, Serib Usman, who died from wounds re- ceived during the British attack on his town in 1846, was a relative of the Sultan ; and numerous relations of the men killed during the Nemesis's action with the pirates in 1847 resided near Sough. We did not, there- fore, expect a warm reception. There was an Englishman living at the capital, one of those adventurous spirits to be found in almost every out- landish place. He had been an officer under the command of the famous Admiral Cochrane, when he so gallantly up- held his name while fighting to free the Spanish colonies from the mother country — a short broad-shouldered fellow named Wy ndham. His had been a life of adventure ; and if rumour did not belie him, all was fish that came to his net Our arrival did not please him, as he was devoted to the Spanish cause; but blood is thicker than water, and he soon lent us his hearty assistance. Having through his aid arranged an audience with the Sultan, Sir James 1848.] THE SULTAN OP SULU. 151 Brooke, Captain Keppel, and a numerous party landed at Mr Wyndham's house, which was built out in the sea on piles. Our guide led us by a long shaky platform to the shore, where we found assembled crowds of armed natdves. A messenger sent by the Sultan cleared the way, along a broad rough road with a high stockade on the left, and houses on the right. We passed on through ever - increasing crowds to a market - place, where the women were selUng fish and vegetables. At last we came to a creek, over which a rough bridge was thrown, leading to the palace. This was also strongly stockaded, and here and there we observed mounted some heavy brass guna Entering through a large gate, we found, on a small green, hundreds of men armed with muskets, spears, the heavy Lanun swords, and hrises. Most carried shields, while a few were protected by chain- armour and ancient European helmets, probably taken in their wars against the Spaniards. The audience-hall was on the right and the mosque on the left The crowd opening we mounted some steps, and crossing a broad veranda, densely packed with the Sultan's body- guard, we found ourselves in the presence of the monarch. The audience-hall was large, but perfectly bare of orna- ment, as all their brocades, silks, and hangings had been sent to the interior, on account of an absurd report that had been spread that we intended to bombard the pletce. In the centre of the hall was a round table, on the oppo- site side of which sat the Sultan and his chiefs ; on our side a number of rude chairs, in which, after shaking hands, we took our seats. The Sultan then asked a few questions; among the first, singularly enough, ''Was France quiet?" The Sultan was very like the portrait given of him in Sir £. Belcher's voyage of the Samarang : he was dressed in white flowered silk, with a very broad gold belt round 152 LIFE OP SIR JAMES BROOKE. [chap. vii. his waist, a handsome kris, and gold bracelets sparkling with jewels. Some of the chiefs were splendidly dressed in silks, gold brocades, handsome turbans, and head-dresses like tiaras of gold. The young men, as ususJ, were the most gaudily decorated, while the old were often in plain white jackets. The rest of the hall was filled with men evidently of a respectable class. Observing, after a short conversation, that Sir James looked hot and tired, the Sultan politely broke up the audience, and we returned by the path we came. Mr Wyndham dined with the Captain, and amused us by a variety of anecdotes relating to the Sulus and the pirates who frequented the port. Sir Jam^ stayed a few days longer to converse with the different chiefs, while we made some acquaintance with the country. I was particularly interested with two young chiefs, who, taking me by either hand, led me through the town to the race-course, where we found many young men putting their horses through their paces. The Sulus ap- pear an energetic race. Whilst the Meander was at Sough, strong parties were sent to a watering-place about a couple of miles from the town. I accompanied the second expedition, and to our surprise we found all the ground around the spring full of fish-bones, which wounded the feet of several of our men. While the water was being got on board the boats, some of us strolled through the groves of palms and fruit-trees, among which we observed many cottagea We noticed that the inhabi- tants regarded us with fierce and savage looks, and came to their doors with arms in their hands ; but being well armed also, we took no notice. We afterwards found that the survivors of the action with the Nemesis in the previous year (1847) were quartered about this spring. No wonder they looked savagely at us. The fish-bones had been scat- tered by them, — a piece of wanton mischief, from which more of their countrymen suffered than ours did. 1849.] RETURN TO LABUAN. 153 On the 3d of January 1849 we weighed anchor and stood along the coast, intending to visit the great island of Mindanau, and to touch at the Spanish settlement of Samboangan. We enjoyed our stay at this place, where we were received with the greatest hospitality. Sir James was particularly pleased with the Governor, an artillery officer, Colonel Cayetano de Pigneron. We foimd him very angry with the interference of the Dutch in Sulu, and the Grovemor - General of the Philippines had protested against it Yet the Dutch had suffered enough from pirate- fleets, which obtained their supplies at Sulu, to warrant a severe retaliation. On our return to Cagayan Sulu, we passed a coral-reef, on which were collected thousands of birds. A party landed to shoot, and singularly enough they found a grave on this lonely spot, out of sight of all other land. Sir James Brooke, having shaken oflf his fever, enjoyed greatly his second visit to Cagayan Sulu. The week was passed in exploring the beauties of this very lovely isle, and in making friends with its chiefs. We had of course our usual adventures: the Meander was several times ashore, but she was always got off without any damage. At length on the 28th January we reached Labuan : the patients who had embarked were now in perfect health, and to our great delight we foimd that all those whom we had left ill were also convalescent. Every one had quitted the houses on the plain, and was installed on the hills. We only stayed a fortnight at Labuan, as Sir James was anxious to commence operations for the complete suppres- sion of piracy between Sarawak and our colony. The Eajah had an immense correspondence, and used to write very frequently to my father. After upwards of twenty-eight years, I come across such words as these to warm my heart towards my old chief : " This place, as you may have heard, has been sickly, a nasty remittent fever having prostrated f-M 154 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [oHAP. vii. most of us. Your son has escaped, and, generally speak- ing, has been healthy. I cannot boast of having paid him much attention at our first outset" (that I had noticed), " but now I do so from selfish motives as well as better ones, for I am daily knowing him better, and better appre- ciating the goodness of his heart and of his abilities. His attendance on the sick did him the greatest credit, and I owe him a debt of gratitude for his tender care of ma" This was a year of expeditiona On our arrival at Sara- wak on the 16th February 1849, we found that the Seribas and Sakarang pirates had already commenced their rav- ages, and that the coast was so insecure for traders that few prahtts were venturing out, unless in company and well armed, or large enough to go to sea, so as to be out of sight of land, beyond the observation of the Dyak pirates, who secretly kept inshora I will give one instance of the injury done by these pirates to the peaceful inhabitants of this coast. To keep as far as possible from the better-armed and brave pirates of Mindanau and the Sulu Archipelago (the dreaded Lanuns and Balagnini), the Malays of the north-west coast of Borneo usually built their towns and villages far up the rivers, genersdly from twenty to thirty miles from the mouths. But the land between their towns and the sea being the best farming ground, most of the inhabit- ants established themselves at regular seasons in small huts to plant their rice in the rich alluvial soil on the banks of the streams. This was the case at Sadong, a river about twenty miles to the east of Sarawak. The pirates of Seribas, of course, were well aware of this practice, and early in February they prepared a formidable expedition against Sadong. It consisted of 130 Malay and Dyak war-boats, and was commanded by a fierce old Malay, the Laksimana of Seribas. The estimated nxmiber of the men would be between 4000 and 5000 — warriors^ 1840.] TIMELY RESCUE. 155 not davtB, as Mr Gladstone imagined. They started from their river about the 17th February, and reached the entrance of the Sadong at daybreak, and immediately commenced the ascent of the stream. As the foremost boats came abreast of a farmhouse, they stopped at the landing-place and allowed the rest to push on. Jumping on shore, they too often surprised the unfortunate Malays, and heads, captives, and plunder rewarded their nefarious activity. This continued until they reached a fortified house, where the men being prepared, opened fire on those Dyaks who landed, and thus gave the alarm to the people who lived higher up the river. The loss of some men and the necessity to push on rapidly induced the pirates to aban- don the attack on the stronghold, but they obtained few heads after this, as the inhabitants, on hearing the firing, fled to the jungles. They, however, secured some plimder and a few captives. A well-known Seribas fighting-man named Dnndong, arriving near a farmhouse, and observing a girl making for the jungle, gave chase. Being encumbered by his heavy spear, he stuck it in the ground, and darted after and soon came up to the trembling creature. Seizing her in his arms he hurried back, little suspecting that his movements had been watched by the girl's father, who, emerging from the bushes where he lay concealed, seized the spear and waited the pirate's return. As soon as he passed by, the father, springing from his place of conceal- ment, thrust the spear through the rufi&an's neck, and killed him on the spot ; then, leaving the body, father and daughter escaped to the jungle. In this raid the Seribas obtained about one hundred heads, a few captive women, and a small amount of plimder. Their loss was trifling, consisting of about half-a-dozen killed and wounded. The news of this and other similar atrocities greatly excited Sir James Brooke : he grew restless, could not sit 156 LIFE OP SIR JAMES BROOKE. [oHAP. vil. still or sleep, but was continually wandering about the house both night and day. At last he detennined to cruise against the enemy with his native boats, and we started with about twenty war prahus and 700 men ; but we were in a few days driven back by the recommence- ment of the north-east monsoon, when our native war- vessels could not live in the open sea. As what drove us to shelter would also drive the pirates home, our in- effectual expedition did no harm, but aided in disciplining the crews. We were all of us kept in constant practice, the Eajah encouraging his followers to exercise them- selves either with the rifle, the pistol, or the sword, and showing us the exampla He himself was a master of his weapons. When the H.E.LC.S. Nemesis arrived about the middle of March, it was determined to retaliate on the Seribas, and make them feel at home what they had made so many others feeL It would be wearisome to the reader to give an account of all our cruises against the pirates ; but I intend to give in another chapter a full account of one expedition, to show the life Sir James Brooke led out in Borneo. We started on this occasion with four boats fipom the Nemesis and fifty-five war prahtis. We visited many rivers, surprised and destroyed eight villages, drove back in dismay a large pirate fleet which was just issuing to sea, and made the pirates pause in their incursions. During this time the inhabitants of the neighbouring districts, for above 100 miles along the coast, began to abandon their struggle with the pirates, and to fly to Sara- wak for shelter. A thousand arrived at a time. Though this raised the population of the capital from about 7000 to 13,000, it was at the expense of the wellbeing of the whole coast, and Sir James determined to strike one great blow at the pirates when the fine season should commence ; but while the necessary force was being collected, he con- 1849.] QUARRELS AT LABUAN. 157 sidered that he had sufficient time to proceed once more to Labuan, and to hold on his course as far as Sulu to nego- tiate a treaty with that power. We had received intelli- gence that the Dutch were preparing an expedition to make a final attack on Sough; and Sir James thought that England should now interfere to prevent the absorp- tion of the few native states which remained independent. The Nemesis took us to Labuan about the middle of May. We found it fairly healthy, although our good friend, Dr Treacher, had been obliged to take sick leave. We noticed also that there was an imeasy feeling among the officers, and that the Lieutenant-Governor, not acting with much tact, was incurring their systematic opposition. It appears the destiny of small communities to quarrel. Sir James Brooke felt these differences much : many of the officials were his personal friends, and had he only had to deal with men, he could have readily reconciled their differences; but the women were too much even for his conciliatory disposition. We were glad to get away from their wretched squab- bles, and find ourselves on board the Nemesis, steering away for Sulu, where we arrived without an adventure in four daya^ We were received in the most friendly and intimate manner, and had no difficulty in negotiating a treaty. We then visited Samboangan, saw our old friend the Grovemor, and returned to Labuan to find its home politics more tranquil — traders arriving, but no one to buy. The Chinese merchants, having been frightened by the report of fever, scarcely ever visited the place. As Sir James expected that the force for the great ex- pedition against the pirates would be by this time collected at Sarawak, we stayed but a few days at Labuan — long enough, however, for a fever I had contracted in Sambo- ^ For a fiill account of this trip, vide * Life in the Forests of the Far East' (yoL ii. chap, iz.), by Spencer St John, £sq. 1862. 158 LIFE OF SIB JAMES BBOOKE. [ohaf. vn. angan to show itself in force. As I lay tossing about in my bed during the long wearisome nights, a gentle hand would smooth my pillow, present cooling drinks to my parched Ups, and during the height of my deUrium would watch for hours at my side. I cannot say whether he was always by the bedside; but whenever consciousness re- turned, or I awoke from sleep, I was sure to see the Bajah near, tender and true to all his friends. On reaching Sarawak we found two ships of war await- ing our arrival — H.M.'s brig Albatross, Commander (now Admiral) Farquhar ; and the Boyalist, Lieut.-Ck)mmander Everest. We waited for the return of the Nemesis before starting on our expedition against the pirates; in the meantime the native forces were organised. As this expedition made a great stir at the time, and was much and sharply criticised both then and now, I will give the account of it at length, as I find it written in my diary. It will show the work in which Sir James Brooke was engaged — the fatigue, the exposure, which laid the groundwork of fever which prostrated many of us for years. It was not undertaken for pleasure or from ambition, but from a stern sense of duty, — for the protec- tion of the trading and agricultural classes. 159 CHAPTE.E VIII. THE SERIBAS AND SAKAKANG PIRATES. 1849. . ' I HAVE written at the close of the last chapter that Sir James Brooke did not undertake expeditions against the Seribas and Sakarang either from pleasure or from ambition, but frx)m a stem sense of duty — to protect the trading and agricultural classes of the coast.' I had thought it unne- cessary to go more particularly into this question, thinking that the occasional notices of these pirates which I have introduced into this biography would suffice; but after the covert and unjust attack made on Sir James Brooke's reputation by Mr Gladstone, I have thought it better to treat the subject of Dyak piracy in a separate chapter, and to examine subsequently the grounds upon which Mr Gladstone's attacks against the Bajah were based after I have given an account of the battle of Batang Marau. It may be a superfluous task, but it will bring into one con- nected narrative information that is now scattered over a great variety of works. It will necessarily involve many repetitions, but its perusal will be useful in order to under- stand the life of Sir James Brooka Whilst looking over my papers, I came upon a manu- script in which I had entered very fuUy into the whole question. It was written in 1850, during the great excite- ment on the subject, and contains a summary of the pro- 160 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE, [ohap. viiL ceedings of these piratical tribea After twenty-eight years I find nothing to change in the views I then expressed The Sarawak, the Sadong, the Kaluka, and the Bejang, are the principal rivers which fall into the great bay between Datu and Sirik capes. The Dyaks of Seribas, Sakarang, the Balows of lingga, and the scattered Sibuyows, derive their origin from one great tribe. The Seribas inhabit the interior of the river of the same name, and the coimtry near the sources of the Lipat, a branch of the Kaluka river. The Sakarangs live on the left-hand branch of the Batang Lupar, and on the Kanawit, Katibas, and other tributaries of the Eejang. The whole of the divisions of the tribes have an inland communication, and when a piratical fleet is fitting out in one river, all who are desirous of joining in it cross over- land to the place of rendezvous and assist in manning the hangkongs or war-boats. The Balows partly resided on a small eminence that over- looks the Lingga branch of the Batang Lupar, and partly in villages in the interior ; and the Sibuyows are scattered in the Lundu, the Quop, the Samarahan, and many of the neighbouring rivers. The Balows were the only Dyaks that were capable of offering any serious resistance to the Seri- bas and Sakarang ; but although warlike and brave, they were never piratical, and always conducted themselves in a manner to gain the esteem and goodwill of their neigh- bours. The Seribas and Sakarang Dyaks are essentially the same: the former, however, were the most addicted to piracy, the fiercest, and the most imrelenting. They com- menced their piratical career about 130 years ago, while the Sakarangs did not follow their example till 60 years later. The corrupting influence of the Arab Siribs, so justly complained of by Sir Stamford Baffles, and also the ex- ample of the Seribas, were the causes of the Sakarang 1S49.] THE PIRATES. 161 tribe becoming piratical Witbin the memory of many of the inhabitants who were living when I arrived in Borneo in 1848, the Sakarangs had been unaccustomed to the sea, and never ventured on its surface until these Siribs, for their own purposes, taught them how to con- struct and manage war-boats, and led them in their marauding expeditions. * The Siribs and Malays, who accompanied the Dyaks and supported them with their guns and firearms, at first continued to obtain the principal portion of the plunder, and the larger number of female captives, and left the refuse and the heads to their Dyak allies. Later on, how- ever, the Dyaks came to feel their own strength too well to submit to the dictation of the Malays, and a more equal distribution followed. In the Batang Lupar there were comparatively few Malays until the arrival of Sirib Sahib in 1844 ; but in Seribas they were very much more numerous, and were recruited from the neighbouring rivers by all the scoundrels whom gambling and thieving had corrupted, and rendered too idle and vicious to work for a living. The population of the various districts inhabited by the unpiratical Dyaks is even now difficult to be stated. In 1848 we could, however, obtain an approximation by cal- culating the amount from the number of fighting men. From the best accounts, and by weighing the various state- ments, we reckoned that the Seribas had then about 6000 fighting men, and in the Sakarang there were about the same number ; the mixed tribes inhabiting the Kanawit might furnish about 4000 men, and the Eatibas and Vo& together, as many, — which would give about 20,000 fighting men, or 120,000 souls, scattered throughout that large ex- tent of country. They themselves, in estimating their fight- ing population by the number of war-boats they could send out, and allowing for those that remained at home, would L 162 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [chap. vin. bring it to about the same number. In every inquiry I made of the natives as to the population of different vil- lages, I always found them rate the inhabitants rather under than over the mark, and subsequently we were inclined to place the population much higher than this estimata Their nearest opponents, the Balow Dyaks, who inhabited the Lingga river, were much more numerous than had gen- erally been represented ; indeed, they could not have held their own, even with all the advantages of defence, had they been able to place fewer than 2000 men under arm& The Seribas and Sakarangs, inhabiting the Eanawit and Katibas branches of the great river Eejang, practically confine their cruises to the outlets of that mighty stream, on whose banks were situated some of the richest produc- ing sago districts, as Mato and Bruit ; or they extended their operations in a north-easterly direction towards the rich districts of Ova and Muka. These countries are in- habited by a very industrious but unwarlike race — ^the MUanows— who carried on an extensive trade with Singa- pore, and their large unwieldy prahus, laden with valuable return cargoes, fell an easy prey to the long, swift war- boats of the head-hunters. If surprised, not one of the crew would survive, otherwise the vessels would be run ashore, and the men rush into the jungle to escape from their bloodthirsty pursuers. It is evident* from the re- mains of the deserted towns and villages that we saw in their districts, that the population was formerly much greater than we found it during our expeditions to pro- tect their industrious people. We heard of almost monthly attacks on one or other of their villages, and few weeks passed without the Milanows having to add many to the list of their murdered relatives. The houses of the K^n- awit pirates we found crowded with the dried skulls of these unfortunates. The Milanows were too unwarlike and too disunited to retaliate on the marauders; and 1849.] THE SAKAKANGS. 163 although, when driven to desperation, they defended their towns with success, the struggle in the long-run had be- come unequal, and a few years more would have reduced these countries to the condition of those bordering a hun- dred miles of the great Eejang, — to the condition, in fact, of a deserted wUdemess. The Sakarangs nominally acknowledged the sovereignty of the Sultan of Brunei, and were occasionally employed by his deputies in subduing refractory tribes ; but they never paid tribute, and would not engage in any expedi- tion that did not hold out a good prospect of heads and plunder. Oppression frequently drove the Dyaks of Sara- wak, Samarahan, and Sadong into opposition to their rulers ; then the Borneon chiefs would threaten to let loose on them the Sakarangs, &c., and if the threat had no effect, they called in the ruthless horde, and allowed them to pillage and massacre the offending tribe. While Sir James Brooke was in Sarawak in 1841, above 100 Sakarang war-boats came up to Euching, called in by Makota, and received permission to proceed up the river into the interior, under the pretence of attacking some Sambas tribes, but, in fact, to pillage and head-hunt for themselves and their employers. As I have already re- lated. Sir James, by urgent remonstrances and a display of force, had them recalled, and thus saved his Dyaks from a great danger. We often noticed, in the writings of those who attacked Sir James Brooke's policy, a pretence of believing that he had at first looked upon these hordes as inoffensive, tiU, for his own sinister purposes, he proclaimed them pirates ; but> in truth, Sir James's opinion of them never varied. In 1840 he wrote : *' To quiet this coast the Seri- bas should receive a severe lesson." "The Seribas are against all, and all are against them" " The Seribas and Sakarangs are not fair examples of Dyak life, as they are 164 LIFE OP SIR JAMES BROOKE, [chap. viii. pirates as well as head-liiinters, and do not hesitate to destroy all persons they meet with." At another time he wrote : ** The tribes of Seribas and Sakarang are powerful communities, and dreadful pirates, who ravage the coasts in large fleets, and rob and murder indiscriminately." " They " (the Sakarangs) "are the most savage of the tribes, the Seribas excepted, and delight in head-hunting and pillage, whether by sea or land." " By sea, the Sakarangs and Seribas reckon all they fall in with as fair prize, and acknowledge no friends." When Sir James Brooke arrived off the coast of Borneo in 1839, piracy was at its greatest height, and fleets of Lanuns and Balag&ini cruised among the smaller islands, while the swift-pulling war-boats of the Seribas and Saka- rangs kept the whole coast in terror. The operations of their different squadrons could be traced with sufficient accuracy for us to know that they attacked the Milanow districts belonging to the Sultan of Borneo, cruised amid the lovely islands of the Natunas and Anambas, inhabited by Dutch subjects, ravaged the shores of the Dutch-pro- tected states of Seunbas and Pontianak, and one of their squadrons pushed on as far as Banjarmassin, on the south- ern coast The Sultan of Sambas, whose subjects were most exposed to these attacks, did all he could to stop them, and even went so far as to hold communicatioii with them to discover a method of clearing the seas of these pests ; but they laughed at his proposals, and con- tinued their work. The Sultan of Pontianak lost his nephew in an attempt to drive them from the shores, and Dutch cruisers were taken by them.* The Chinese of Sambas were also great sufferers, as many as 200 having lost their lives during a single attack ; for 1 See Timmink, chapter on Piracy ; and ' Moniteor des Indes,' article on Piracy, compiled from Dutch official sources. 1849.] RAVAGES OF THE PIRATES. 165 the pirates, when fighting against an enemy they under- stand, are bold and courageous, and in cunning are more than a match for any of the natives along the coast In 1854 I had the opportunity of a long conversation with Monsieur Boudriot, a Dutch officer, who had held high rank on the coast of Borneo, and he fully confirmed all these accounts, and added, '' They are the worst and most mischievous pirates that frequent these seas." Mr Earl, another impartial witness, who visited Sambas be- fore Sir James Brooke arrived in Borneo, states that he found the rivers blocked up by booms ; and no one would venture out even to fish, so much did they fear these dreaded Dyaks.^ Nothing was done to check these systematic piracies until Captain Keppel came over in the Dido, and boldly, and as wisely as boldly, carried out those operations which I have before described. The Seribas had laughed at the idea of retaliation ; and no native power on the coast could have punished them. Borneo indeed owes a debt of gratitude to Sir Harry Keppel. During the stay of the Dido in Sarawak, Captain Kep- pel made a strict inquiry into the character of the Seribas and Sakarangs ; and though perfectly convinced of their piratical character, did not desire to attack them in their own country without a previous reference to the nominal Grovemment of the coast He therefore officially entered into communication with the Sultan's representative and uncle, the Bajah Muda Hassim, who, in reply to his in- quiries, addressed him the following letter : — ''This is to inform our friend that the Seribas and Sakarang people living in our neighbourhood are great pirates, who seize goods and murder people on the high seas. They possess above 300 war prahtcs, and extend their ravages as far as Banjarmassin : they are not under ^ Earl's * Eastern Seas.' 166 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE, [chap. viii. the control of the Government of Brunei They plunder the vessels which trade between Singapore and the good inhabitants of this country. Our friend woidd be render- ing us a great service if he would adopt measures that would put an end to these piratical outrages." When Captain Keppel prepared to attack the Seribas with his boats, the attempt was considered a mad one by all the natives. They pointed out the strength and re- sources of the enemy, their strong and well-armed forts, the difficulty of ascending the rivers, and they considered that those who followed the English were going to almost certain destruction. Nevertheless, as Sir Jeones Brooke accompanied the expedition, 300 of the best men joined him. In seven days Captain Keppel assaulted their strong- holds, carried them, captured most of their brass guns, burnt their forts and towns, and compelled them to sue for mercy. Thus by the brilliant dash of the leader of the Dido, these scourges of the coast were reduced to submis- sion, and hopes were entertained that the submission would be permanent. For these services Captain Keppel very deservedly received the thanks of Admiral Sir Wil- liam Parker and the Lords Commissioners of the Ad- miralty. It is very remarkable how confirmed was the idea that the English were but birds of passage, and that the punish- ment of the Seribas should not have frightened the pirat- ical chiefs ; but no sooner had the Dido left the coast than Sirib Sahib endeavoured to intrigue with the Sarawak chiefs to expel Muda Hassim and Mr Brooke from the country, offering his own assistance, and that of his allies, the Sakarangs. Having failed in this attempt, he left Sadong, and retired to Patusan, on the Batang Lupar, where he had built forts, which he fondly^ hoped would be able to resist any attack of the English forces. 1849.] SIRIB SAHE?- 167 Sir James Brooke, being anxious to prevent Sirib Sahib from thus acting, had given him notice that Captain Keppel intended to return to Borneo and complete his work by attacking the Sakarangs, and he recommended the Sirib to abandon all connection with the pirates; but, confident in his strength, the Arab chief despised these warnings, and, as I have said, left the seat of his Government at Sadong, and openly joined the pirates. He had with him, when he started from his headquarters, a fleet manned by at least 6000 Dyaks, and 600 Malays ; and his followers represented to him that with this force he might consider himself invincible. Before leaving Sadong, however, Sirib Sahib called a council of war, when his flatterers represented to him that with his power he might defy the English, and should they attack Patuscm, he would disgracefully defeat them. They aU promised to stand by him to the last. He found one man, however, who had the courage to tell him the truth. This was Datu Jembrang, a Lanun chief, with whose son I was very intimate, and he strongly advised the Sirib not to enter into a contest with the English. " These men around you, who recommend you to fight, will desert you at the first moment of danger. I remem- ber the English well I fought against them at Sambas, and you will never be able to resist them." Shortly after- wards this old chief died. In August 1844 Captain Keppel again returned to Sarawak ; and as Sir James Brooke's detractors have ex- pressed a fear that our naval forces were not acting legally in punishing pirates in the territories of a friendly power, it wUl be a satisfaction to them to know that Captain Keppel did not act until he was called upon to do so by the Intimate (Jovemment of the country. Muda Hassim wrote thus : '* We beg to let our friend, Captain Keppel, know that the pirates of Sakarang, whom we mentioned 168 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE, [chap. Tin. last year, still continne their piracies by sea and land; and that many Malays, under Sirib Sahib (who is accustomed to send out or accompany the pirates, and to share in their spoils), have gone to Sakarang river with a resolve to de- fend themselves there rather than to accede to our wishes that they should abandon piracy. " Last year Captain Keppel told the Sultan and myself that it would be pleasing to the Queen of England that we should repress piracy ; and we signed an agreement at his request, in which we promised to do so : and we now woidd draw the attention of our friend to the piracies and evil actions of the Sakarang people, who have for many years past done much mischief to trade, and make it dan- gerous for vessels to sail along the coast ; and this year many prahtcs who wanted to leave for Singapore have been afraid. We bring this information to our friend, as we are desirous to put an end to piracy, and to perform our engagements with the Queen of England." Besides the general information connected with piracy contained in this letter, Muda Hassim drew Captain Eeppel's attention to the fact that during the last few months no fewer than eight villages had been taken by the Sakarangs and burnt, the men killed, and the women and children carried away into captivity. He also referred to the trading vessels captured, which had produced so much alarm that the coast was in fact in a state of blockade. By most natives Patusan was considered impregnable, but after having seen the Dido at work the previous year, the Sarawak chiefs did not doubt of success. Sirib Sahib, however, had . constructed a formidable fortress, defended by about 100 brass guns and 20 iron ones, and his followers were well provided with firearms and ammunition. In a quarter of an hour, however, the affair was decided : the pirates, astonished at the appearance of a steamer, and at the English boats, that, regardless of 1849.] PATUSAN TAKEN. 169 their fire, were pulled up almost to the muzzles of their guns, soon fled and left the town to their conquerors. Captain Keppel continued his attack on the pirates further inland, with a loss of about 120 men on our side, principally natives ; but the enemy suffered more heavily, for the pirates, unaccustomed to contend with disciplined men, attacked them at first as if they were equals, but the effect of steady fire, of guns and rockets, soon undeceived them, and they were defeated with considerable loss. The expeditions of Captain Keppel had for many years a great effect : the pirate fleets disappeared firom the coast, traders were unmolested, and fishermen could pursue their calling in security. The chiefs came to Sarawak and entered into engage- ments to give up piracy, and live at peace with the neighbouring countries. Sir James Brooke did his utmost at that time to impress upon them the misery they woidd bring on themselves and others by a continuation of their evil practices ; and he appeared to have had fair success, as for some time one or other of the head men would warn him when any restless warriors planned a foray out at sea, and this timely notice would generally suffice to nip the affair in the bud. The Grovemment of Brunei considered this as a good opportunity to reduce the Seribas and Sakarangs once more to their allegiance, and to raise contributions from these districts. As this attempt might, however, have given these Dyaks and Malays an excuse to break off all relations, Sir James Brooke interfered, and persuaded the Bomeon Grovemment to let them alone, and permit them to con- tinue to govern themselves. Until March 1846 these people continued quiet, and many of them left those districts and removed to Sarawak. One Sakarang chief even placed his two sons under Sir James's care, that they should be sent to Singapore to be 170 LIFE OP SIR JAMES BROOKE. [chap, vhl educated ; but the restless old pirate could not be quiet, and in spite of these hostages being in English hands, led out a fleet, which attacked Banting, the chief town of Lingga, and succeeded in gaining possession of a portion of the town. The defenders suffered considerable loss in killed, and many women and children were captured. Just as the pirate chief started on this expedition, one of his friends remonstrated with him, saying, "The Sajab will kill your children." He answered, "I know the white men better than that ; they won't hurt my boys." And true enough, after a short time the lads were sent back to their father. The pirates next attacked Lintang, the chief town of Kaluka ; and although they were beaten off with loss, they managed to destroy a portion of it In 1847 Sir James Brooke returned to England, and then the pirates threw off all restraint, and commenced their ravages on an extensive scale. In 1849 I made a list of the towns attacked, the villages destroyed, and the large trading vessels which were taken during the years 1847 and 1848, and the total of the destruction of life and property was appalling ; but it woidd not serve any good purpose to endeavour to repeat it here. In September 1848 we arrived in Sarawak in the Meander, and then Sir James Brooke and Captain Keppel publicly pledged themselves to attack both the Seribas and the Sakarang as soon as the fine season of 1849 per- mitted boating operations. As Mr Gladstone appeals to our treaty with Borneo, I add a letter from the Sultan of Brunei to show how his Highness interpreted its clauses : — " From Sultan Omar Ali Safudin, the Euler of Brunei and its dependencies, together with Pangeran Anak Miunein, and Pangeran Muda Mahomed; to Sir James Brooke, &c., &c. " We have to inform our friend respecting the Dyaks of 1849.] THE sultan's LETTEK. I7l Sakarang and the Dyaks of Seribas. Great is our distress to think of their doings, which are evil in the extreme — continually sweeping with destruction the coast of Borneo, and pirating on the sea, plundering property, and taking the heads of men. Exceedingly bad have been their doings hitherto, and in consequence of which, our subjects sailing on the high seas for the purposes of trade experience great diflQculties. We sent Pangeran Surah to that coasts and he was attacked, likewise numerous nakodahs} They attacked Nakodah Mahomed, and plundered his prahu of every article. On his way to Singapore, Mahomed JaflBr was attacked at Tanjong Serik; the pirates took the prahu, which the crew abandoned. Nakodah Matudin from Muka, bound to Singapore, was also attacked at Teluk Milanow. " Such are the reasons for which we send this informa- tion to our friend, so that, if possible, he may check the doings of these Dyaks, and render it safe for our subjects seeking their livelihood at sea." This was an official call on the part of the Brunei Government on the British to fulfil their part of the con- tract to put down piracy. And it was time that something shoidd be done, for daring the first six months of 1849 these pirates attacked SadoDg twice, as well as Sussang on the Kaluka, and Serikei, Palo, Mato, Bruit, and Igan. Almost all intercourse by sea ceased, as few who attempted to pass the mouths of the pirate rivers escaped unhurt. I calculated at the time that above 500 of the Sultan's subjects had been kiUed or taken captive between January and July 1849 ; and we knew that one large fleet had passed the mouths of the Sarawak river to attack the subjects of the Sultan of Sambas. It was during the height of this bloody work that Sir ^ Merchants or owners of trading j?raAutf. 172 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [cHAP. viu. James put to sea with the Sarawak fleet, supported by four boats of the steamer Nemesis, to endeavour to check the pirates, while waiting the arrival of sufficient forces for what was hoped to prove the final attack. Among other places which we visited was the river Kaluka, where I first saw what was the effect of continued piratical attacks on the prosperity of a country. Ktduka was famous in former times as a great commercial empo- rium, and as a most productive agricultural district This is what we saw. After pulling a few miles up the river, we came to a spot where two branches meet, and here, stretched across the rounded point, were the ruins of the former town of Lintang. This had been a gi:eat trading place, and had lately held a population of aJ)ove 6000, but having suffered severely from the attacks of the pirates, particu- larly that one in 1846 to which I have before referred, the inhabitants resolved to abandon their homes. About 1000, under their chief, Tuan Muda, came to Sarawak, while the rest dispersed among the neighbouring districts. We then pulled up the left-hand branch to Sussang, the only town left in the district. It was stockaded at its lower end, and a few guns commanded the river. It was a wretched poverty-stricken place, the people being afraid to cultivate their fields, as they were constantly exposed to surprises. The houses, however, gave evidences of hav- ing formerly been of a superior construction, but were now rapidly falling to decay. We then pulled for about 80 miles up the right- hand branch, and saw on the banks the ruins of one large town and several villages, but now the only inhabitants were those that lived in a strongly fortified hamlet. In no other part of Borneo had I seen more splendid open plains, or places better fitted for agricultural operations. They were now completely abandoned, though the con- 1849.] RAVAGES BY THE PIRATES. 173 tinued groups of palm-trees showed how extensive the population had once been. Never before had I been so struck with the irreparable mischief done by the piratical tribes, as when I saw this lovely country so completely deserted. I have thus lightly sketched the proceedings of the pirates to show the mischief they did, and the extensive character of their operations. It is proved by Dutch and English authorities that the pirates of Seribas and Saka- rang attacked the villages and the vessels of the subjects of the Sultans of Brunei, Sambas, and Pontianak, &c. ; and Mr Boudriot, the Dutch official, told me that their archives were fall of the records of the losses occasioned by these attacks ; and I cannot but regret that Sir James Brooke did not follow up the idea thrown out by our unexpected supporter, and apply to the Government of the Nether- lands for all information relating to the ravages of the Dyak pirates within the territories of Holland He did not, as he was satisfied with the testimony contained in the * Moniteur des Indes/ Timmink, and Earl. That these pirates indiscriminately attacked the sub- jects of the Sultan of Borneo, not even respecting his envoy extraordinary, Pangeran Surah, is abundantly proved. Malays, Milanows, and Dyaks suffered to an almost equal extent; and the losses among the inhabi- tants of these lovely groups of islands lying between Borneo and Singapore were annually very great. They are subjects of the Bajah of Khio, a Dutch-protected state. I repeat that for the last thirty years it has beejn abundantly proved that the Dyak pirates of Seribas and Sakarang attacked the subjects of the Sultans of Borneo, Sambas, and Pontianak, as well as those of the Bajah of Bhio, besides every other person who came within their reach ; and yet to this day we see Mr Gladstone repeating that this was intertribal war. 174 CHAPTER IX. THE BATTLE OF BATANG MABAU. 1849. I HAVE already described the rivers and districts inhab- ited by the Dyaks of Seribas and Sakarang. I need there- fore only say that Sir James Brooke, knowing that the pirates living on the well-known rivers which bear their names had made every preparation to receive onr expe- dition, determined to proceed 100 miles up the Rjejang river, and fall upon them in the rear by the Kanawit branch ; but circumstances induced him to change his plan. Our expedition was thus arranged : The Albatross was to stay in Sarawak ; the Soyalist was to be anchored up the Batang Lupar, opposite the entrance of the lingga river, to protect the women and children there, while the Balow warriors were away with us. The expedition was commanded by Commander Farquhar, a light-hearted, merry, earnest companion, with sound sense to guide him ; Everest, eccentric, but exceedingly well read, particularly in poetry, and dearly loving an argument : as volunteers, Mr Urban Vigors, a very gentlemanlike, pleasant Irish- man ; and a Manchester solicitor, a droll fellow, with some good tastes. Sir James Brooke, aided by his nephew Captain Brooke, by Grant, and by myself, as staff, and with his experienced 1849.] THE RENDEZVOUS. 175 Ssurawak officers, commanded the native contingent, which was expected to exceed 100 war-boats and at least 3000 men, — ^the larger prahus carrying a crew of 70 men, while the smallest mustered 28. On the 24th July 1849 the Nemesis started with the Soyalist, Banee, and seven English boats in tow, to rendezvous at the mouth of the river Morotabas, and then to take them to the Batatig Lupar, to leave the Royalist at Lingga, and tow the 'boats to the entrance of the Kaluka, where they were to await the arrival of the war prahus. We started in the evening, a slashing tide sweeping us along, so that in four hours we were at Morotabas, — the crews shouting and yelling, as prahu after prahu arrived, and let go their anchors, some running foul of each other, others carried towards the sea by the strength of the tide, and struggling to regain their places. At length the noise sank into a buzz, which gradually dying away, we set our watch and fell asleep. At 2 A.M. I was called to keep my watch, and looking around I was much struck with the curious appearance of the scene. The night was dark, and the scattered native boats had each a small fire, which threw a fitful light on the waters, like stars shining on the broad river. Now everything was still, with the exception of what perhaps rendered the silence more im- pressive — the distant but clear and distinct cry of the jddtvk, a bird of night. Then suddenly the strong stream would sweep a prahu from its anchorage, and loud cries of " Pull, pull ! " would fill the air, and the rapid stroke of the oar show how difficult it was to stem the tide. Then again quietness, perhaps occasionally broken by the dis- tant sound of a gong, or the low monotonous chant of the Koran, or the tinkling beU that marked the hours on board some of our boats. Such scenes were then both novel and interesting to me. 176 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [chap. ix. July 25, 1849, started for Sadong. The grey light gra- dually broke over the sky, and by degrees, few and far between, you would see a man rise, stretch, and look around him ; then would come a little bustle of prepara- tion, the anchor would be got in, and the men take their places at the paddles or oars, and gradually leave the river, and wend their way within twenty yards of the trees along this jungle-belted coast At first there were few boats before us, but a dense mass of large and small Malay and Dyak prahus astern. Every now and then, however, a swift, long, and snake-like spy-boat would dart past, its light weight skimming over the waters under the impulse of the rapid movement of thirty paddles ; then by com- parison the heavy Malay war prahu, impelled by double banks of oars, would move by, leaving us with but few companions, as we were on the look-out for stn^lers. So we continued, till on the 27th we rendezvoused off Kaluka, when it was settled that we should move back to the mouth of the Seribas, and cut firewood to enable the Nemesis to steam up the Eejang without danger of a short supply of fuel. Whilst we were wooding, a message came from a respectable man living at Sussang, the capital of Elaluka, saying that the day before he was fishing on the sands with some followers, when they saw a fleet come out of the Seribas river. They instantly hid themselves, and soon afterwards counted ninety-four war hangkongs pulling northward towards the Rejang : a short time afterwamis four more passed. Such apparently correct intelligence changed our plans, and it was immediately determined that we should endeavour to intercept the return of this fleet. The following arrangements were made : the Bajah and a large native squadron, supported by two boats commanded by Lieutenants Everest and Wilmshurst, were to anchor up the Elaluka, while the Nemesis, Kanee, 1849.] ''the DYAKS ARE COMING!" 177 five English boats, and a strong division of native prahvs, were to anchor off the Seribas. It was expected that the pirates on their return, seeing the steamer, would dart for tiie Kaluka, and after proceeding up a few miles would be stopped by our division. The moment that Captain Farquhar perceived this movement, he was to follow with aU his forces, and thus enclose the pirates between two fleets. "Whilst we were anchored in these positions a message was received from Mr Crookshank, who had been driven by stress of weather into the Eejang, that a large fleet of the Seribas were off that river ; that he had counted eighty bangJcongs, and that a man at the mast-head had reckoned many mora On the morning of the 31st, however, we fell down to the mouth of the river, preparatory to the steamer going next day to search for the fleet, as some appeared to fear that they were hid, or meditating an attack on Serikei, or would go home vid the Bejang and Kanawit; but the true reason was that we were but young warriors, and had not the patience to wait for the fruit to ripen. The Rajah in vain endeavoured to check this ignorant impa- tience, but at length gave way. As we left our anchor- age, however, a second message was received that the Seribas fleet was near Serikei, and that an attack was intended on that town. To prevent this, it was decided that the Nemesis should start for that place the following morning. That very evening, however. Captain Brooke and a party of us went to search for a wild pig or a deer along the sands, and we foolishly strayed for about three miles, when we turned. We had not retraced our steps above a mile when a spy-boat came pulling along the shore : suddenly all in her rose up, pointed towards the distant cape, then waved to us to return, shouting out, "The Dyaks are coming ! " We scarcely credited the intelligence, but still M 178 LIFE OF SIK JAMES BROOKE. [cHAP. IX. walked rapidly back : the spy-boat arrived a little before us, and the news quickly spread. As we passed the Bajah's prahu we had to submit to a terrible scolding for having set so bad an example of discipline to the others, — a reproof which we fully deserved. We instantly got our prahus under way. Hurry, bustle, and confusion for some minutes reigned around, but silence having been restored, we moved down the river and formed a line across the entrance of the Kaluka. The Bajah fired a rocket to give the steamer notice, as the sun had now set. As no reply was given to this signal, another rocket was let ofi^ and a faint shout was heard from the sea, which was answered by our whole fleet. A dead silence ensued for a minute, when from thousands of voices there burst a long, loud, deep yell of defiance, now sounding high, now low, as it was borne to us by the wind ; a few guns were fired at us, and then the pirate fleet dashed away for the Seribas. A rocket and a blue-light from the steamer told ua that they were prepared, and then the deep booming of the guns announced the commencement of the action. Anxious- ly we waited that some of the fleet should come our way, when, after a short interval, we saw a dark line of war prahus approach our entrance. Everest and Wilmshurst, in their cutters, dashed forward to meet them, followed by a division of our light boats. A more picturesque scene could scarcely be imagined. The moon, dimmed by misty clouds, shed down a hazy light ; the dark banks of the river, the breaking waves around the open sea before us, the distant booming of the heavy guns, the rockets curveting over the waters, the brilliant blue- lights of the steamer, the pursuing boats, the flashes of musketry, the yells and answering yells of enemies and friends, — forcibly struck our imaginations, as, rifle in hand, we waited the expected onset. For four hours the heavy firing told of a long, a prolonged fight. About midnight 1849.] BRAVEEY OF THE PIRATES. 179 it almost ceased, and but an occasional report of a gun was heard. We waited anxiously expecting intelligence till nearly 2 A.1L, when the little Banee came and brought us some news. It appears that when the pirates saw our fleet at the entrance of the Kaluka they thought that all was safe, as the steamer, being under the shore, was not at first perceived ; but as they approached the mouth of the Seri- bas they were met by the Nemesis, whose heavy 32- pounders, loaded with round-shot, grape, and canister, scattered them in all directions. They tried the sea, but there the boats under Captain Farquhar drove them back ; they tried the sandy point — there a large fleet of pralms poured in their fire upon them ; they huddled in a con- fused crowd — all order was lost — a sort of savwe qui pent feeling took possession of their minds — and, to escape the fearful cannonade, they ran their war prahvs on shore and escaped into the jungle, not before many of their boats had been taken or destroyed at se& One episode will show how daring some of these pirates were. A squadron of seventeen boats, commanded by an old chief named lingir, saw the havoc that was done by the fire-ship, and determined to board her. The Nemesis was at that moment still, and lingir and his gallant crews dashed at her; but when they were within fifty yards, they saw the monster begin to move, and rush full speed on them, and of the seventeen prahus only lingir's one is known to have escaped. The brave pirates, however, whose pnihus were sinking under them, jumped into the sea, swam towards the vessel with their swords in their mouths, and attempted to climb up her low sides; but they were beaten back into the water by the Sidi boys or blacks, who, seizing the billets of firewood on deck, hurled them at their fierce foes. I heard these anecdotes told by Captain Wallage of the Nemesis, who rightly fathomed 180 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [chap. ix. their intentions — ^by the other officers on board — and also, some months afterwards, by Lingir himself. August Ist — ^A note from Farquhar to the Eajah to say that he had gone with the steamer np to the mouth of the Hembas to prevent any of the pirate fleet escaping, so in the morning we started with our division for the Seribcis. As we passed along the shore, floating around us were very many evidences of last night's work — ^broken boards, half -sunk prahus, baskets, mats, cloths, and every fur- niture of a boat ; and when we neared the sandy point, we saw crowds of natives fishing for things in the water — and, as we could more clearly distinguish objects, a mass of weiX prahus left high and dry, the cUbris of the pirate fleet. When we landed, we found our men loading themselves with every description of spoil, the crews of our squadrons eagerly picking up what the others had thrown aside. Gangs of men were told off to destroy the large boats, and these were working with their axes to cut up the planks, preparatory to burning them. Some were launch- ing and repairing the smaller and more serviceable boats, which were to be used as tenders to our heavy prahus ; others collecting into groups, were telling of their exploits. Parties pushed into the jungle in search of enemies and plunder: now a man came dashing out, saying that he had seen Dyaks in one direction; then another, open- mouthed with news, told of a rencontre in which men on both sides had been killed — rencontres which only existed in the imagination of the relater, for by this time the enemy were miles away ; of mangled bodies of women found headless, and hacked to pieces — the murdered, and, in their flight, the encumbering prisoners of the Seribas. I, a new-comer, could scarcely credit this story, and went with a party to verify the statement. We soon came to a spot where rough mats had been thrown over certain ob- jects. One having been removed, we saw the dead body of 1849.] APTER THE BATTLE. 181 evidently a young woman, naked, with head and breasts cut ofif, mangled — evidences, in fact, of an indecent and bar- barous cruelty, too revolting to be described. Let us hope that these mutilations took place after death. We did not look further, the sight was too sickening ; but we were told that four or five other bodies had been found of head- less women and young girls. The mats that covered their remains we could see, but we did not approach them. These murderers were without pity. It was indeed a scene of confusion, of hurry, of running to and fro, of proud exultation amongst the natives, for never previously had the pirates received such a blow. And justified were they in their opinion — a fearful retri- bution had fallen upon the marauders for all their massa- cring, their plunder, their cruelty, their bloodthirstiness. Scarce a man was present that had not lost through them a father, a brother, or a son, or who had not had some female relative borne away into captivity. The loss in war-boats was very great, — about 75 were lying on the sands. I measured one: it was over 80 feet in length, 9 in breadth, and some of its side-boards measured 60 feet Its crew must have been over 70 men. In all, the pirates lost about 93 of their war prahus. We cal- culated at the time that the fleet consisted of 100 boats, with 4000 men as crews. We afterwards learned that there had been 105, and that 12 escaped up the river. From a prisoner, and from the subsequent conversation of chiefs who had been present, we were enabled to trace the proceedings of this pirate fleet previously to the rencontre. It had left the Seribas the morning before we arrived there, and had continued its course to Palo, a small village to the north, famous for its salt manufacture. When they arrived opposite that place they were hailed, asked who they were, and what they wanted. The Seribas replied that they had not come to attack the place, and 182 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [chap. ix. that they would do them no harm if no opposition were mada The terrified people said none should be offered. The pirates then went on shore, plundered them of all their stores of salt, took as much rice as they required, and, having selected two or three young women that pleased them, carried them off and proceeded to Mato, a town on one of the embouchures of the Kejang. They tried to surprise this place, but the inhabitants being better prepared than the people of Palo, repulsed their attack ; but the Seribas managed to secure some heads, as they captured a detached house, and they seized likewise four young women. They then dropped down towards the mouth of the river to pick up fishermen and any trading vessels which might pi that way, and succeeded in secur ing a laige one coming from Singapore laden with piece- goods and iron, and another going to Singapore with sago. The crew of one of these prahu^ got away to the shore, while that of the other was cut off before it could escape, and every- one killed. We found in the pirate war-boats the cargoes of these two trading vessels, and our men divided a very handsome booty. They then started for Senkei, a large town up the Eejang, hoping with the aid of the tribes in the interior to take that place ; but the Malays were well armed, and some feints were easily repulsed. Besides, the chief of this district, Sirib Musidiore, carried on se- cretly an extensive trade with the pirates in the interior of the Bejang, and those Dyaks dared not offend him or their supplies of salt and iron would have been cut off. He was one of the intriguing, mischievous, half-bred Arabs, who did so much evil on the coast The Seribas and Sakarang Dyaks had long been expect- ing an attack, and had therefore confined their cruises to the neighbourhood of their own rivers ; but this being the Hamadan, or fast month, they imagined that the Sarawak Malays would not think of joining our expedition, and 1849.] BURNING THE PIRATE PRAHUS. 183 had therefore thought to strike a blow or two before our arrivaL This fleet was commanded by the brave old Pamancha, and almost every well-known Malay and Dyak leader had been present during the engagement, and they had induced many of the other Malays to join the expedition in order that they should manage their guns and supply them with musketry. Their surprise on seeing our fleet anchored at the mouth of the Kaluka was only exceeded by their terror on finding their way home blocked by the European forca The dead bodies of the women we had seen were those of the captives taken at Palo and Mato. Whilst we were burning the (Mbris of the pirate fleet, the Malay chiefs collected in Sir James's prahu, and proposed to him to occupy a neck of land between the Seribas and the Kaluka, and thus cut off the retreat of the mass of the pirates who were now in the jungle. But he said that perhaps they had been punished enough, an opinion in which many did not agree ; but the Rajah was firm, and immediately de- cided to draw off the native boats. Had he followed out the advice given, few, if any, of the pirates would have escaped. However, Sir James Brooke assured himself that the pirate prahv^ hjtd been destroyed before he gave orders to all to push up the river and join the Nemesis off Rembas, and then continue our course to Paku higher up. It was arranged that the Nemesis should remain at this spot with all our heavy native war prahus, and that the rest of us should proceed in the light boats, and, accompanied by the European force, ascend the Paku branch and attack the chief town of that district. The river Seribas from its mouth to the Paku, a distance of about fifty miles, is broad and deep, with a tremendous tide, so that it took but a few hours to reach the steamer anchored there. 3d. — To-day we left our war prahm and got on board 184 LIFE OP SIR JAMES BROOKE. [chap. ix. some Dyak boats that we had selected from among the heap lying at the entrance of the river. The little steamer Ranee and the European boats led the way, and it was with the utmost difficulty that we could keep back the impetuous rush of native prahus that pushed ahead, the hindmost anxious to find themselves in the foremost ranks, and these again endeavouring to maintain their position — pushing, crushing, and running one into the other, the crews, some 3000 strong, all shouting at once, either " Back, back," or " On, on." A strong flood-tide swept up the river, and had not the steamer twice got aground we might have reached the town that night with great ease. No sooner was she off than away went her funnel Her mishaps were without end, and caused much delay : it was a pity to have brought so unmanageable a boat up a winding stream. At length we arrived off the site of the old town, which had been destroyed by Keppel in 1843, and there the most unaccountable order was given to anchor, which lost us two hours of flood-tide, and caused us all our future troubles, and probably our loss of life. The banks of the Paku are rather pretty, and afforded, as we advanced into the interior, some picturesque scenery, with lofty trees, high overhanging banks, occasional wooded hills ; and the water around us was as clear as crystal. The fruit-trees along the banks are innumerable, and were loaded with produce, which unfortunately for us was not ripa At the site of the old town were some remains of culti- vation, — fruit-trees, and cocoa-nut and areca palms. We anchored here and passed the night, intending to start early in the morning. This gave a respite to the pirates, of which they were not slow to avail themselves. They cut down enormous trees and let them fall across the stream to obstruct or delay our advance, and give them time to carry away or conceal their valuables. While we 1W9.] UP THE PAKU. 183 were at dinner^ one of our party incautiously sat on the gunwale of the boat^ and leaning back overbalanced himself and fell into the river. We had a hearty laugh when he was pulled in, as, notwithstanding his unexpected bath, we found him holding on vigorously to his plate and knife in one hand and the grog-bottle in the other. ith, — ^We started at daylight, and had not proceeded many miles when we found the felled trees, of which I have already spoken, stopping the way. Tedious and heavy work it was to cut through them : no sooner did we get past one than another presented itself. We con- tinued this axing till eleven o'clock, now getting on a quarter of a mile, then stopped by a small obstruction, — advancing a few yards and a heavy tree to cut through ; and these were placed in such positions that had the Seribas had the courage to collect with a dozen muskets, they could have inflicted on us very heavy losa We at last came to a mighty tree that our axe-men could not get through, so returning a quarter of a mile to a cleared rising ground, we determined to march to the town ; and all set to work to get their breakfasts. This being over, and some delay occurring from the slow arrival of the native boats, which could only pass the obstructions one by one, time was given for the complete arrangement of the plan. The old Orang Kaya of Lundu, of whom I have often previously spoken, was with us, with his three sons, Kalong, Bunsi, and Tujang, and his brave followers. It was arranged that these should lead the way to remove obstructions and cut the path, while a strong party of Malays were to protect them. The English ma- rines and blue-jackets were then to march in a body, and to be followed and flanked by the natives in a mass, while an adequate party remained to protect the boats. On the left bank the forest came down to the water's edge, but on the right there was rather open groimd, inter- 186 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [cHAP. iz. spersed with tall trees and clumps of bamboo. Captain Farquhar landed his force and marched them to the top of the cleared hill, and there took up a strong position* Everything was in active preparation, some of us had re- turned to the boats to get completely ready for the march, when suddenly a distant yeU was heard. A volley of musketry, shouts and cries, a bustle on the summit of the hill, and the English forming into line, told that something of importance had occurred. We rushed on shore. At first no explanation could be given of the alarm. Some cried " Kalong is dead," others Bunsi, others Tujang, some that all three were killed — ^when the return of a Dyak, bearing a wounded companion, gave the first intelligence. The woimded man said that they were ahead, when a party of the Seribas dashed from under cover of the bam- boos, and killed a great many : he himself was severely wounded; he believed that all the young chiefs were dead, — he was sure that one was. The headless trunk of Bunsi, and the frightfully mangled body of Tujang, were now brought in ; but Kalong, the eldest son, had escaped. Not knowing the strength of the enemy, and wishing to be prepared, the English were ordered to fall back a little and form a line along the summit of the hilL This slightly retrograde movement began to produce a panic among the natives, who imagined that our men were retreating, and they commenced rushing to their boata At first I thought that the enemy in overpowering force must be approaching ; but the Eajah, speaking quietly to the men as they passed us, and laughing, observed, " Don't be afraid," and turning to us said, "Let us advance." We instantly pushed up the hilL This had an immediate effect, — ^the men turned and followed the Eajah in crowds. Quiet being restored, we heard some account of the skirmish. The clearing party had advanced some hundred yards into the bamboo jungle, when Tujang, high-spirited lSi9.] THE OEANG KAYA's SONS. 187 but rash, pushed on ahead, and was followed by his elder brothers. Over-confident, they were almost unarmed, and without their fighting-jackets, and had advanced with a few men beyond immediate support. Tujang and Bunsi were stooping to pull out the bamboo spikes, when from behind a thick clump out dashed twenty of the enemy, and cut them down before they could draw their swords. Elalong, seeing his danger, sprang back and was saved ; and the immediate advance of some Malays under brave Fatah, who poured in a volley on the enemy, saved the wounded, and enabled them to recover the bodies of the slain. It was a melancholy hour for the old Orang Kaya of LundiL The father was but a little way behind when they felL Proud of his sons, and especially fond of Tujang, he at first could only find vent for his grief in bitter reviling of those whom he accused of deserting his sons. He retired with his tribe to their boats, and sent Kalong to the Bajah to request permission to return to Lundu to bury his children. The surviving son came, and in a sub- dued voice said, " I have lost my two younger brothera" "Tell the Orang Kaya," replied the Eajah, " not to grieve ; his sons died like brave men." A proud though faint smile of satisfaction was for a second visible, as praise from their great chief was indeed appreciated by them. Unwilling to aUow his brothers' death to pass unrevenged, Kalong wished to remain with us; but the old Orang Kayst, bowed down by grief, begged him to return home. One would have thought that the measure of his grief had been full, but another incident occurred which filled it to overflowing. The Banee steamer had been left at last nighf s anchorage, and a cutter, bearing the dead body of a sailor who had accidentally shot himself, arrived at the moment the Lundu chief was passing. There was a little bustle on the steamer's deck ; a rope caught the hammer of a musket left at fuU-cock by shameful carelessness ; it 188 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [chap. ix. went off ; the ball passed between two of the oflBcers, grazed a boy, struck the Orang Kaya's son-in-law, killing him on the spot, and finished by burying itself in the breast of a Malay. The old man, completely overcome, burst into tears, and holding up his fingers to the oflGicers, could only say, " Three sons in one day," and continued his melan- choly journey. From him the enemy could expect no mercy, and every Seribas that came in his way, during his passage down the river, was killed ; many fell by his own band. The jungle being so thick, and it being necessary to allay the excitement among our native forces, it was determined to advance by the river next day to a point nearer the town. Some rockets were fired at the Seribas who appeared ia the distance, and a few of the more adventurous who climbed into the trees were disturbed by a rifle-ball, but the rest of the day passed quietly. A picket was placed on shore, and a guard of natives. The enemy were constantly heard in the jungle, and volleys sometimes awoke us ; but knowing that there could be no danger from which being awake would save us, we were but little disturbed by the firing, and slept welL 5tL — Starting at low water, we managed to pass under the enormous tree that had hitherto barred our passage, and soon reached the spot from whence we were to march on the town of Paku. When the whole force was collected, we found that Sir James had come to the very injudicious conclusion to keep all the English to protect the boats, and to allow the natives to march alone to attack the town. It was injudicious in many respects : it exposed our force to a check ; it annoyed the English, who had borne the brunt of the diflGiculties; and it was unfair to the officers, who naturally sought opportunities of distinguish- ing themselves. The native force, however, was well selected, and con- 1849.] FORAYING. 189 sisted of about 1500 men, the best, armed of the fleet. They had been away nine hours when a dense smoke at the distance told of their success. They had arrived at the place without any opposition, as the pirates were cowed by their defeat at the mouth of the river ; and in the skirmish of yesterday the latter had lost many men, including their Malay chief 6^ — The whole of this day was spent by our native allies in organising expeditions against the villages around. The enemy made no effectual resistance : they even aban- doned a strong stockade, threw their guns into the river, and fled at the approach of our men. The plunder ob- tained by our Malays and Dyaks was enormous, and in their eyes of great value; but to the Europeans it was useless, except a few things as curiosities. Some brass guns were secured^ and some handsome rifles, that in their panic the Malays had left in their houses. During these two days of enforced idleness we amused ourselves in cutting down the brushwood with our swords, bathing in the sparkling river, joining in the jereed-throw- ing of the natives, and trying our skill at Malay football. During the great heat of the day lieut. Everest and I passed our time in reading to each other Thomson's " Seasons " and " Paradise Lost." Sir James Brooke, won- dering what could be interesting us so much, approached to join in what he called a " very pretty and appropriate amusement during a warlike expedition,*' until disturbed by the necessity of receiving reports from the different chiefs, as they came in from their forays. 7ih. — ^Early this morning we made preparations for our return to the main river. Before leaving, however, Sir James Brooke wrote a long letter to the pirates, in which he pointed out to them the necessity of abandoning their marauding pursuits, as the English had determined to put down piracy. On our arrival at the Nemesis we found 190 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [oHAP. IX. that one prisoner had been taken, — not, however, before he had wounded one of our men. They had to stun him with the blow of an oar before he could be secured. On board the steamer he was treated with great kindness, clothed, well fed, and, as usual, christened "Jack" by the sailors. He proved of the utmost service to the cause of peace by the accounts he gave of the kindness he had received. This was the only Dyak prisoner taken. I need not enter into any particulars of the rest of the expedition. We went to the Bejang, ascended that river about 100 miles, attacked the pirates living on the banks of its Kanawit branch, and then returned. Many of us thought that we should not have stopped until we reached the fort of Buah Eyah,^ the great chief of the Kanawit, and the most famous pirate of those regions ; but Commander Farquhar considered that his men had been ex- posed enough, and wished to go back. Captain Brooke and some others of us had been ahead with the light division, and had come upon and skirmished with the enemy, and felt assured that on the morrow we should find the pirates in force. We returned late to headquarters, to find dinner over ; so, removing to the other end of the village-house, we sat down to ours, and indulged ourselves in our dis- content at the idea of returning. The one whom the Bajah subsequently called his " unruly child " raised his glass, and gave a toast aloud, '' Oh for one hour of bonnie Keppel !" Directly Farquhar heard this, he jumped up ^ The names adopted by some of the Dyak chiefs from the Malays are significant, and remind one of the North American Indian titles. For instance, ** Bnah Byah ** may be interpreted ** the Chief Froit" (or, " the Fruit of the Festival "); the name of another chief (now dead) was '* Tang- kat Langit," or ** the Support of the Skies." Bnah is the Malay for froit ; Ryah means festival, holiday, high ; for instance, " Hari Ryah" (Hari is day) is the great day of festival at the end of the Ramadan ; Tongkat means walking-stick, staff or supporting post : Langit, is the heavens, or rather the sky. 1849.] A YOUNG CAPTIVE. 191 and came and tried to persuade ns that he could not act otherwise. He was no doubt right, and he and his men had acted most gallantly and successfully under great difiBicolties. Two or three incidents occurred during this expedition ^ which are perhaps worth relating. One village was surprised by the Malays, and the in- habitants had only time to save themselves in the woods. A mother, being hard pressed, let go the hand of her son, a boy of ten, who was seized by our men. He was brought on board our prahu, and Sir James took him under his protection, had him clothed and well fed, so that before he had been on board many days he grew quite confidential. As we were coming down the river, near the site of his village, the little fellow asked, " Where are you going to take me ?" " To Sarawak." " I wish you would land me, and let me find my mother." Sir James hesitated, but being assured by the natives that a Dyak boy of ten could manage for himself, it was determined to land him where he had been picked up. He was loaded with pres- ents, and with food for three or four days. To prevent his being annoyed, a Malay guard was left at the landing- place until the last Dyak ally had passed on. This little fellow remained three days alone in the jungle, but never wandered, and was found by his mother at the spot she had left him. This conduct, so different to what is cus- tomary in native warfare, had an excellent effect : as soon as possible after the expedition his mother sent him to ^ Abont this time one of the Malay crew of the advance or spy boat got woimded, a barbed spear having been hurled at him from the river-bank as be lay in the boat. The barb entered his back, and was in such dangerous proximity to his spine that the naval surgeons were afraid to extract it, uid so contented themselves with cutting ofif the shaft. On the return of the expedition to Sar&wak, Bishop McDougall undertook the operation, And to the astonishment of aU (the patient included), succeeded in extract- ing the barbed spear-head, so saving the man's life. 192 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [ohap. ix. Sarawak, with presents to the white man who had been kind to her boy. Confidence in the truthfulness of the white man is pro- verbial in Borneo. As we were breakfasting in a deserted village, voices hailed us in the distance to know who we were. They were told. They answered they wanted to have a talk : Sir James answered that he could not stop then, but if they would come down to the next night's resting-place they should be well received. Next morn- ing they came ; and for the first time in their lives they met white men and saw a steamer. These Dyaks re- mained ever after our firmest friends. This judicious mixture of severity and kindness always won the hearts of the Dyaks, and tended to increase their great respect for the English Bajah. One of these chiefs said : ** The inhabitants of our creek are determined to give up piracy, and will do so, but we cannot answer for the other tribes. If we give up cruising, shall we and our friends who think with us escape when you attack the refractory chiefs ? " Sir James answered : " If you see a flock of sparrows devouring your rice, do you not try to kill them ; and if by chance a harmless linnet should be among them, does he not run great risk from being found in such company? He may be killed; in a flock of birds it is difficult to distinguish between the mischievous and the harmless." During our absence from Sarawak the Meander had arrived, when, finding the work done, and his orders call- ing him elsewhere, Keppel sailed away, and we saw him no more in Borneo. Had his special boats been with us during this expedition, we might have pushed further up the Kanawit, and by destroying Buah Byah's fortified village, have given peace much earlier to the distracted districts of the Sejang. 193 CHAPTER X. MR GLADSTONE ANB THE RAJAH. 1849. When I heard that Mr Gladstone intended to enter into a detailed and careful examination of the whole question of Sir James Brooke's dealings with the Borneo pirates, I wrote to him privately, offering to furnish him with every information in my power, as I did not wish to see my old chiefs reputation exposed, to be tarnished by accusations founded on imperfect evidence, by a master in the art of making the worse appear the better cause. Subsequently I replied to the following queries posed by Mr Gladstone :^ — Query 1. — That the so-called pirates were not pirates in the proper sense of the term, as applicable to per- sons habitually infesting the seas and etssailing European commerce. " The Dyaks of Seribas and Sakarang were pirates in the proper sense of the term, as their fleets and squad- rons frequented the coasts of Borneo, and the Natunas, Tambilan, and other groups of islands, during the whole of the south-west monsoon — that is, during the time that 1 I may notice that I answered all these queries at a sitting, without having any papers or works to which I could refer. I was going out of town, and wished Mr Gladstone to have what I had written ss soon as possihle. N 194 LIFE OP SIR JAMES BROOKE. [chap. X. native war- vessels could keep the seas : that their cruisiug- grounds were from Tanjong Kidurong, north of the river Bintulu, to Fontianak, or about 400 miles in extent; whilst some of their vessels have pulled as far as Banjarmassin on the south coast. " The Seribas and Sakarang pirates, though usually called Dyaks, were not entirely so, as in every large prahu was a contingent of Malays who worked the swivels and guns and used the muskets ; and in many cases boats were almost entirely manned by Malays. In the latter expedi- tions the Dyaks had many guns and muskets of their own. " The Seribas and Sakarangs were pirates in the proper sense of the term, as they attacked trading vessels under whatever flag they might be. They also ravaged the coasts of the Netherlands colonies, as was referred to by the Dutch officer, Monsieur Boudriot, who gave evidence before the Commission of Inquiry in 1854, and whose evidence was more clear and important than that published in the pro- ceedings. " In no text-book, and in no instructions issued by her Majesty's Government, are pirates defined as only those who attack European commerce. It is sufficient to prove that men attack peaceful commerce on the high seas, or on the coast, to constitute them pirates ; and the pirates of Seribas and Sakarang attacked every vessel they met which they thought they had a chance of taking ; so that the Seribas and Sakarangs were pirates in the proper sense of the term as applicable to persons habitually infesting the seas and assailing peaceful commerce. "The attacks on the Seribas and Sakarang pirates were commenced by the present Admiral Keppel in the years 1843 and 1844. His proceedings were approved by the Admiral on the station (Sir William Parker), the Admi- ralty, and the Foreign Office. No instructions in a con- trary sense were given during the intervening years to 1849.] MR Gladstone's quekies. 195 1849, when the action in dispute^ took place. On the^ contrary, the Meander, in 1848, was fitted out with special boats, suited to river service, to enable her to attack the Seribas and Sakarang pirates with greater certainty of success. The Government were therefore satisfied of their piratical character, or they would have issued in- structions accordingly. As the Admiralty Courts had accepted the evidence adduced in Captain Keppell's case, it could not be supposed that it would be rejected in Com- mander Farquhar's. In fact, the Admiralty Court, presided over by that distinguished judge, Sir Christopher Eawlin- son, decided that the Seribas were proved to be pirates, and admitted Commander Farquhar's claim for head-money." I might have added that the Lanun and Balagfiini, whom no one has ever doubted to be pirates, principally prey on native commerce. Query 2. — That there was no broad, clear distinction in manners and morals between the allies whom Sir James Brooke assisted or led, and the enemies whom he attacked.^ ^ Mr Gladstone's queries relate -in tt principal measure to the battle of Batang Marau, which was described in the last chapter (chap, ix.) » There is an ancient custom of the Seribas and Sakarang Dyaks which forbids the inhabitants of a village from going out of mourning * after there has been a death in it, until a head (that of an enemy if possible, but still a head) has been obtained, to be used as a propitiation to the spirits at the religious feast. But owing to the vigilance of the Sarfiwak Government subsequently to the action of Batang Marau, the headmen of every long village-house from which there issued a head>hunting party was severely fined in gongs, brass guns, or sacred jars ; and hence there gradually arose difficulty in carrying out their traditional custom. On a recent occasion, however, the present Rajah (Mr C. Brooke) assembled all the chiefs at Simangan Fort, on the Batang Lupar, and proposed to them to abandon this old law, or rather to substitute for '' a head'' '^ a good harvest.*' This suggestion was immediately accepted by the assembled chiefs. Can there be any stronger proof of the wisdom of Sir J. Brooke's * It may puzzle Britons to know how nearly-naked savages go Into mourning : it Is by allowing their hair to go long, and to dispense with coloured waist-cloth or bead- eloth or brass ornaments of any sort 196 LIFE OP SIR JAMES BROOKE. [chap. x. " The native contingent that acted under the orders of Sir James Brooke was composed of men as distinct in manners and morals from the pirates as it is possible for men to be. Although two branches of a Dyak tribe fur- nished a light squadron, the bulk of our native fleet consisted of war-boats manned and led by as respectable and as wprthy traders and chiefs as any living in the East, — many of them as good men as ever existed, as the late Bandar of Sarawak, and his brother the Data Imaum, who served because it was necessary to clear the sea of marauders. It was the trading population who manned the fleet, as they are the good sailors of the coast. I knew them during fourteen yesus, and can declare that it was not possible to find a more marked distinction than that between our men and the pirates ; and this testimony could be corroborated by probably every one who has resided on the coast, whether as her Majesty's officers, or as missionaries, merchants, or as Sarawak officials." Query 3. — That the action in and after which the slaughter took place was partly on and near the shore, partly in chase of several prahus which were in flight for the open sea — viz., seventeen prahys ^ which escaped Cap- tain Farquhar, and when making for the Batang Lupar were raked abeam with grape and canister by the Nemesis, which drove many of them on shore badly crippled, when they fell an easy prey to the Dyak boats. Five of these, which were pursued by the Nemesis, were destroyed in detail out at sea, till there was not a living being on board. " As this appears to be taken from an account given by the officers present, I have little doubt of its general cor- policy, which has been so ably carried on by his lieutenants and succes- sors, than this .example of the moral power exercised by an Englishman in the midst of savages f 1 Fide chap. ix. p. 179. 1849.] MR Gladstone's queries. 197 rectness. The Nemesis was quite justified in preventing any war-boats escaping to the Batang Lnpar, as it would have exposed the peaceful inhabitants living on the lower reaches to death and pillage." Qriery 4 — That there is no evidence that either the five or even the seventeen prahus fought in any way against the Nemesis or the Snake> which appear to have performed this operation; or especially as to the five, which were not doing anything except flying for their Uvea " It is a positive fact known to myself, to Bishop McDou- gall, and to every superior officer in Sarawak, that lingir, who commanded the squadron of seventeen prahus, made a determined rush at the steamer, and only failed in taking her by her suddenly going ahead full speed. Nothing would have been easier, had the pirates got alongside, than for them to have captured her. They were about 700 strong, and the very bravest and most daring of the fleet ; while the Nemesis had not even her best Europeans on board, as they were away with the boats, leaving a few whites to point the guns. The rest of the crew were Indian Lascars and African Sidi boys. I heard Lingir himself some months afterwards tell his version, and I heard Commander Wallage, the day after the affair, explain how the steamer escaped capture. It must not be forgotten that these pirates have always shown themselves both daring and brave, but the inferiority of their arms renders jwi encounter with European regular forces quite hopelesa Lingir escaped home with his prahu, so that at least one of the seventeen got away. " The Snake was a Malay boat manned by perhaps thirty men." Qiiery 5. — That there is no evidence that either the seventeen or the five prahus were warned or summoned to surrender. 198 LIFE OP SIR JAMES BROOKE. [chap. x. " It appears' to be forgotten that there were 105 pirate prahus in the action, manned by about 4000 men ; that the affair took place between 8 p.m. and midnight ; that the whole of the forces engaged were constantly shouting and yelling like demons ; that until firing actually commenced the fleets were not within speaking distance ; that these pirates never give quarter, and therefore never expect it — in fact, practically asking them to surrender was impossible, or it would have been done/' Query 6. — That the rate of pay per pirate slain or taken bdii^ £20 per head, the prize-money claimed was £3000, am. the sum voted and drawn was £20,700. Thus it wcMild appear that about 1000 persons must have been/ destroyed in the action by her Majesty's iQicea.-«Bmled to claim prize-money, not including the great slaughter by natives in the jungle, and principally in the operation just now referred to. " The rate of pay was £20 per pirate killed, and £5 per pirate present. The naval forces were paid — 500 pirates killed, at jg20, . . . £10,000 2140 „ present, at £5, . . . 10,700 £20,700 " Whilst I was H.M.'s Acting Commissioner from Feb. 1st 1851 to Aug. 11th 1855, 1 made the most minute in- quiries on the subject, and, as I testified before the Com- mission, found that there were killed and present during the action, and that the payment therefore should have been for 300 killed, at £20, .... £6,000 3700 present, at £5, .... 18,600 £24,600 "The pirates landed on their own coast; and though many died of disease and fatigue, very few — perhaps not 1849.] MR Gladstone's queries. 199 one, certainly not twenty — were killed by the natives on shore (I have been reminded that one was killed by the eldest son of the Orang Kaya of Lundu). They had a great dread of the prowess of the pirates, and did nothing but shout the watchword, for fear the Europeans should mistake and fire into them, the light squadron com- manded by Mr Steel in the Snake excepted, as they cruised at the entrance of the river, to try and prevent the pirates getting up the Seribas. " It must not be forgotten that subsequently we lived on terms of great familiarity with the chiefs of the piitite fleet. They used in after-years to come up to our houses and sit round our-dinner tables, and tell us stories of that eventful night, that destroyed for ever their love of piracy. "I myself landed on the beach in the morning, and found that there had been no pursuit, except to pick up what had been thrown away by the pirates during their flight. One of these parties found the headless bodies of the young girl-captives whom the pirates had killed in their rage, and I went to verify the fact, and saw the sickening-spectacle. " There were between seventy and eighty weiTpraJius on or near the beach, some very fine, measuring 80 feet in length and 9 feet beam, carrying a crew of about seventy paddlers, besides the chiefs." Qv£ry 7. — That we do not hear of any judicial pro- ceedings for piracy against prisoners on this occasion, and are consequently altogether ignorant of the pleas they would have advanced in self-defence, and the colour which these pleas might have given to the case. ** There was only one prisoner taken, and he with great difficulty. He was of inferior rank, and was subsequently sent with a message to the pirate chiefs to the eflect, that if they ceased pirating these attacks would cease. I never heard either a Seribas, Malay, or Dyak, or in fact any 200 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [chap. x. pirate, who denied his deeds : on the contrary, they gloried in their success, and the daring evinced in their distant cruises. In the Eastern Archipelago piracy was con- sidered an honourable pursuit, worthy of a nation of warriors. " When I say only one prisoner was taken, I mean in this operation. Subsequently a chief and several women and children fell into our hands." Query 8. — That the Act 6 George IV., the treaty with Borneo, and the instructions given under the Act, appear — a. To contemplate only the case of pirates in the sense of persons who assail British commerce. h. To assume that pirates will be summoned and as far as possible taken alive, with a view to a regular trial, and to being judicially dealt with. "I need not refer to the Act 6 Greorge IV., but the treaty with Borneo being negotiated with the Sultan of Brunei and Sir James Brooke, referred to the pirates who infested his Highness's coasts, and destroyed the trade of his subjects, and was aimed as much at the numerous Seribas as at the better-armed Lanuns and Balagnini, and had no special reference to British commerce, but to com- merce in general, and no instructions were given to Sir James Brooke to make such a distinction. " When it is possible to summon pirates to surrender, it is done. In the action between the Nemesis and the Balagnini in 1847, a boat was sent oflF for that purpose, when the pirates immediately opened fire on her. On every occasion the pirates have commenced the action. In 1843 the Prime Minister of Brunei called upon Captain Keppel to aid in putting down the Seribas and Sakarang pirates, and himself sent the forces he could command. " I might also have added that every attack made on the Seribas and Sakarangs by H.M.'s naval forces was at the 1849.] MB Gladstone's queries. 201 direct written request of the Grovernment of Brunei, and the one in 1849 under the provisions of our treaty." Query 9. — That the proceedings of this expedition, as far as the seventeen prahtis are concerned, appear to have been conducted in contravention of the spirit exhibited by public authority in the Act, treaty, and instructions. "By no means: the seventeen prahtcs made a direct attack on the Nemesis, and were defeated. One at least of the prahtcs escaped, as Lingir, their chief, lived to give his own account of the afTair ; and most managed to reach the shore, where they abandoned their boats to Mr Steel's squadron." Query 10. — That they seemed to have been founded on the principle that extermination was the proper method of dealing with these people, as with wild beasts or vermin, and that under the circumstances the saving of life was not desirable. " On the contrary, had these pirates shown the slightest desire to surrender, every European officer present would only have been too glad to stay his hand. It was not, however, possible to take prisoners, as though vessels ce>uld be seen at night with the aid of blue -lights, it would not have been easy to distinguish a swimming man. Besides, the strong tides there would sweep out to sea or up the river — in either case, far away from the scene of con- test — any one struggling in the water. Within that week, I do not remember to have seen more than three bodies floating in the river. Admiral Farquhar was essentially a humane man, and Sir James Brooke was as gentle-hearted as he was brave and good." Query 11. — That it appears from the journals of Sir James Brooke that probably more than four-fifths of the crews of the prahus thus indiscriminately slaughtered were slaves who, whether there against their wills or not, were there without having any option, and were of the class of 202 LIFE OF SIB JAMES BROOKE. [cHAP. X. persons on whose behalf Sir James Brooke had at an- other time contended that some distinction ought to be drawn. " There is some error hera Sir James Brooke may have made some such statement when referring to the Lanun, Balagnini, or Maludu pirates who came from the Sulu seas or Gilolo, but not when speaking of the Dyaks. The Dyaks have but a few female slaves — the young women who have been seized in their cruises. Occasionally a chief may have a few slave debtors, but their war praJms are manned by the fighting men of the tribe. Among the 4000 pirates who were present at the action on the Slst of July 1849, there may have been a few slaves attending on the Malay chiefs, but not to an appreciable extent. As a rule, they would be considered too valuable to be risked. The slaves in the Lannn prahvs, on the contrary, are mostly captives taken during the cruise. The prahus start with the fighting crew and a few hundred slaves. As they advance, the captives take their places at the oars ; and if their number become unwieldy, a chief will man a captured prahu from his own crew, and none of the chiefs followers do more than steer and manage the sails, and pull in the swift boats to surprise unwary fishermen. These pirates rarely kill any but their European captives, as their object is to acquire slaves, taking them in one countiy to sell them in the next. " In all this controversy mistakes have arisen from not paying sufficient regard to the person who gives testimony. As a rule, naval men know nothing of the countries in which they operate, and therefore make mistakes in writ- ing their reports. Even in Sir James Brooke's journals it is necessary to remember that they were written from day to day, and that they are only first impressions— often wrong — and that they were published under the auspices of persons entirely ignorant of Borneo. In 1847 I cor- 1849.] MR Gladstone's queries. 203 rected many sheets of Mundy's book, and one blunder of my own was the cause of a fierce controversy. " I have not read the papers connected with this affair for years, as I did not intend to enter into the controversy in my life of Sir James Brooke ; but in looking for Mr Boudriot's name, I noticed one of the errors to which I refer : Captain Wallage says that the pirates landed in a hostile country, whereas the action took place at the mouth of the river Seribas, and the pirates therefore landed in their own country. It was uninhabited, but quite familiar to them. It was almost an island, so that by pulling up a branch of the Seribas we could have held the neck of land between that river and the Kaluka, and thus cut off the retreat of the 3200 men who had landed (I calculate that 500 got up the river, being the crews of the prahus which escaped); but Sir James Brooke knew that the pirates would not surrender, and would thus either perish of starvation or be killed in detail. He therefore called on his forces to follow him to the attack of the pirate town of Paku, and thus enabled the mass of the pirates to get home. He said at the time to those who objected to his clemency that the blow struck would suffice to destroy the system, — and it did, as no pirate fleet has gone to sea during the last twenty-eight years, and the inhabitants of those rivers are now far more industrious than any others on the coast. " When I arrived in Borneo in 1848, the commerce of the coast was dead, and the whole trade of Sarawak in 1849 was, I think, about £10,000. No trading prahus could venture to sea except well armed and with numerous crews, forty to fifty men manning vessels which really re- quired but eight to manage them — and they generally sailed together, to give each other support. There was insecurity everywhere; and during the first six months of 1849, about 500 people fell victims to the Seribas and 204 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [chap. x. Sakarangs. No wonder that the traders and peaceful in- habitants turned out by thousands to punish these mar- auders as soon as the presence of the English forces gave unity and direction to the attack. The contrast is now most marked. Instead of pillage, massacre, and insecu- rity, we have perfect peace upon that coast Instead of a population, estimated at 100,000, bestowing its best energies on an exciting but nefarious pursuit, we have them eagerly turning their attention to trade and agricul- ture. These old pirates are far more energetic than the others, and are eager for improvement, and they are now looked upon as the mainstay of the English ; and even during the Chinese insurrection of 1857, when Sir James Brooke was a fugitive from his capital, they turned out almost to a man to defend his cause, and greatly aided in driving the insurgents over the frontiers. "These are indeed results, and would atone for any severity which might have been exercised in their accom- plishment But I am certain that no undue severity was used : and after twenty - eight years* reflection on the subject, I can arrive at no other conclusion than that the punishment of the pirates was just and necessary; that no one was killed beyond what was requisite for the success of the operation, and that there was no pursuit of the flying foe after he had abandoned his war-vessels ; and that Sir James Brooke and Commander Farquhar, to prevent the destruction of the defeated, called off the attention of the native forces as soon as possible after the action, and thus prevented any useless slaughter. "I may conclude by saying that in 1849 Sir James Brooke, as Commissioner, laid before Lord Palmerston all the evidence on the subject; that after some months of consideration his lordship wrote to say that he approved of what had been done, and that should Sir James consider it necessary, he was to continue to act in the same manner. 1849.] MR Gladstone's queries. 205 It is in the hope that you may come to the same conclu- sion as Lord Palmerston did that I have written to you at this length." I subsequently received from Mr Gladstone some fur- ther queries, which I think worth inserting, as they com- plete the whole view of the subject : — Query 1. — In what sense and on what evidence are we to understand that the Seribas and Sakarang people were on this occasion engaged in piracy as distinguished from intertribal war? " The English and native forces were assembled to attack the pirates of Seribas and Sakarang for piratical acts which extended over a series of years. It would have been immaterial whether they had committed acts of piracy or not on this occasion, but they did commit acts of piracy, for they captured a trading vessel coming from Singapore laden with piece-goods and iron, which goods were found in their prahus, and another vessel laden with sago just sailing for Singapore. The crew of one escaped on shore, wliilst the others were killed. They also plun- dered the village of Palo, and tried to surprise the towns of Mato and Serikei. They took six young women at the village. Palo was almost the only salt - manufacturing village from which the pirates could get supplies, and therefore they did not destroy it" Qtieri/ 2. — It appears that they were not possessed of firearms. What weapons did they use ? '' I am not aware on what authority this statement is made. I saw the flashes from their guns, and heard the report ; and as most of the fighting Malays were in the fleet, and as all the Dyak chiefs have muskets, there must have been hundreds of firearms distributed in the 105 war prahus present. Any one who was present at the attack of Lang Fort, as I was, would have seen sixteen of our men knocked over by the first fire of the Dyaks, on 206 LIFE OP. SIR JAMES BROOKE. [cHAP. X. which occasion they had no Malays with them. The arms of the Dyaks, as of our own men, were usually spears, javelins, and swords — and they are expert swordsmen. When fighting in the jungle the Dyaks seldom or never use firearms, as they are apt to get rusty and out of order ; but in prahus they took all they had, and they have hun- dreds of brass guns, which are also used as currency. A man is said to owe another not so many dollars but so meLuypikiUs (133J lb.) of brass guns. Some beautiful rifles were captured during this expedition." QtLery 3. — Can any case be substantiated or alleged in which these tribes are known to have carried on sea-piracy, or assailed any British or European vessefl ? I find nothing on this head but vague allegations. Fifty-three merchants and inhabitants of Singapore, including six master-mariners, said there was no one among them who ever heard that any Dyak pirate, as distinguished from Malay, had been seen at sea ? " How could the Seribas and Sakarangs get to Pontianak and the other Dutch possessions except by sea ? and the Dutch evidence is clear enough that they went and ravaged their colonies. Monsieur Boudriot's testimony alone proves that ; and in the Dutch ofiicial reports on piracy, mention is made of the capture of one of their gunboats by Dyaks (under Eentab), in presence of her European consort, that vainly endeavoured to succour her. With the exception of Sir James Brooke's well-armed vessels, which went only to Sarawak, no English or European merchantmen fre- quented this coast, as it was a favourite cruising-ground of the Lanun and Balagnini, as well as of the Seribas and Sakarang pirates. In 1854 we recaptured the guns of the Dutch vessel above referred to. " If reference be made to the evidence given before the Commission in Singapore in 1854, it will be seen whm her arms, and threw itself into the river, where it swam like a fish. On beinjj I860.] CHINESE IMMIGRATION, 225 taken out, its mother presented it with a cigarette, which it quietly smoked, even before it could wedk. When we found that every proposition was refused, the Siamese Government declining to enter into a new treaty, we asked for boats and left Bangkok ; and next day we found ourselves on board the Sphinx, and off to Singapore. Sir James was delighted to hear, on his amval, that some thousands of Chinese had passed over from Sambas into Sarawak, and that at last the wished-for movement had commenced. As soon as we had got rid of the Siamese correspondence we started for Sarawak in the Nemesis, and reached that place in October 1850, to find everything flourishing. The arrival of this large party of Chinese was a very singular event In the Dutch - protected state. Sambas, south-west of Sarawak, there were two distinct parties of Chinese — ^those who sided with the gold-workers of Mon- trado, and those who, from their position, were under the influence of the Dutch. The latter were the agriculturists of Pamangkat, and some few small companies of gold- workers. At the beginning of the Uttle war in Sambas in 1850, the Chinese of Montrado obtained the upper hand, drove the few Dutch soldiers into the town of Sambas, and then set upon their allies. The Pamangkats fled for safety over the frontiers into Sarawak, and there settled either as agriculturists or among the established gold - workers. The English officers did their utmost to aid them on their first coming, and above a thousand at one time were sup- ported by the Government. They well repaid this atten- tion, as in a few months they tripled the revenue. We reached Sarawak on the 24th, and were enabled to spend seven weeks there — not seven weeks of rest, as the Bajah had promised to visit some tribes of Dyaks, and examine the gold-workings of the Chinese in the interior. p 226 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [ohap. XL Sir James had also a very momentous question to settle, which was the future government of the coast between Sarawak and Brunei The Sultan, the nominal ruler, pos- sessed but little real authority, although his name was often used by plundering nobles to enable them to carry out their measures. About a week after our return to Sarawak, the Rajah discussed the matter with me. This was the state of affairs. The next district to Sarawak was Samarahan, which in everything followed the lead of its neighbour ; then Sadong, governed by an ill-conditioned Malay chief named Bandar Easim, who was always in trouble ; then the great river of Batang Lupar, with its several branches of lingga, Undop, and Sakarang, entirely independent of the Sultan, as was the next great district, the Seribas. Kaluka kept up an occasional intercourse with the capi- tal, but paid no revenue ; and the majestic river of Re- jang was peopled by tribes who owned no allegiance to any one. Sir James had long thought that this state of things should be altered. He acknowledged that the lawful sovereign should receive some revenue ; but how to obtain it was the difficulty. The Sultan had placed himseK com- pletely in Sir James Brooke's hands, and generosity as well as policy urged him to do what he could for him. I believe that the suggestion came from me that the Rajah should propose to the Sultan to hand over to him the government of the six rivers, under the condition that the surplus revenue should be divided between the Govern- ments of Sarawak and Brunei. The idea was simple, and recommended itself ; and in order to prepare the way for its execution, Sir James determined to establish better government in these districts. He removed Bandar Kasim, as he was proved to have made a foray into Dutch-pro- tected territory, in which twenty-five men were killed. 1850.] ADMINISTRATIVE MEASURES. 227 He appointed good men to govern lingga: he had al- ready built a fort at Sakarang to check the pirates, and had established there his old Balidah acquaintance Sirib Moksain. Seribas he was forced to leave alone for the present, as to establish a Government there would have been too ex- pensiva He left the native rulers at Ealuka and the Bejang ; but he determined to build a fort at the mouth of the Kanawit to prevent the pirates getting down the main river to ravage the coast These different enterprises were likely to prove some- what expensive, as the revenues to be received would for a long time be nominal We sat talking till late : the rest of the party had re- tired, and the native chiefs had long since glided from the room. During these discussions the Rajah was in his glory — he so fully understood his subject, was deeply interested in every phase of the question, would appar- ently never accept a suggestion, opposing it with all his energy, but pondering over it afterwards. Many a time has he said, some months subsequent to a hot discussion, " St John, you were right ; I shall carry out your idea," when the idea itself had to be recalled to my mind. At this time Sir James Brooke had around him in his own establishment a number of young ofGlcers, as Captain Brooke, Grookshank, Grant, Brereton, Lee, and myself, who were thoroughly devoted, and who looked up to him for counsel. But it is a singular fact, for which I have vainly endeavoured to find an explanation, that, except to one, he never gave a word of advice ; never tried to direct our studies ; never tried, except during our usual discus- sions, to lead us ; never thought of our conduct Perhaps he trusted to his own example ; for during the twenty years I knew him, his life was a pattern of good- ness. His sentiments were always noble, and his conduct 228 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [cHAP. XI. was that of a thorough gentleman. Much as we respected our chief personally, we did not accept his opinions as infallible : on the contrary, in politics, on religion, on litera- ture, we had endless discussions, which, as the £ajah said, generally terminated in the battle of Waterloo. Sir James Brooke discussed every subject in the same manner as he played the game of chess: he made a brilliant onslaught, which required the utmost wariness to oppose. With time, however, we learnt his method, and opposed coolness and caution to all his attacks, and our lively talks went deep into the night. As I have before observed, complaints continually came in about the governor of Sakarang, and therefore the Eajah determined to send Mr Arthur Crookshauk and Mr Grant to inquire into his conduct. On their return to Sarawak, they were accompanied by a son of the famous Sirib Sahib, the great pirate - protector of former days, whose family was now anxious to settle under the shadow of the new fort. They also brought with them the clever, pleasant, but untrustworthy Sirib Moksain, whom they had found completely unsuited to the post in which the Eajah had placed him. It was then determined to invite Mr Brereton to leave the Labuan service and take charge of Sakarang as a sort of independent governor, — a most sin- gular arrangement. Brereton, however, proved himself to be the right man in the right place ; he had formerly been in the navy, — and he possessed the art of winning the confidence of the natives, and although too impulsive, was, on the whole, an excellent and genial governor. As Sir James had been away about ten months, the Dyaks of various tribes begged him to visit them. But he was still weak from old attacks of ague, and therefore de- termined to confine his visit to some tribes that lived on the tributaries of the Morotabas river. We first went to the Maradang Dyaks. As they were I860.] VISIT TO THE DYAKa 229 in fact but a branch of the Sibuyows^ I need not enter into particulars concerning them, but I wish to mention a curious conversation which took place. After diuner was over, we sat by the light of a few wood torches in the broad enclosed veranda of a village house, when one of the Dyaks present said that he should like the Bajah to give them some account of his visit to Siam. We were surprised to hear such a question from this almost naked savage, and we inquired what he knew on the subject The chief of the tribe then said that many present were familiar with Siam. He for one had been sent by their Malay rulers to pull an oar in a Lanun pirate boat, and had often cruised in the bay of Siam, and showed by his remarks how well he had observed, and told us many a curious anecdote of their proceedings. No wonder the coast of Borneo was in those days considered unsafe when the regular rulers of the country thus encouraged the pirates. In the morning we started on a visit to a tribe of land Dyaks, the Sentahs, who lived on a little hill on the Quop. At first the path was very muddy, being through old rice- fields, then over pretty hills, young jungle, and now and then across purling streams. A Dyak path, even after being improved, is difiicult to follow, and this was a regular specimen. As I have said, it lay first through abandoned fields, which the late rains had turned into slush ; then through low jungle,— old, slippery, rotten trees were lying across the path ; then large clearings for plant- ing drjr rice, covered with felled trees and branches half burnt through, over and on which you are expected to walk ; then steps down the sides of steep hills, either cut in the clay or made of a single tree with rough notches ; then through deer-swamps, bridged over by small trees ranged in a line in the middle of the path, — most diflScult walking — a slip on either side would plunge you into mire. 230 LIFE OP SIR JAMES BROOKE. [oHAP. Xl. Every now and then we arrived at a deep ravine over which was thrown the stem of a young tree, slippery and often rotten — a queer specimen of a bridge. At last we reached the Quop hill, very steep and very tiring, as we climbed up a succession of steps cut in the slippery clay ; but at length, where some clear water crossed the path, a halt was called and a bath determined on, after which we felt refreshed, though five hours in the broiling sun had fatigued many of our party. The Sajah was received with an exuberance of joy by the people — for this was one of the tribes whose captured women he had forced Sirib Sahib to restore — and cere- monies of all kinds immediately commenced. The old women danced with a slow measured step, and passed their hands over our arms, and then rubbed their bodies, thinking they had drawn virtue out of us ; they brought fowls to the Rajah, that he might wave them over the heads of the people and wish them all blessings, — cool weather for their crops, and fertility for their women; then cooked rice was brought, on which the Bajah was asked to spit, and then stuff it down the throats of these simple old creatures. At last the Eajah, overcome by his unusual fatigue, fell asleep, and I undertook to strike a freshly killed fowl against all the door-posts, and thus sprinkle a little blood thera These ceremonies, and the beating of gongs and loud singing, effectually drove drowsi- ness from my eyes, and I envied the Rajah his power of sleeping under almost any circumstances. Glad were we all next morning to start early, though before doing so Sir James had to cut a ratan that let a flagstaff into » hole properly prepared, dug to receive it. The curious part of the ceremony was that, as the Rajah cut the ratan, a live chicken was thrown in and crushed by the falling staff, a sacrifice to their gods. The same ceremony once, it is said, took place in the Rejang district. 1850.] *'OLD PIEBWOKKS." 231 when a young ^1 took the place of the chicken ; but this probably is but a tradition. The chief of the Sentah tribe was a simple, kindly old man, and once came to the Bajah to tell him that a party of Malays had, during a visit to his village, discussed the subject of religion, and said that all those who were not Mohammedans would be hurled into hell and burnt. "What," said the old chief, " wiU become of the white men?" "They will be sent to hell too, and you Dyaks will be the firewood with which they will be burnt" " I thought," continued the old chief, " that this was too bad ; that I who have always done my duty to my neighbours should receive such treat- ment in the other world. But, Rajah, is it true 1 " The Rajah told him that it was not true, and advised him to join the Christians ; " and then," he said, " you will share our fate, which is not likely to be that stated by the Malays." The old man took the advice seriously, and shortly after he and many of his tribe were baptised. How- ever, he ever after went by the name of " Old Fireworks." Though still suffering, the Rajah determined to fulfil his engagements, and in a few days st£u*ted to settle matters with the Chinese company established to work gold in the interior, and then laid down rules which, had they been strictly followed, would have prevented the Chinese insurrection that broke out many years later. No sooner had he returned to Kuching than he was attacked by fever and ague, and he was brought so low that he listened to the advice of his medical friend, and determined to return to Europe on sick-leave. He could have no rest in Sarawak, as no sooner had he settled the Chinese affair than he had to enter into an inquiry as to the truth of the accusations made against the Malay gover- nors of Sadong and Sakarang; and finding the charges proved, he had, as I have said, to depose both of them, and establish fresh rulers. 232 LIFE OF SIR JAMBS BROOKE. [chap. xi. Before returning to England^ however, he determined to make a visit to Labuan, and have another look at the colony. We started in the Nemesis, and arrived there on the I9th December. The place was healthy enough, but there was no trade ; the coal was left almost untouched, and there was little prospect of advancement We were only three weeks in Labuan, and even during that time we paid two visits to the capital. Sir James suggested to the Brunei Government his plan for the management of the six districts near Sarawak, and left them to discuss it among themselves. Had Sir James Brooke been enabled to have stayed six months in Labuan, there would have been a start given to it which would probably have insured its success. One of the parishes or sections of Brunei, called the Burong Ping^, contains the real trading population of the capital It is inhabited by rich men entirely addicted to commerce, who were at that time anxious to withdraw from the tjrrannical government of the Sultan, Omar Ali. They had entered into negotiations with Sir James Brooke to leave the capital in a mass, and establish themselves in our colony; but, on account of the question of domestic slavery, they had decided to establish their new abode at the mouth of the Ealias river, which is opposite Labuan, and have their trading establishments under our flag. But when they heard that the Governor was about to start for Europe, they grew less warm in the project, and at last determined to give up the idea until Sir James's return to Borneo. We thus lost to the colony the active aid of 1500 of the best of the population of the capital — so true is it that in the East influence is personal Probably Lieut.-Govemor Scott or Mr Low could have done everything they desired, but they were more used to the Rajah, and wanted to be under him. Another attack of fever and ague warned Sir James no I 1851.] DEPARTURE FOR EUROPK 233 longer to defer his departure, and on the 9th January we left Labuan, to reach Sarawak on the 13th, and four days after the Bajah sailed for Europe. We accompanied him to the Santubong entrance, and in my journal I find the words, " Farewell, dear Eajah ! may your visit to Europe prove as beneficial to you as we all hope." Mr Brereton, on being acquainted with the plans which had been formed for him, joyfully threw up the Labuan service and accom- panied us to Sarawak, preparatory to taking possession of his governorship of Sakarang. Every one regretted his departure from Labuan, as he had the art of winning affection. 234 CHAPTER XII. SECOND VISIT TO ENGLAND. 1851-1853. That visit to England from which we all expected so much proved an unfortunate one, as instead of seeking rest Sir James picked up the gauntlet thrown down by the Eastern Archipelago Company, and fought it out with them, to the loss of health, money, and time in my opinion, but it was a necessary fight in the opinion of Sir James and some of his friends. The Eastern Archipelago Company had been formed to develop the resources of the Indian islands, and particu- larly to work the coal of Labuan and the antimony at Sarawak. It had been pushed into existence by Mr Wise, Sir James Brooke's agent in England, nominally to aid in advancing the work of the Bajah, but in fact to supplant him. His secret project was unknown to the directors when the company was formed, as it was difficult to fathom Mr Wise's schemes. But the fact was, that by inadvertence and unpardon- able carelessness, some private letters written by Sir James from Sarawak had been allowed to fall into the hands of Mr Wise, and in these he had noticed some energetic expressions about himself, when Sir James, irritated by what he considered dishonest attempts to 1851.] MR wise's MANCEUVRES. 235 impose on the public, declared that he would kick Mr Wise to Old Nick if he continued to mix his name up in such schemes, and expressed the opinion that " a friend was worth a dozen agents." Mr Wise, however, was cautious as to showing his discontent, and only whispered his insinuations to my father ; but when Mr Brooke pos- itively declined to have anything to do with his projected company, and refused to sacrifice Sarawak to the other's greed for money, Mr Wise grew furious, and then it was that he burst out to my father in accusations against his employer. Mr Wise was an able man, and as crafty as he was able. As a minute examination of his different projects would be of no interest to the public, it will be suflBcient to say that he had for a long time attempted to launch in the market a gigantic scheme, and he took advantage of the excitement caused by the arrival of Sir James in England during 1847 to carry out his project. He thought himself secure of a lease of the Sarawak antimony ore; but he had not yet obtained the grant of the right of working coal on the mainland of Borneo, as Sir James had thought it his duty, as a Queen's officer, to pass the concession he had obtained to the English Government Mr Wise looked upon this act as treason to himself, and was rendered furious on hearing that some genuine cap- italists in the city were trying to obtain the concession. Upon this he thought of my father, and after a consulta- tion he drew up a long memorial, which the former agreed to place personally in the hands of Lord Palmerston. My father was an old acquaintance of Lord Palmerston, and I well remember the particulars of the interview. When he had explained to his lordship the object of his wishing to see him, he handed him the memorial to read. On seeing its length. Lord Palmerston started, and said, " St John, your friend is a d d long-winded fellow ! " 236 LIFE OP SIR JAMES BROOKE. [chap. xn. but with that admirable aptitude for work for which he was remarkable, his lordship read it through, and promised to do his best. What were the steps subsequently taken I do not know, but Mr Wise was given the concession, and immediately formed his company. Many of the directors were rich, but nearly all were inexperienced men, and Mr Wise was allowed to do as he pleased. Some months later Sir James Brooke thought that he discovered errors in Mr Wise's accounts to a considerable amount : an explanation was demanded, but refused ; and Mr Wise, finding that Sir James had for a long time been aware of his covert hostility, now threw off the mask, and attacked his old employer on every occasion. Our proceedings against the pirates in 1849 furnished him with the necessary weapons. By garbled extracts, by untrue reports, by means which I know not, he managed to obtain the confidence of obstinate old Joseph Hume, who dearly loved a grievance, and attacks on Sir James were commenced both in Parliament and the press. To minds that were prepossessed it was of no use furnishing proofs of the character of the pirates, or to bring forward the judg- ment of the Admiralty Court. It was of no use for the House of Commons to approve Sir James Brooke's pro- ceedings by increasing majorities ; it was no use for Lords Palmerston, Grey, and Ellesmere to stand forward in his defence, nor for that hard hitter, Henry Drummond, to demolish Mr Hume's case in the House. Mr Wise a j^ his faction ^gre^ determined if pqssiWe^ojsdn^SffJames Brooke. Stung by this injustice, the Rajah decided to carry the war into the enemy's camp, and attacked the Eastern Archipelago Company, and did not give up the contest until he had seen the seal of their charter torn off by the judgment of a high tribunal But at what expense of time, money, temper, and health was tiiis triumph obtained! 1851.] PARLIAMENTARY PERSECUTION. 237 Sir James found, therefore, that whilst in England he had not only to fight the Eetstern Archipelago Company, but that he had to answer the "persevering and malignant persecutions," as Lord Palmerston called them, of a small minority in Parliament. He therefore seriously thought of getting himself elected M.P., so as not only to be able to defend his own proceedings, but to develop the policy which he thought England should pursue in the Eastern Archipelago. It is a pity that he could not carry out his project, as his fiery eloquence, his honest purpose, his thorough mastery of his subject, would have won the House, ever ready to listen to a man who has really something to say, and says that well. On July 10, 1851, Mr Hume brought forward his motion of inquiry into the conduct of Sir James Brooke; but as he really could bring forward no evidence whatever against him, his motion, after a triumphant reply by Lord Palmer- ston, was rejected by a large majority. Mr Gladstone spoke on this occasion, and bore his testimony to Sir James Brooke's noble character. It is a pity that he has lately allowed doubts to creep in as to the correctness of his former judgment. News having reached England that the old king of Siam was dead, and that the friendly Chau fia Mungkut had ascended the throne, it was decided to send another Mission to Siam, and Sir James Brooke was directed to prepare for an immediate return to that country. His passage was taken in the October mail; but before he could start, news reached the Government through Col. Butterworth, Governor of the Straits Settlements, that the king of Siam would prefer the Mission being deferred until after the funeral rites of the late king were over. This was a real misfortune, as, had Sir James returned to the East, made an advantageous treaty with Siam, and perhaps opened Cochin China and Eambodia, his mind 238 LIFE OF SIB JAMES BROOKE. [oHAP. xn. would have been diverted from the attacks on his Bomeon policy, and his opponents would probably have considered it useless to persevere in their " malignant persecution." But it was decreed otherwise, and instead of sailing for the East, Sir James went down to hunt with Harry KeppeL In 1852 the Bajah had still his two questions on hand, — the lawsuit with the Eastern Archipelago Company, and to defend himself from the attacks on his Eastern policy. The* friends and admirers of Sir James Brooke, to mark their opinion of his conduct, gave him a public dinner at the London Tavern on the 30th April, and on that occa- sion Sir James explained his policy in a lucid speech, which was much admired. " Do not disgrace your public servants by inquiries generated in the fogs of base sus- picions: for remember a wrong done is like a wound received — the scar is ineffaceable. It may be covered by glittering decorations, but there it remains to the end." Prophetic words ! the scar did remain to the end. In the House, Mr Sidney Herbert stated that Sir James was engaged in mercantile speculations, and a correspon- dence ensued which was quite unworthy of Mr Sidney- Herbert, who shuffled out of the question he had raised in a very mean way, as he had in reality spoken at the instigation of Mr Wise, and had no evidence whatever to support his disparaging assertions. One satisfaction Sir James Brooke had, which was to see the seal of the charter of the Eastern Archipelago Company torn from that document, as it was found that the capital, which had been certified as subscribed, had not been subscribed. While the director, Mr Wise, was engaged in managing the ''malignant persecution" in England, and pulling the wires by which Mr Hume, Mr Cobden, and their lesser allies were moved, their manager in Borneo was not idle. This was a Mr Motley, 1852.] MB HUMB's WITNESSES. 239 who was employed with a disreputable adventurer named Bums to endeavour to obtain a letter from the Sultan of Born eo/ complaining; of Sir James Brooke's conduc t But leir schemes failed. It is a curious circumstance that both these men, who were great authorities with Mr Hume in his endeavour to prove the gentler character of the natives of Borneo, died by their hands. Mr Burns was killed by pirates in Maludu Bay ; and when we recovered the ship of which he had been supercargo, I discovered among his papers not only proofs of their having endeavoured to bribe the Sultan to complain of Sir James Brooke, but I found a very curious argument written out, whether it would not be justifiable on his (Mr Bums's) part to receive slaves in payment of goods. His conclusion was that he would be completely justified. And this is a specimen of the men who banded against Sir James Brooke. Mr Motley was massacred, with his whole family, by those mild inhabi- tants for whose good conduct Mr Gladstone is now ready to vouch. The third of this band of rogues, Mr Biley, the tavern-keeper, was drowned. It will show to what height party spirit rose, when I say that Mr Motley accused the Eajah of having bribed the pirates to murder Mr Bums, Capt Bobertson, and others of the crew of the Dolphin, as in 1846 he had paid Mr Williamson's servant to drown his master. Can any- thing be more infamous than such accusations? The fact is, that HM.'s officers in half-civilised coimtries are brought in contact with wandering ruffians whose only object is to make money, — honestly if they can, but at all events to make money ; and when we endeavour to check their illegal acts, we are exposed to shameful abuse, which sometimes finds an echo at home. Sir James Brooke had many interviews this year with Lord Malmesbury^ Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, 240 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [onAT. xii. and explained to him the position in which he found him- self placed. He pointed out, what had long been apparent to us, that it was not for the good of the public service that he should hold the positions of Governor of Labuan^ Commissioner to the independent princes, and Consul- General, whilst he continued Eajah of Sarawak. Two of the three were compatible, but not all together. As Governor of Labuan, or as Eajah of Sarawak, he could hold the position of Commissioner ; but as he could not efficiently superintend two possessions distant from one another, he proposed, therefore, that he should give up the government of Labuan, and be appointed Minister, with two paid attaches. The governorship was given up, and everything was settled, even to his return to Siam to make a treaty with the new king, who appeared likely to prove very friendly to the English, when the Conservative party went out of office, and Lord Aberdeen came into power. Lord Stanley, however, then Under-Secretary, assured Sir James that Lord Malmesbury had so settled the affair, that his successor would not disturb the ap- pointments. I must go back a little to refer to another subject, to which I have already alluded. I have already men- tioned that the American envoy had visited Sarawak in 1850, with proposals to form a treaty. The Eajah's absence, and the necessity to submit this proposition to the British Grovernment, as Sir James was an officer in their employ, prevented anything being done at the time ; but in 1851 he received letters addressed by Mr Balles- tier from Washington, informing him that the President of the United States would be happy to meet him if he would visit America. As Lord Palmerston had written to him to say that H.M.*s Government saw no objec- tion to his n^otiating a treaty with the United States, he had made up his mind to start when* some private 1858.] MR Hume's demand for a commission. 241 affair delayed his departure until too late. I have always regretted the frustration of this voyage, and fear that Sir James did not attach sufficient importance to it. It might have been of incalculable service, and have saved him from years of subsequent annoyance. In the spring of 1852, his private secretary, Mr Charles Grant, visited Washington, but as he had not been famished with any powers, he could only act in his private capacity. Had Sir James been acknowledged an independent sovereign by the United States, with powers to sign a treaty of friendship and commerce, perhaps he would not have had to wait fifteen years for recognition by his own country, and Mr Cobden would have ceased to persecute a man whom the President had delighted to honour. In the hope of silencing Mr Hume, or at least those of his friends who had minds open to conviction. Sir James, early in 1852, published a series of letters, addressed to Mr Henry Drummond, on the subjects in dispute, and so demolished Mr Hume in the opinion of many judicious persons, that he hoped that he should hear no more of the matter. In fact, many who had suffered by Mr Hume's malignant tongue were much pleased ; and one day Lord Torrington, so unjustly treated by Mr Hume when Governor of Ceylon, meeting Sir James, said : '' I am delighted with these letters ; you have thoroughly avenged ma" This visit to England, which was to have been one of quiet in order to restore his health, resulted in much fatigue and anxiety. He was at work all the tima During this long stay, how vainly he sought repose I It was not then in his nature to indulge in it ; he called for an easy-chair, but was never content to sit in it. With 1853 there came into power the Aberdeen Ministry, a coalition of the Liberals and Peelites. It had the faults of all coalitions, it lived by compromise. Joseph Hume and his coadjutors thought that they had now Q 242 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [chap. xn. their opportunity ; and as a return for their support, they insisted that the inquiry that they had so long demanded should be granted. It must not be forgotten that Sir James Brooke had himself proposed an inquiry, and in an interview with one of the Conservative Ministers it was fully discussed. Sir James refers to it in the following words: "At the close of our conversation, I asked him whether it would be better or not, for the sake of the public service, to have a Parliamentary Committee at once at the opening of the session. He said it was worth thinking about^ and that he would consult Sir John Packington and Disraeli about it : that it would be the bold course ; aud a friendly and fair inquiry made at my request, would be very different from one granted to the hostile motion of Mr Hume." The entry of the Coalition Ministry into power upset this plan, and Sir James might have expected mischief when he found that Lord John Bussell refused to confirm Lord Malmesbury's appointments, but his confiding and simple nature did not. He, however, determined to resign his appointment as Commissioner and Consid-General, but waited until his arrival in Borneo to do so. None of the friends of Sir James Brooke could object to an inquiry being instituted; but the concealment practised on this occasion was not justifiable. The secret history of the granting of the Commission, about which we shall hereafter hear much, may probably never be known ; but Sir James Brooke was informed that Mr Hume got hold of Sidney Herbert, as the Minister who was evidently hostile to Sir James, and through him induced Lord John Bussell to come into his views. I am under great personal obligations to the late Earl Russell, but these cannot prevent my expressing the strongest sentiment of regret at the underhand way in 185S.] UNDERHAND CONDUCT OP THE COALITION. 243 which this affair was conducted. While Mr Hume was informed that the Commission had been granted, this in- formation was carefully concealed from Sir James Brooke, and it was only by accident that he found it out Instead of consulting with Sir James as to the manner and object of the inquiry, and enlisting his aid, Gk>vemment, as I have said, kept the news concealed from him. He left England in April 1853, boiling with indignation, which was increased on his arrival in Singapore, when he found that Mr Hume had already written to the editor of a reckless local paper to announce the Eoyal Commission; so that Mr Hume had long been aware of what it was intended Sir James should not know before he left England. A most unfair and un- just proceeding I No wonder that Sir James wrote, — ^"The Commission makes me so fiercely indignant, and I dislike it because it is derogatory to my position and humbling to my pride." And later on, — " I guard against the besetting sin of my temper by inheritance — the indelible impression of in- jury received, and the unforgiving spirit which such an impression produces." The sense of an injury received did indeed remain impressed on his spirit to his dying day. I must here pause to notice an observation made by Mr Gladstone : " His " (Sir James's) " language respect- ing Mr Hume and Mr Cobden, two men of the very highest integrity, and by no means given to extremes as humanitarians, is for the most part quite unjustifiable." It makes one flush with indignation to read such a remark. Mr Hume, who had spent years in grossly calumniating and "malignantly persecuting" the Sajah, and who had not the manliness to acknowledge the falseness of his state- ments when proved to be wrong, is not worthy of respect. I have no respect for the man who, by false accusa- tions, embittered the life of a noble officer, whose shoe- 244 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [chap. xii. strings he was unworthy to untie, and who* wrecked a noble policy. And Mr Cobden I judge from the following sentence, never retracted : " Sir James Brooke seized upon a terri- tory as large as Yorkshire, and then dfove out the natives, and subsequently sent for our fleet and men to massacre them." The insolence and ignorance here displayed are about equal, and yet Sir James is censured for resenting the accusation of having massacred the peaceful inhabi- tants of his own country. Verily, Mr Gladstone has two weights and two measures. I may mention that in the autumn of 1852, whilst on a visit to Lord EUesmere, the Eajah nearly closed his career in a very tragic manner. His cab-horse ran away, and at one moment there was great danger of the vehicle being tipped into a canal; but passing this danger the horse dashed on, and came into collision with a large stone gate- post, and the cab was shivered to pieces, while all the inmates escaped unhurt Before dwelling further on this subject of the Com- mission, I must briefly notice the events which had taken place in Borneo during the Rajah's prolonged absence. Captain Brooke had been left in charge of Sarawak ; Mr (now Sir John) Scott, of Labuan ; and I, of the Commis- sioner and Consul-General's department. It is with Cap- tain Brooke's proceedings, however, that we have principally to do. Captain Brooke was exceedingly well adapted to the trust confided in him : he was of a frank and noble nature, of just though perhaps not broad views, and of so sweet a temper that he gained the affection of those around him. He had no remarkable ability, and never pretended to have: but he managed the affairs of the country with great tact, improved its revenues, and kept everything quiet, so that during the two and a half years of his nucleus absence nothing occurred to disturb its tranquillity. 1858.] MB BREBETON AT SAKA^BANG. 245 He visited every part of it, and made himself thoroughly acquainted with the natives and their wants. I accom- panied him in most of these journeys. Sakarang was the only place that gave him any uneasiness. I have men- tioned the establishment of a fort there under Sirib Moksain; of his having been withdrawn on account of the unpopularity of his administration ; and of the substi- tution of Mr Brereton as Governor, but a Governor with- out pay. No better choice could have been made of a man likely to win over the wild warriors of Sakarang than Brereton. He was young, active, knew the language thoroughly, and was of pleasant and taking manners. His only support was his own talent, aided by twenty armed men from Sarawak, emd by a small Malay popula- tion which had gathered round the fort, under Abang Aing, one of the most faithful Malays we ever met. The position was very curious. The fort was surrounded by various tribes of Dyaks who were at war with each other — the Sakarangs, the Batang Lupars, and the XJndops, gen- erally in alliance against the Linggas, though not always. These lived on different branches of the same great river. This was intertribal war, not piracy. Although the fort had been erected principally with the object of preventing fleets passing down the river to the sea, Mr Brereton early saw that he must induce these tribes to make peace before any success could attend his government. He first won over Gasing, an influential Sakarang chief, already half a friend since an interview with the Bajah in Sarawak ; and with his assistance, and that of Abang Aing, he managed to bring about negotiations which appeared likely to ter- minate satisfactorily. It took him months of labour, but at length he was enabled to announce to the Sarawak Grovemment that he had succeeded, and invited Captain Brooke to come to Sakarang in order that the peace cere- monies should take place under his auspices. 246 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [ohap. xil Thus Mr Brereton restored peace and tranquillity to a river district inhabited, it is thought, by nearly 40,000 Dyaks, and ivom that time everything appeared to go on well, except in the far interior, where a famous pirate chief named fientab refused to be bound by these engagements. Not to disturb the sequence of the story, I will defer refer- ring to this until I have to describe the expedition under- taken by Sir James Brooke himself against this chief It was a great satisfaction for us to witness the success of this young officer, who laid the foundation of the permanent tranquillity and prosperity of this important province, so that those who succeeded him had for some time comparatively an easy task. They have had their troubles, but prosperity was too solidly based by Mr Brere- ton for things not to proceed well He exercised a very great personal influence over these chiefs. In fact, whether it was natural or whether he had acquired it, his manner of treating them was more like his own great leader than that of any other officer in Sarawak. We had troubles also with the Chinese gold-workers, but Captain Brooke's vigorous policy soon brought them to order, and kept them quiet many years. In the autumn of 1851 the English schooner Dolphin * was taken by pirates in Maludu, and after it was recovered an expedition was sent by Admiral Austen to punish the guilty. Captain Brooke and I accompanied it, but as the expedition remotely affects Sir James Brooke, I only men- tion the fact. I now return to the Sajah. ^ It was in this ship that Mr Bums, of whom I hare already spoken, lost his life at the hands of pirates. 247 CHAPTER XIII. BETUEN TO BOBNEO. 185^-1864. Aftee a few days' stay in Singapore, Sir James started with his English servant and Grant for Sarawak in a little sailing brig, the Werafif, and reached Kuching the first week in May. The whole population poured out to meet him — for however unjust others might be, in Sarawak he was rightly judged, and this comforted him. When we met, we all noticed that the Rajah's face looked puffed, and that he was covered with what appeared to be harvest bumps; but there being no medical man amongst us, nothing was said, although the Sajah complained of a feeling of lassitude. In the veranda of his house a crowd met him, and I heard a Bomeon noble say, " Why, the Rajah has the small-pox." I took no notice, as the word he used was one not common in Sarawak ; but on the morrow the Rajah felt weaker, and very soon kept his room and his bed. I sat at his bedside, holding his hand, — for it is a curious circumstance that when ill Sir James could obtain no sleep unless some one whom he liked held his hand. I have done so until all sensation had left my arm ; did I move it, he awoke immediately. It was not long before Sirib Moksain entered Sir James's bedroom and said^ " Good God, the Rajah has the small- 248 LIF£ OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [chap. XUL pox !" No sooner did the Bajah hear this than he sent for some experienced persons, and these confirming the fact, he instantly forbade those amoDgst ns who had not had the disease from entering his roonL He had, however, two experienced and tender nurses, — Mr Crookshank, the police magistrate of whom I have often spoken, and Sirib Moksain, the dispossessed Governor of Sakarang, the half Arab who had announced to him what was his malady. Day by day he grew worse ; . / his disorder, confluent small-pox of a virulent kind, broke ^^ out all over the body, and his attendants were in despair. / '} \^ ^^ would creep into the room, expecting daily that it was r the last look we were to have of our beloved friend, whose countenance now was not to be recognised, so swollen, so disfigured had it become. The native population were deeply moved. Every day the chiefs would walk softly up to the house, and sit for hours in the outer rooms, to have the latest intelligence ; the poorer classes, Malays and Dyaks, would crowd the verandas and wait patiently for news, until, in a lucid in- terval, the Bajah gave the order that the house should be placed in quarantine to prevent the infection from spread- ing. Nevertheless, every day the native ladies would send perfumed water to wash the invalid, while Sir James lay stretched on broad plantain-leaves, whose freshness cooled the fever that burned the skin. In the mosques there were daily and nightly prayers for the sick chief — in fact, all the population suffered ap- parently as much as we did. The weather was fearfully hot— 94'' in the coolest rooms — and not a breath of air disturbed the drooping leaves : all this was against our patient At last there was a favourable turn, but the weakness continued for above three montha In August^ however, he was enabled to embark again on board the Weraff, and 1858.] VISIT TO THE SULTAN. 249 proceed to Labuan and Brunei. In appearance he was so change d that, when he landed in our colony, his former subordinates were almost affected to tears at the sight of him, while he cheerfully consoled them, saying, " You will not like me the less for being a little uglier.'* In a letter, written in July 1853, to my father, I notice these words : " Sir James was very excited about the Commission ; but since his severe illness he has been much more calm. He says, 'After such a chastening as God has given him, all that man can do appears nothing.' I have never before seen him so quiet and resigned, or so even in temper." From Labuan we proceeded to Brunei to meet the Sul- tan. Changes had taken place in the capital. Omar Ali, the murderer of his relatives in 1846, was now dead, and his chief Minister, Pangeran Mumein, reigned jn his stead. As, however, Mumein had no claim whatever to the throne, but was placed in that position as a makeshift, he felt uneasy at Sir James Brooke's coming — as, besides the con- sciousness of many intrigues, he feared that his powerful tributary would not acknowledge him. The Weraff not being able to reach the city on account of the freshes, the Sultan sent down large boats to fetch us np to the palace, where he had provided a couple of rooms for us, behind the audience-halL Although we came with a full retinue of servants, we were not allowed to provide our own table. Three or four times a-day the Sultan sent in dishes in abundance, prepared by the ladies of the harem : the curries, the stews, the rice-cakes, were really delicious ; and Sir James, in his convalescence, ate of them with pleasure, particularly after the wretched dirty cooking of our little merchant-brig. Our first interview with the Sultan was very interesting. Crowds of nobles were assembled, the two rival factions mustering strongly, and with them was the wily Makota. 250 LIFE OP SIR JAMES BROOKE. [oHAP. Xin. Presently the Siiltan came in, looking uneasy. We rose and advanced towards him. The Bajah, after the first salutations, turned round to the chiefs and complimented them upon the wisdom of their selection, and then address- ing Mumein as Sultan, continued the conversation. The effect was immediate — ^the gloomy, uneasy look vanished, and all was cordiality. The Eastern Archipelago Company, anxious to obtain some testimony against Sir James firooke which might be used before the Commission, had employed their unscrupu- lous agent in Labuan to gather evidence. The ex-Iieuten- ant-Govemor, smarting under the punishment he had re- ceived, had written to his former friends in Brunei to tell them all about the Commission. We were therefore deep- ly amused by the conduct of our old enemy Makota, who longed to refer to the pending inquiry, but did not dare. Sir James soon relieved him by entering on the subject himself, and by explaining all. He committed, however, the natural error of confounding his feelings with facts, and describing the conduct of the English Government as more hostile than it really was. It was in vain for me to point out to the Rajah the impolicy of this : he was obsti- nate — and when obstinate, no one at the time could turn him from his view. This error, a few years later, had a most deplorable effect. The real object of Sir James Brooke's visit was to carry on negotiations for the cession of the six districts in the neighbourhood of Sarawak, which then yielded no revenue to any ona In fact, in their state of disorganisation, they did not pay their expenses. Sir James Brooke proposed to the Brunei Government a certain fixed sum, and half the surplus revenue. The fixed sum was small ; but the revenues of Sarawak at that time were very small also. Few difficulties were raised: the Sultan, happy in the assurance of Sir James Brooke's support, and desirous to 1858.] CESSION OF THE SIX DISTRICTS. 251 « get something where his predecessor had obtained noth- ing, agreed to cede the districts on the conditions pro- posed ; and before we left, the necessary deeds were pre- pared and signed. A year's revenue was paid in advance, large presents were made to different nobles, and all ended happily. Even Sir James Brooke's most inveterate enemies could not say that this cession was obtained by force or intimidation. It was known that the British Government was considered hostile — ^that Sir James had now lost the support of the navy — that he was there in a small un- armed merchant -craft, — yet everything he desired was granted immediately. When this serious business was over, Sir James turned his attention to the intrigues against himself personally, and thought it desirable to obtain from the Sultan and Makota the original letters written to them by the ex- Lieutenant-Grovemor of Labuan, as well as some other documents, in order to lay them before the Eoyal Commis- sion. Sir James went about the business in a straightfor- ward way, but made no progress. The letters were mis- laid, perhaps lost — they could not be found — and day after day passed without any result At last one of our party took the affair in hand, and with a better apprecia- tion of Makota's character, called upon him, and plumply said, " I will give you so many hundred dollars if you produce the letters." He talked about his honour, his character being at stake ; but he was assured that it was for his honour to expose an intrigue. Next day he slipped the letters into the hands of the negotiator ; and the same evening, by his express desire, the bags of dollars were passed through a small window in our bath-room, which abutted on his house, and were received by his Excellency in person. Some years after, having to negotiate a con- vention with Brunei, and finding that, though settled, I could not get it signed, I sent to Makota, and told him it 252 LIFE OP SIR JAMES BROOKE, [chap. xill. was useless to imagine that I was going to pass any bags through my bath-room window, as the English Government did not do business in that way ; and it is creditable to his appreciative character that^ on receiving the message, he laughed, and sent the convention, signed £md sealed, next morning. The Rajah enjoyed this stay in Brunei. He was toler- ably quiet ; he was regaining strength every day; he found that his influence had not declined, — on the contrary, he was looked upon as the final arbitrator in the disputes of the natives ; he had obtained the documents requisite to enable him to introduce regular and legal government in the six districts, and he was satisfied. I have often heard people talk of their influence among the people of Borneo. Many have acquired a certain amount, as Captain Brooke (the Rajah's heir), Mr Crook- shank, Mr Brereton, Mr Charles Johnson,^ and one or two other Sarawak ofiicers ; but their influence was but re- flected influence, acquired because they were relatives and officers of the old Rajah. Mr Low and I had some influ- ence in Brunei, but no one more surely than Mr Low would confess that much of his influence was reflected ; and I took care, wherever I went, to take the position once given me by Sir James, of his adopted son, and I found that, whether among Dyaks, Malays, or others, it was fully appreciated. The loyalty shown by the Sultan and Rajahs of Brunei to their old friend and protector was really remarkable. Every temptation was laid in their way to induce them 1 Lieutenant Charles Johnson, R.N., whose name often appears in my narrative, had at this time retired from the navy, and had joined his uncle, Sir James Brooke, in Sar&wak, and eventually became Governor of Sakarang and Seribas. He afterwards adopted the name of Brooke, as his elder brother. Captain Brooke (now deceased), had previously done ; and he is now (1879) Rajah of Sar&wak. 1868.] RETUKN TO SARAWAK. 253 to attack Sir James before the Commission — ^they were assured that rich Sarawak would be restored to them ; but they resented every offer. This conduct should not have been forgotten, but it was forgotten ; and to the faithless- ness Sarawak has shown to Brunei I may refer hereafter. Everything being satisfactorily settled we left Brunei, and having called at Labuan sailed for Sarawak, where we arrived in September after a favourable passage, to find plenty of correspondence, though nothing about the Com- mission. The Malays were soon summoned to a meeting, at which Sir James gave a full account of his visit to the capital The cession of the six rivers was received with a murmur of applause, and when the Bajah explained the purport of the Royal Commission, there were some genuine and hearty responses made by the chiefs. Very often they only follow the lead given, and utter what they think will please ; but some of them now spoke out, and ex- pressed their sentiments in no measured terms. The announcement of the appointment of a Commis* sion to inquire into the conduct of Sir James Brooke was, however, an unmixed eviL It disturbed the minds of the population, it raised ambitious aspirations in many a chief who had formerly been a zealous sup- porter, and laid the foundations of troubles which lasted many years. We remained in Sarawak several months quite undis- turbed. To aid Sir James Brooke in his recovery, Captain Brooke had, during our absence in Brunei, built a pleasant little cottage, on a spur of the Serambo mountain. We had a lofty peak on our left, while on the other three sides the hill sloped steeply down 1200 feet to the plain and river below. In a ravine close by, rose a huge rock some 70 feet in length by 40 in breadth, somewhat in the shape of a mighty but very blunt wedga The thicker end 254 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [chap. xin. was buried in the ground; the centre, supported on either side by two rocks, left a cave beneath; while the thinner part, thrust up at an angle of 30**, over- shadowed a natural basin, improved by art, in which the Bajah loved to bathe. A rill that glided from under the rock supplied us plentifully with cool, clear water. It was a beautiful spot, a charming natural grotto, in which we often passed the burning mid-day hours. As we sat there we could catch glimpses of distant mountains, of the plain below, and here and there a reach of the river, all these seen through noble trees, and brilliant vegetation of various kinds. What pleassmt days we spent there! With our books, our writing, and our chessboard, we managed to let time slip imperceptibly away. We were surrounded by groves of fruit-trees, and at a little dis- tance below us were three Dyak villages, to which we made constant visits. I do not think it necessary to enter into many descriptions of Dyak ways, or of the Hajah's visits to these tribes, as so much has already been pub- lished on the subject ; but we saw many curious customs. The Dyaks were naturally as much or more pleased than the Malays at the recovery of their Bajah; they could not believe but that if he died the old system of oppression and robbery would recommence ; and they were right, as in 1853 the Sarawak Government would not probably have continued to exist had its founder been removed, particularly under the depressing influence of the estrangement of the English Government from the infant settlement. Deputations from all the tribes on the right-hand branch of the river came and pressed us to go among them, but the state of the Rajah's health would not per- mit it Some chiefs, however, in our neighbourhood, as those of Bombok, Serambo, and Paninjow, would take no refusal; and as they were near, the Bajah used to 1854.] AN EXPLOSION. 255 make an efiTort to be present at their great festivals. I have entered so fully into all these ceremonials of the Dyaks, however, in my own work on Borneo,^ that it would be but a repetition to dwell on them here. In May 1854 news reached us that Charles Grant, resident of Lundu, was attacked with small-pox, and the Kajah immediately left Kuching in order to nurse him. Luckily it was but a mild attack, and he soon recovered. Whilst the Sajah was away, a most curious incident oc- curred. We were sitting at dinner, when the room was lit up as by a brilliant flash of lightning : a few seconds afterwards another bright flash and an awful explosion. The powder-magazine had been blown up. We ran down to the river-side, jumped into our boats, and were soon across, to find the stockade laid flat on the ground, and the sentinel lying near, dead but unwounded: the con- cussion of the air appeared to have crushed his life out On inquiry, we found that a bright meteor had traversed the sky, and unluckily chosen the powder-magazine for its place of rest. There was one subject that had for years occupied the Eajah's mind, and that was to bring the Dyaks of Sarawak under the direct control of the Government. The plan which had been adopted in former years was a modifica- tion of the old system. The Eajah governed Sarawak with the aid of three Malay chiefs, called Datus — the Patinggi, the Bandar, and the Tumanggong. Each fam- ily in every tribe of Dyaks was expected to pay about a bushel and a half of rice every year to the Government, half of which went to the Eajah, and half to the Malay chiefs. The Patinggi held in hand the tribes of the left- hand branch of the river, the Bandar those on the right, while the Tumanggong had sway over the tribes on the coast, and the fisheries. These three Malay chiefs, by 1 Life in the Forests of the Far East. 256 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [chap. Xlll. custom also, had the right of the first trade with the Dyaks, which in former days had been forced upon the aborigines by every species of tyranny. When Sir James was appointed to the governorship, he endeavoured to restore the traditional customs, but he found that with all his watchfulness the Dyaks were exposed to much oppression. At length, when the revenues of Sarawak permitted the payment, he decided on giving the diflFerent chiefs fixed sums per month, in lieu of all claims on the Dyaks. The Patinggi had been the great offender in all this system of oppression, so that Sir James commenced with him, and commuted his revenue of rice into cash, giving him 50 per cent extra to cover the profits he had derived from trade. This was at first gratefully received, as he hoped privately to continue the forced trade ; but when checked in this, he began to show signs of discontent I propose fully to explain what consequently occurred, as it is the keynote to troubles which lasted eight years, aud which cost many valuable lives and much property. I have before referred to our visits to the Patinggi's wives, when we saw his very fine-looking daughter, Fati- ma. This girl had her head turned by prosperity, and disdained to match herself with any Sarawak gentleman. Unfortunately her father favoured her views, and fixed his attention on a certain Sirib Bujang, a harmless fellow enough, but brother to an intriguing chief, Sirib Musa- hor, of Arab descent This man was the ruler of Serikei, and was suspected of being in league with the pirates of Seribas and Sakarang. The Rajah strongly objected to this marriage, as he knew the danger of bringing the Arab influence into Sara- wak ; but the chief pressed for his consent, aud the ladies pretended to be in despair ; so that, on the eve of his de- parture for England in 1851, his consent was givea In 1854.] THE PATINGGI. 257 order that the marriage should be solemnised with great state, the Patinggi began making immense preparations, borrowed of his friends, and daily pestered Captain Brooke, then in charge of the Sarawak Government, to afford him the means of meeting his expenses, as he said the honour of Sarawak was at stake. Finding what he thus obtained to be inadequate, he began oppressing not only his own Dyaks, but those of Sadong, who had been temporarily confided to his care, and deep were the complaints which arose on all sides. The marriage came off with great Mat For days every house was covered with flags, and cannon fired from dawn to sunset ; free tables for all friends were prepared, and the amount consumed per day was a never-ending subject of conversation. Sirib Musahor had accompanied his brother, and was open-handed in his liberality. We all liked him. He appeared to seek European society, and by the hour woidd stand listening to Mrs McDougall playing the piano ; at other times he was a diligent at- tendant at our chess club, and many a tough game have we had together. His brother, the bridegroom, was very inferior to him in appearance, but was a better chess- player. After the marriage festivities were over, we all noticed a change in the Patinggi's manner. He began to give himself great airs, talked more of his own importance to, and in, the Government^ and continued his oppressive con- duct towards the Dyaks. Captain Brooke visited most of the tribes to verify these complaints, and, finding them true, had often to fine some of the followers of the Pa- tinggi The chief, however, showed no signs of discontent, but became a greater beggar than ever for donations from the public treasury. When, however, the Bajah returned to Sarawak in 1853, and brought news of the Commission, it appeared R 258 LIFE OF SIB JAMES BBOOKE. [ohap. zilT. from what was afterwards discovered that the Patinggi began to entertain ambitious views ; and, in concert with Sirib Musahor, it was suspected, began to broach the idea of expelling the English from the coast and seizing the reins of power. On our return from Brunei in September 1853 the Sajah called the Patinggi before him, and pointed out to him how ill he had behaved during his absence in England towards the Dyaks committed to his care. The cases of oppression were indeed startling ; but the Rajah was desirous of sparing an old servant who had been faith- ful in former days, and, as I have said, offered to take over his Dyaks and pay a certain sum as an equivalent for the revenue and forced trade, but leaving the open trade free to him and his family. The Patinggi appeared joyfully to acquiesce, but his evil advisers soon began to whisper to him that he had been d^raded in the eyes of the people. From that time forward he began actively to conspire. Early in 1854 the Sajah and Captain Brooke went with a squadron of war prahtcs to the Batang Lupar river to visit Charles Johnson at Lingga and Brereton at Sakarang. I stayed in Kuching. One day, whilst sitting alone in my little cottage, the eldest son of the Datu Tumanggong, Abang Patah, came in to have a talk. He was one of the best of the Malay chiefs — frank, loyal, honest, brave as a lion. He subsequently lost his life in gallantly defending the Eajah's Government I saw by his uneasy manner that he had something to communicate, so, after answering a few leading questions, he said, ** It is no use beating about the bush ; I must tell you what is going on." He then ujifolded the particulars of a plot which the Patinggi had concocted to cut off the Europeans in Sarawak. The Patinggi had confided his plans to the other chiefs, but they had almost unanimously refused to aid him, and had determined to keep a watch over his proceedings ; but they had not the moral courage 1864.] DEPOSITION OF THE PATINGGl. 259 to denounce him to the Government. At length Fatah said, " I have become alarmed. The Bajah and Captain Brooke are away together. The Patinggi is with them, with all his armed followers, and in an unsuspecting mo- ment all the chief English officers might be cut off at a blow.*' I promised, as he desired, to keep his communica- tion a secret from all but the Eajah, to whom I instantly wrote, giving not only Patah's story, but other indications which had come to my own knowledge. An express boat carried the letter to its destination. The Eajah read the letter, and without a word passed it to Captain Brooke. The latter, having also read it, said, *' What do you think ? " " It is all too true," answered the Bajah, to whom convic- tion came like an inspiration. They had noticed some very odd proceedings on the part of the Patinggi, but having no suspicions, had not been able to interpret some of his armed movements ; but now it was clear that he was trying to get the Europeans together to strike one treacherous blow. Nothing, however, was said or done publicly. The faithful were warned to watch well, and a few judicious inquiries brought the whole story out. On his return to Sarawak the Bajah determined to bring the Patinggi to justice. On account of his relatives he spared his life, and he was permitted to depart on a pilgrimage to Mecca. The scene in the court-house where this occurred was very remarkable. It must always be remembered that, beyond half-a-dozen English officers, the Bajah had only his Malays at his back to aid him in deposing a native chief. The following is the Eajah 's brief account of what occurred on this occasion : " Yesterday was a great day in Sarawak, as I publicly, before about five hun- dred men, accused the Patinggi of misg'ovemment and treason, and deposed him from his office. I demanded all his guns, lelahs, muskets, and powder, which were 260 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [cHA^P. ZllL brought into the fort by the Bandar, the Tumanggong, and the Abang-Abang, whilst the deposed Patinggi was sit- ting in court All passed oflF quite quietly, and the people were entirely with us, true indeed as steel, with the ex- ception of course of a few, his immediate followers and dependants. It was a measure rendered imperative by the Patinggi's intrigues, and his secret hostility to the Government for having checked him in his course of mis- government and malversation." The next in rank, the Bandar, now succeeded to the chief influence among the' Malays ; and his brother, as Datu Imaum, was added to the list of trusty counsellors. These two brothers were remarkable men. The eldest was a mild, gentle Malay, as truthful and honest as any man I ever met, but to whom ill health rendered active exertion repugnant. His energetic brother, the Imaum, the head of the Mohammedan priesthood, has proved by his acts and conduct how wise was the Bajah's choice, for he is still the mainstay of English influence among the Malays. 261 CHAPTER XIV. THE BOYAL COMMISSION — EXPEDITION AGAINST EENTAB. 1854-1866. At this time the Bajah was visited by his old friend Mr Bead of Singapore, who was accompanied by Colonel (now lieutenant-General) Jacob. This visit greatly interested us all, as the keen-eyed Indian officer readily took in the salient points in dispute, and from a doubter, or rather a questioner, became one of Sir James's firmest friends. Whenever we went to stay on the mountain of Pan- injow we forgot all about the Commission, or referred to it only as a troublesome business thait the British Govern- ment had brought upon themselves ; but the even tenor of our way was at length disturbed by the arrival of the three voluiBes_Q£--thfi^ Bajah's letters^ edited by Mr Templer. From this time forward chess andlight reading were put aside, and all thought was devoted to the coming Com- mission. Manifold were the useless despatches written, — worse than useless, because to an indifferent person they looked like bad faith. But in a man like the Bajah there was no bad faith, but an earnest belief that he was furthering the cause of truth and justice in summoning OS witnesses to appear before the Commission in Singapore such men as Lords Palmerston, Clarendon, and others. It may, however, have been done to show how incomplete would be an inquiry conducted at Singapore Vainly I 262 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [chap. xiv. endeavoured to moderate this stream of letters, which must have wearied the Foreign Office, already sufficiently- troubled by the communications of one of Sir James's indiscreet friends, who even intimated to Lord Clarendon that the life of the Eajah would be placed in jeopardy should the Commission hold its sittings in Singapore, as party feeling there ran so high. I read the copy of this despatch as sent to us ; but I trust some judicious adviser erased that paragraph before it reached the Foreign Office. More than this, the English Government was assured that Sir James Brooke was a man so superior, that should England find itself in a moment of supreme danger, she must call upon him to return home and save her. Such tretsh as this could not but fail to weary those to whom it was addressed, particularly as it had nothing whatever to do with the casa At last the Government peremptorDy declined to continue so useless a correspondence, which could only injure the Eajah's cause, as it was supposed to be instigated by him. These letters from home exercised a very unfortunate effect on the tone of the Sajah's own communications. No man, however, was better aware than himself of his unfitness for European statesmanship. In Borneo he was unrivalled ; in Europe he would have had many a rival, with more experience and better training. Sir James had now passed nine months in quiet, looking after the internal welfare of Sarawak, and had determined to take no active step before the meeting of the Com- mission ; but he was forced at length to break his resolve, on account of the successive delays which arose in the definitive selection of the gentlemen who were to act as Commissioners. The boldness shown by Rentab, the great pirate chief, at last determined the Bajah to organise an expedition against him. 1854.] RENTAB. 263 Bentab was one of the most notorious and truculent of the Dyak chiefs. He had, as I have before stated, won fame during a cruise off the Dutch possessions in Sambas, where he had surprised some Chinese at work in their fields. Information of this act had been instantly con- veyed to the Dutch officials, and they sent out a gunboat to intercept his return ; and the Sultan of Sambas also equipped a war prahu, manned it with a select crew, in which many young nobles were included as volunteers. The two gtmboats soon came in sight of the fast-puUing Dyak hangkongs, which, however, appeared in distress, as they seemed only to hold their own with their pursuers. The Malays, excited by the chase, gave way with a will, and soon left behind them their European ally. When Kentab saw that the Sambas boat was beyond all im- mediate assistance from the Dutch guns, he turned on his Malay pursuers, came down upon them at the full speed of his war-boats, and overwhelmed the Malays beneath a shower of spears. Not one escaped. Having secured their heads, their guns, and gold-handled hrises, he abandoned his prize, and pulled off from the heavy Dutch gunboat, which was vainly endeavouring to come to the aid of its consort This act raised Eentab's name in the estimation of his people, and he spumed all proposals to give up piracy. In addition to the fort at the entrance of the Sakarang river, which, as I have said, had been erected to prevent the egress of pirate fleets, the Bajah had, at a later period, established another lower down the river to protect the Lingga district from the attacks of the Seribas. The former fort was commanded by Mr Brereton, of whom I have already spoken; the latter by Mr Lee, a quiet, prudent, young officer, — the very aid one would wish to have in a moment of danger. Ever since the action at Batang Marau on the 31st July 1849, the pirate tribes had been divided into two parties — those who wished to give 264 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [ohap. ziv. up piratical cruises, and those who desired to continue in their old habits. Of the latter party Bentab was a chief. During 1853 he had determined on a bold stroke, which was not only to pass Brereton's fort, but previously to attack those Sakarang Dyaks who sided with the English. Information having reached Mr Brereton of this intention, he proceeded with a small force up the river Sakarang, and established himself in one of the threatened village-houses. Guns were placed in position, and the place was forti- fied. Mr Lee came up from Lingga in his own boat, and strongly advised that they should only repel attacks until his allies the Lingga Dyaks arrived with several hundred men. This was agreed to. At that moment a large war- boat was seen coming down the river ; a warning musket was fired, but the pirates continued to descend. Another hangkong followed ; upon this a charge of grape was sent at them. Immediately there appeared to be great confusion in the foremost boat ; the Malays shouted to follow and secure the prize, and in spite of Mr Lee's warnings, the Sakarang party under Mr Brereton dashed off in pursuit. Though convinced of the danger, Lee could not abandon his friend. He followed up in his boat The enemy ap- peared scarcely able to get away, as the fresh was heavy and the pullers few ; but no sooner had they drawn the Malays a couple of reaches from the fortified village, than they rose to their feet with a yell, and at the same time a dozen huge war-boats came sweeping down the river and were on the pursuers before they could fire their guns. A pell-mell ensued, boat against boat. Lee made a stubborn resistance : with his double-barrelled gun he kept the enemy at a respectful distance, until, wounded and surrounded, he attempted to board an enemy's bangkong, and was knocked into the stream, and as he rose his head was severed from his body. Mr Brereton was more fortunate, as he was dragged ashore by Abang Ain and some faithful Malays, 1854.] DEATH OF MR LEE. 265 who never deserted their English leaders. The force of the current had now driven the contending boats under the guns of the battery, and its defenders instantly opened fire, which caused considerable loss to the Dyaks, and forced them to retreat up the river. We all regretted poor Lee — a gallant officer, who would in after- days have been of infinite use to the Sarawak Government, as he was prudent in speech and cautious in action. Charles Johnson succeeded him at Lingga. Eentab, though proud of his trophy, was forced to retreat, for, as I have said, his party had suffered heavily. This action roused both sides, and Gasing, the Sakarang chief and friend of the English, collected some thousands of men, marched into the enemy's country, and plundered and burnt twenty villages. Eentab, however, was still, in 1854, looked upon as a leader of the pirate party, and was soon able to collect enough men around him to build and palisade a village on a hill near the river Lang (the Hawk), and establish a fortified position on the neighbouring mountain — Sadok. From these places be continually sent out expeditions, which harassed the friendly Dyaks, until at length they declared that the fort of Sungei Lang must be destroyed, or they would have to come to terms with the enemy. Sir James Brooke put off as long as possible this expe- dition, as he did not like to act while the Commission was pending, fearing it might look like an open defiance of the English Government ; but at last, roused by the cries of the people, he determined to undertake it. "War -boats were prepared, contingents summoned from the neigh- bouring rivers, £md at length in May we started. When we reached the Sakarang river, we found that we reckoned eight Englishmen and about 7000 Malays and Dyaks. To prevent the Dyaks of Seribas collecting to the aid of Bentab, our old Datu Tumanggong was sent with a strong 266 UFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [chap. xit. force to that river, while Mr Steel advanced up the Kan- awit from the fort at its mouth, to keep the thousands of wwriors in that river from joining the enemy. It was a fonnidable affair preparing this host for our long journey into the interior. We pushed up the Saka- rang as far as our war-boats could reach ; we then stopped, built a stockade, and ran up a house for Sir James Brooke, as his state of health woxdd not permit him to march. He remained behind with a strong force to protect our prahus and provisions, and as a rallying-point in case of accident. Then we started, some to march, others to push ahead in our light tenders. We soon found that marching would neither suit the English nor the Malays, as the way was through tangled jungle and low abrupt hills, so that the parties would scatter, and be an easy prey to an enter- prising enemy. Most English leaders in Borneo that I have seen have a mania to show the Dyaks that they are as good woodsmen as themselves, and push on at a rapid pace, forgetting that all are not equally active, and that their followers are heavily laden. I have done as much jungle-walking as most men, but I always found it necessary to husband my own and my followers' strength for the first few days; then, being in condition, longer marches could be made, and there would be few or no stragglers. Our leaders on this occasion were not of that opinion, and the army broke into parties, so that at last we were forced to take to our light prahvSf leaving the Dyaks to march, or to come on in such boats as they could seize on the banks of the river. They were soon all provided. It was an exciting expedition. As we advanced into the interior, the woods were thronged with enemies, who at night would creep down and stab at the occupants of those boats who had been too lazy or too tired to erect fences on the banks for their protection. We and our 1854.] RENTAB's stronghold. 267 immediate foUowersi slept on shore in little huts, run np at the moment, as leakjr as sieves, and the most un- comfortable places in the world. It was astonishing that amid so many experienced men nobody ever thought of a light waterproof tent,^ such as I afterwards used, which cost ten shillings, and was made by one of my servants, and in which a dozen men have remained perfectly dry during the heaviest storms. To the want of such a tent I ascribe the death of one and the illness of nearly every member of our English party. The night of our arrival at the landing-place from which we were to march on the village of Lang was an exciting one. Shouts and veils were heard in the woods around ; spears were thrown, ghastly wounds had to be dressed, and much sleep was impossible. As each took his turn as sentry, we had leisure to meditate on our position. The morning broke brightly after a heavy night's rain, and parties were told oflf to protect the boats. We advanced, but all was confusion. No one would lend a hand to haul up the gun until the English seized the ropes and began pulling away. The ground was slippery, and it was heavy work. At last we reached a spot where the village was visible. It looked formidable enough for our irregular forces to attack. On the ridge of a long hill a high stock- ade extended, enclosing on three sides half-a-dozen village- houses, which we could see were crowded with men. The opposite side to us was defended by a sort of precipice, up which it was possible to climb, but not in the face of an enemy. We now tried the range of the four-pounder howitzer, but from that distance its fire was evidently ineffective. As our wild allies had pushed ahead, we left the guns for the present and advanced to within a ^ My tents were made of grey or white shirting, after the model de- scribed in Galton's 'Art of Travel;* they then received three coatings of linseed, ^ed on separately. 268 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [chap. XIV. hundred yards of the stockade, meeting, as we ascended, men carrying the dead and wounded who had fallen during an effort to surprise the village. This had a damping effect on many of our followers. While we stood consulting as to the best method of attack, the enemy aimed a gun at us, and the ball rushing over our heads, caused a most undignified duck, which, however, only occurred once. The place was attacked with rifles, gun, and rockets, but at six o'clock it was still untaken, and then we observed banking upon the horizon the heaviest of black clouds, which foretold a fearful storm* We all preferred the risk of an assault to passing out a night in such weather, and Captain Brooke determined to attack. Whilst he was gathering the party together, three men, old Panglima Usmau and two fortmen, walked up to the place, and climbing over the stockade, pushed open a narrow door, upon which we all rushed forward, and in a moment had possession of the fort A few shots were fired at us, and the thing was over. We could not well understand how it was that the Panglima had been able to do this with impunity, but he knew the men with whom he had to deaL The Dyaks have a horror of rockets, and each time they saw Mr Crookshank pre- pare one, they threw themselves on the ground, and remained there till the dreaded engine of death had passed over. The Panglima took advantage of this, and was not seen till, crowning the stockade, he fired his carbine at them, and the pirates, thinking that this was the head of the attacking column, fled, and when we hustled through the opening, we could only get a few shots at the enemy, as they rolled down among the bushes on the side of the precipice. As the day closed we had observed -hundreds of men collecting on each cleared hill behind us, and lining as well the edge of the jungle: as these Dyaks were all 1854.] CAPTURE OP LANG. 269 dressed in red cloth jackets the effect was singular, as they looked at the distance like English soldiers. There were thousands in all who were waiting to see the result of the attack : if it succeeded they would retire ; if not, they would have fallen on us during the night At seven o'clock the rain descended in torrents, and right glad were we to find ourselves housed, though the buUdings rocked under the weight of the thousands who crowded into them. We spent a few days there punishing the followers and abettors of Kentab, who himself had retired to his other fort in the mountains, and then we returned to our boats. We ought to have attacked Bentab in Sadok, his strong- hold, but natives do not like to undertake two attacks during the same expedition. The loss of Lang did not prevent Bentab holding firm in his eagle's nest at Sadok : and it took constant expeditions during eight years before it was ultimately captured. The descent of the river was rapid; the heavy rains which had deluged the country every night had raised the level of the river several feet, and as we dashed along at the rate of at least fifteen knots an hour, we felt that one touch on a hidden snag would probably send us all to eternity. But there was no help for us: on we went — there was no stopping, as 200 boats of every size were behind us, and our men pulled with a will to get clear of the rest. We were glad to meet our chief again, who had been tortured by conflicting rumours ; now it was news of our defeat before Lang, then of a fresh that had carried away all our boats — ^but as no dSbris had passed before the stockade, he comforted himself When we reached Sarawak we found news ; the Com- mission had arrived at Singapore, and a vessel of war had come to offer a passage to Sir James and those whom he wished to take with him. He had to go alone, as 270 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [chap. XIV. both Grant and myself were down with fever. Brereton was ill with dysentery, i and Captain Brooke and his brother were both suffering. How impatient we were to get well ! At length I was sufficiently recovered to bear the fatigue, and was carried down to a boat, and taken to the mouth of the river, where Grant and I embarked on board a merchant-ship, and on our arrival at Singapore we were both sufficiently recovered to land without aid. The Rajah was indeed glad to see us, as he was almost alone, and wanted our assistance. How derogatory to his position and humbling to his pride did he feel this Commission to be ! What shall I say of the Commission? The two gentle- men sent down to conduct it were very different. Mr Prinsep, the chief, was incapable — the mental malady to which he soon after succumbed showed itself too often ; and the Hon. Mr Devereux could alone do anything, and endeavour to control his coUeagua He was an able, sar- castic man, well fitted for the work. But the results were most unsatisfactory. The Eastern Archipelago Company had nothing to say to which the Commissioners could listen ; Mr Wood, the editor of the ' Straits Times,' was astonished to find himself caUed upon to prove the cake for the enemies of the Bajah — and as the silly man knew nothing, he could only involve himself in a cloud of absurdities. The Lieutenant - Governor of Labuan tried to bring on his case, but that was beyond the scope of the inquiry. The only curious incident which occurred was the stepping forth of a Dutch civil officer. Monsieur Boudriot, of whom mention has already been made, and who said that, being on his way home from Java on sick- leave, he had accidentally attended the Commission, and ^ Mr Brereton died shortly afterwards, and Mr Johnson was appointed ruler of Sakarang and Seribas, in addition to Lingga. 18M.] THE COMMISSION AT WOEK. 27l he begged to offer himself as a witness. This gentleman's evidence of itself would carry conviction to impartial minds, for he had held high positions on the coast of Borneo, and knew the Sakarang and Seribas Dyaks to be savage, inhuman wretches, and undoubted pirates. Sir James had early retired from the Commission, as Mr Prinsep had permitted Mr Wood to take almost an official position during the inquiry. The result was what might have been expected. As no specific accusations were brought against the Bajah, no specific answers to them could be prepared. Mr Prinsep reported favourably as far as the inquiry went, unfavour- ably on a subject on which he made no inquiry, — a very hazy result. Mr Devereux did his best to render his report satisfactory, and this was the only one which was seriously considered by Government Sir James Brooke himself did not manage his part well. He was anxious to prove the complicity of the Eastern Archipelago Company in all the intrigues which had brought about the Commission, and he wearied the Com- missioners and the public with a useless and tiresome examination of Mr Motley, the agent of the Eastern Archipelago Company in Labuan. Nothing could be got otlt of the man, as he knew little, and had only been play- ing the part of the frog in the fable. We tried ourselves to induce the Eajah to confine himself to two issues, which were really important: first, whether the Seribas and Sakarang were really pirates ; and if they were, had undue severity been exercised in suppressing them. To Mr Grant and myself these were the only important sub- jects ; and we endeavoured to impress our chief with our ideas, but with only imperfect success. No man perhaps felt the absurdity of the whole inquiry more than Mr Devereux. He vainly inquired. What are the charges, who are the accusers? and probably had 272 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [oHAP. XIV. he not been hampered with an impossible colleague, he would have closed the Commission at once, sapng, " There was nothing to inquire about." As, however, the Com- mission was there, we exerted ourselves to send in wit- nesses ; and even- without going to Borneo, we found among casual traders and residents witnesses enough. In speaking of Mr Devereux's probable opinions, they are but impressions made on my mind, as I should remark that out of the Commission I never once spoke to him. Sir James Brooke, from mistaken delicacy, begged us not to accept invitations, but to keep ourselves retired until the inquiry was over, so that we never met the Commissioners except in the court - house. I have ever regretted our following this advice, as, had we been enabled to converse frankly and unofficially with the Commis- sioners, we might have greatly influenced the result ; for we knew more of the question than perhaps all the others put together, and so sensible a man as Mr Devereux would not have been unduly influenced by our suggestions. In speaking of Sir James Brooke, I wish to present him exactly as he appeared to myself, and neither to conceal nor palliate his errors and faults. I watched him closely during the course of this Commission, and I thought that I detected in him the same impatience of opposition which I have ever observed in those who have lived much alone, or in the society of inferiors, whether of rank or intellect Sir James had lived much alone, or with those to whom his word was law, so that he had had rarely the advantage of rubbing his ideas against those of his equals, and there- fore treated as important subjects matters which, to others less interested, were but trivial I dwell on this, as it appeared to me to be the cause of the Commissioners not having been able to report in a manner which would have fully shown to the world the importance of the Bajah's work in Borneo. Sir James Brooke did not direct 1864.] DEPARTURE OF THE COMMISSIONERS. 273 the inquiry to the real issues, therefore it failed The Com- mission was at last closed, having been conducted, as the Bajah truly says, without dignity and without propriety. It was a pity that the Commission did not visit Borneo, as an inquiry conducted entirely in Singapore could not be satisfactory. Sir James Brooke did not consider it his business to send witnesses to Singapore; but had the Commission come to Sarawak, he would have given them all the aid in his power. As it was, the evidence adduced satisfied all those who were not moved by a carping spirit. It is obvious, however, that an inquiry conducted 400 miles from the spot where the events occurred, and where the best evidence was to be obtained, could not be com- plete. The Commissioners left, and we looked out for a way to get back to Borneo. We all embarked in the Uttle schooner that had brought us from Sarawak, but we met the strength of the N.K monsoon, and were driven back to Singapore. Sir James Brooke landed, while we con- tinued on board the Maria, and at length reached Sara- wak, where the Bajah soon after joined us, having been offered a passage in H.M.S. Sapid, Captain Blana Now commenced a really quiet lifa Sir James was free from the anxieties caused by the coming of the Com- mission, and devoted himself to the happiness of the peo- ple. He no longer held a public appointment, as he had, defactOy resigned his position as Commissioner, and I was acting in his stead. This was perhaps the happiest time he ever spent. The country was progressing ; no signs of discontent had yet shown themselves (except the affair of the Patinggi); he could live in the capital or in his coun- try cottage as he felt inclined, and he returned to a course of chess and pleasant reading. We worked together at Staunton's Problems, and he fancied that he discovered an error in one of the most famous: we both studied the 8 274 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [ohaf. xiv. matter earnestlyi and though I tried hard, I was fully convinced that an error had been discovered. We ought to have sent it to the ' Chess Chronicle.' After our 11 o'clock breakfast Sir James attended court, and decided the pending cases, and then returned home at two. I never failed to know of his arrival by hearing a cheerful voice calling to me, " Now, St John, lunch and chess; we must work out that problem;" or he would quietly carry off my Staunton, and study in his room the Scotch or some other opening, and then, proposing a game, win half-ardozen running, laughing heartily aU the time at my surprise, and perhaps vexation, at being beaten so easily, for I was generally the better player, and could only be regularly defeated by surprise. It was at this time that he wrote, " I am chess mad." We had at this time in Sarawak the famous naturalist, traveller, and philosopher, Mr Alfred Wallace, who was then elaborating in his mind the theory which was simultane- ously worked out by Darwin — ^the theory of the origin of species ; and if he could not convince us that our ugly neigh- bours, the orang-outangs, were our ancestors, he pleased, delighted, and instructed us by his clever and inexhausti- ble flow of talk — really good talk. The Eajah was pleased to have so clever a man with him, as it excited lus mind, and brought out his brilliant ideas. No m an could judg e the Bajah by seeing him in soc iety. It was necessary to get him at his cottage at Paninjow, with his clever visitor Wallace, or with his nephew Charles, the present Bajah, who was full of the crudest notions, the result of much undigested reading, but who could defend his wild thoughts cleverly, pleasantly, and gaily ; or with Mr Chambers, the present^ Bishop, who was too firmly convinced of the truths he preached to be ofifended by finding others differing from him, and too earnest not to feel assured that in the end he would convince his opponents. With these, either at our 1854.] DISCUSSIONS. 275 house in Euching or in onr mountain cottage, we were ever in discussion, and our discussions were always either philosophical or religious. Fast and furious would flow the argument^ till somebody would observe, " It is just eleven," when the Bajah would instantly arise, wondering that the interest of the discussion had made him pass by his hour of rest^ which was now usually ten o'clock, as fever and ague and small-pox had weetkened him too much to permit him to pass the night in talk. In the morning we would catch each other looking in the library for the authorities, and perhaps the arguments, with which to support another discussion in the evening. I am afraid we thoroughly wearied many of our party. Captain Brooke thought that such discussions led to no result Grant was very determined in his opinions, but did not care for the subjects discussed ; while Fox, a later volunteer in the Bajah's service, though ever an inquirer, was trammelled by his education, and would at first touch with diffidence subjects which the more trained mind of Mr Chambers feared not to handle. Bishop McDougall (of whom I have already spoken), when he joined in these discussions, did not, by his arguments or tone, give en- couragement to the inquirers. There was, however, no irreverence in our treatment of sacred subjects, so that no one else was ofiTended. Not that we were always discuss- ing, for Sir James Brooke was one of the few men I have known who could enjoy the luxury of silence. In one of the Hajah's letters I find him laughingly referring to these discussions : " There was a tremendous argumentation on the being and attributes of the Deity. Charlie [Johnson] was there in high feather, the room re- sounded with their voices, and the energetic bangs on the table made the glasses ring. Everybody was an atheist and pantheist by turns. Charlie and St John collared Chambers with hard names, and then everybody sat upon 276 LIFE OF 8IR JAMES BROOKE. [cHAP. Xiv. poor Charlie, who said that God was everywhere and no- where at the same time, or words to that effect. Then the company roared at St John for his heterodoxy, fiercely contested my definition; but at last it was discovered that everybody meant the same thing, that everybody said it in a different way, and half-a-dozen times over, and that we were proper and very orthodox all the tima" I have said how devoted the Eajah was to his duties in court Some cases came before him in the spring of 1855, which made me seriously doubt his efficiency as a judge. The fact was, that we thought him much too tender- hearted to be intrusted with duties which required some sternness, as he had no jury to aid him in difficult casea I am writing of what we thought at the moment Two Senah Dyaks had killed two others under circumstances which we considered showed both treachery and premedi- tation, and many of us insisted that they deserved death. The Eajah, however, refused to condemn them, ailing their youth, the possibility of provocation, and that an example was not necessary ; he therefore sentenced them to the highest native punishment short of death — the in- fliction of a heavy fina Some of us were very angry, and in the evening we had a fine discussion, which terminated by the Bajah's getting excited, and saying, " It is my will that it should be so." I forgot myself so far as to answer, *' That's the tyrant's argument" Captain Brooke became quite alarmed, and said to me next morning, " You will ruin yourself with the Rajah if you argue in that fashion." However, it was not so. I would have expressed my re- gret, but the Bajah would not let me — ^" No, St John ; we were both in the wrong." ."Referring later on to some of our discussions, he wrote : " You are an arrogant fellow hy nature, but you have been less so as Consul-General than as Private Secretary. I have always looked upon 1855.] THE rajah's SENTENCES. 277 you as a child of my own — a saucy and turbulent one, but not the less dear or valued on that account." With regard to the sentence, we all disagreed with it, thinking that it would lead to a revival of the old practice of head-taking : but the Sajah was right ; the punishment he inflicted had a deterrent effect, and I never heard of a simUar crime being committed in Sarawak during the rest of my stay in Borneo. In October 1855 two of the principal members of our party left us for England — Captain Brooke and Charles Grant. It was a great loss. To me the departure of Brooke was especially so, as we had been inseparable companions for seven years, and he was one of the most likeable of mea During that long period of daily inter- course I had ample opportunities of judging him, and thought him quite worthy to be the Eajah's successor; for though he had not his talents, he had found out the way to win the hearts of the Malays — a talent which his brother Charles did not possess in the same degree. The latter, however, could manage the sea Dyaks well, and he lived so much among them that he actually appeared to acquire their manner and expression, which, in effect, showed an indifference to what other Europeans liked; but underneath there was plenty of gaiety and much fun, and not without a certain amount of undeveloped talent. At that time, however, we scarcely did justice to Charles Brooke's capacity, as he had had few opportunities of showing what was in him. In 1859, however, he came to the front, as I shall have occasion to show. Our two friends had scarcely been gone a week when Sir James Brooke received a despatch from Lord Claren- don announcing that his resignation of the posts he held under Government was accepted, and adding a cold ap- proval. At the same time the Bajah was informed that I was appointed Consul-General in Borneo. The Kajah was 278 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [oHAP. TC7. deeply disappointed. After all the promises that had been made by Lord Clarendon as to the intention of the Grovem- ment to make amends to him should the Commission re- port favourably — to receive a calm, almost a contemptuous, approval of his conduct, was too bad. What was the value of such approval unless it was intended to afford him some support, after having lowered his position both with native and European? The Rajah was indignant, and in his indignation wanted me to refuse the appoint- ment, and take service under him. Lord Clarendon, it is said, named me Consul-Greneral as a mark of friendship towards the Rajah ; but he would not look on it in that light. And yet, had the Government been really hostile, and appointed such a man as the Hon. Mr Edwards, the Grovemor of Labuan, to be Consul-Qeneral, what trouble he could have caused, as we shall see he did afterwards whilst temporarily holding that post. I could not well refuse the appointment offered me by Lord Clarendon ; but I said that if the Grovernment wished me to do anything hostile to Sarawak, I would immediately resign. As this did not satisfy the Rcgah, and as he in- sisted that a British Consul-General could not live in Sarawak until the English Gk>vemment recognised it, I reluctantly agreed, and wrote to Lord Clarendon to pro- pose that I should take up my residence in Brunei There can be no doubt^ however, that our Government behaved in a most shabby manner to the Rajah. After nearly ruining his reputation and prestige by sending out a Commission to try him, as the natives believed, they did nothing for him, — they simply dropped him; and I heard it afterweurds alleged by a gentleman now high in office, that it was on account of the violence of the Rajah's language. Some allowance surely should have been made for the natural irritation arising from the injustice com- mitted. He suspected the Peelites of being his enemies, 1855.] THE JUDICATURE DIFFICULTY. 279 and, if we may judge from Mr Gladstone's late writings, not without reason. Our local politics were now disturbed by the news which came of the fall of Sebastopol. "Whilst victory was trembling in the balance," the Eajah wrote, " our hearts here palpitated as to the capture of Sebastopol;" and later on, " My heart beats high at the glorious news of the fall of Sebastopol. How deeply is our love of country entwined about our heart-strings ! It astonishes me." Our Malays were as excited as we were, and crowds came when the mail arrived to hear the last intelligence from Bourn. Those who saw them could not doubt as to the interest taken by Eastern Mohammedans in the Sultan of Turkey. The Eajah sent the chiefs a fat bullock to aid in the feast which was given in honour of the victory of the allied armies. A new question now arose — that of judicature. When the Commission was first appointed in 1853, Sir James Brooke would have resigned his post as Commissioner, but the Government requested him not to do so until the report of the Commission was known. When, however, he read the very unfair instructions issued by Lord Clarendon, but which had the appearance of having been drawn up by Mr Hume, he instantly sent in his resignation. Lord Clarendon, however, would not accept it, and I continued to act for him as I had done from the 1st February 1851. Suddenly there arrived an Order in Council settling the question of jurisdiction by ordering all cases in which British subjects were concerned to be sent for trial to the nearest British colony. As this was not only contrary to our treaty with Brunei, but was a direct attack on the sov- ereign rights of native states. Sir James Brooke refused to allow it to be put in practice in Sarawak, and said that he would only submit to force. I had a meeting with the native members of the Sara- 280 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [chap. xiv. wak Council, and the good sense of the meeting was summed up in a few words by the Datu Bandar. " The Sarawak courts," he said, " have tried cases for the last fourteen years in which both natives and Europeans have been interested. Has any one complained of these deci- sions? — if not, why should there be any change?" — or, " Cannot we leave this question alone ? " the famous say- ing of Lord Melbourne. I drew up a scheme which I thought would work well : that the courts should continue to try all cases ; that the laws under which British subjects were tried should be recorded ; that no punishment more severe than that allowed by English law should be inflicted ; and that in serious cases the judge should be assisted by a jury. I added, by desire of the Eajah and for my own special benefit, that the Sarawak Government would allow the Consul-General to sit as one of the judges in every case in which British interests were concerned. By the treaty with Brunei that had been negotiated by Sir James Brooke himself in 1847, the English representa- tive was intrusted with great powers. All disputes, whe- ther between British subjects or between them and other foreigners and natives, were to be decided by him, and all crimes were also to be tried by him, without permission to the local authorities to interfere in any way. I saw that this would not work even in the capital ; so then I proposed a mixed court, which was ultimately accepted both by the English and Brunei Governments, and it answered very well. As soon as it was possible to receive an answer, I heard from th6 Foreign OflSce that they approved of my plan concerning Sarawak.^ It was, however, afterwards modi- 1 " Foreign Oftice, February 9, 186«. ** Sir, — Lord Clarendon desires me to write you a line to say that he has not been able to come to a decision upon the various questions of jurisdic- 1855.] THE BISHOPKIC. 281 fied, at the suggestion, I believe, of Earl Grey, who saw a chance of future difficulties if the Consul- General were to be one of the judges, and this part of the scheme was very judiciously omitted. It was a pleasant duty for me to have to address a de- spatch to the Sarawak Council, informing them that her Majesty's Government had no desire whatever to interfere with them, or to prevent their choosing what government they pleased ; and then I added that the Government accepted the proposed plan for settling the jurisdiction question. T was not, however, allowed to ask for an exeqiLatur. I never saw the Eajah more pleased than when this question was settled. He appeared thoroughly happy, and for a time I thought that he had forgiven the British Government. But I am anticipating. Before this was arranged, two other questions came up for settlement — the Bishopric and the Borneo Company. I have scarcely mentioned the mission, as it really had no perceptible influence on the history of Sarawak. In- ternal discussions had early broken out, and the house divided against itself could do no good. However, in 1855 Mr McDougall was named Bishop of Labuan, but the Rajah declined to allow him to act in his dominions unless he received letters-patent from the Sarawak Gov- ernment constituting him Bishop of Sarawak. All objec- tions were soon removed, and in the autumn of 1855 Mr McDougall paid a short visit to Calcutta, where he was consecrated, and was thenceforward Bishop of Sarawak as well as of Labuan. He returned in time to join our tion in Borneo, &o. These questions have been under consideration, and Lord Clarendon hopes the question of jurisdiction may be settled in ac- cordance with your suggestions, which seem to offer a practical mode of solving the difficulty. (Sd.) Wodehouse." 282 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [ohap. XIY. Christmas dinner. I shall have something to say about the mission further on. Attached to the mission was a school, which greatly interested the Eajah, and really it was the most useful thing about it. The children all appeared to have an affection for the Rajah, as children always have for those who are themselves loving in disposition. The Borneo Company, in 1855, began to be talked of. Coal had been found in several places in Sarawak, and this, with the antimony, sago, and gutta-percha, tempted some capitalists to propose forming a company to develop the resources of the Rajah's territories. At the head of the scheme was a gentleman " much reputed in the city," who talked a great deal of philanthropy ; but nearly all connected with the scheme were sound men of business. The Rajah saw in this scheme a means of detaining me in Sarawak, and was most anxious to induce the directors to name me their managing director in Borneo. As long as I was with the Rajah, and surrounded by friends, I lis- tened to this ; and, to increase the inducement, the Rajah offered to add to the managing directorship the government of Sadong, a district in which the company were to work coaL Luckily I did not get the oflFer of the appointment, or I might have been weak enough to have accepted it, and have had to go through the same ordeal as their last managing director, and appeal to the English courts to have my rights respected ; but the Rajah took exception to the appointment made by the directors, and expressed his views in very forcible language. He had so high an opinion of my talents, that I verily believe he thought that, like Lord John Russell, I might command the Channel Fleet or be Archbishop of Canterbury, much more manage a min- ing and trading company. There was, however, a thought latent in all this that had not come much forward. The Rajah was beginning to think that the Borneo Company, judiciously managed, might ultimately develop into an- 1855.] TROUBLES AT MUKA. 283 other East India Company, and absorb not only Sarawak but the north of Borneo, and he thought that my being director might facilitate this ; but the appointment made frustrated this plaa In 1855 began troubles in foreign politics which con* tinned for six years to agitate the country. I must briefly explain these, as much resulted from them. In the north of the Bejang (the boundary of Samwak) were several rivers in the territoiy of the Sultan of Brunei which were famous for their sago, and the most important trade of Sarawak was with these districts. There lived in the principal of these places (Muka) two chiefs, named XJrsat and Matusin, who were rivals. XJrsat governed in the name of the Sultan, while apparently Matusin was em- ployed to watch him. Matusin was popular, being out of power, while the exactions of XJrsat were on the usual scale of Malay rulers. One day XJrsat, sitting in his ve- randa surrotmded by his people, jeered at Matusin as he was passing down the river. This roused all the Meday pride in the breast of the latter, and he determined to attack his adversary. On returning home he passed Ursat's house, and saw him still there, but almost alone ; he sprang ashore with his followers, dashed into the house, cut down XJrsat and those near him, burst into the women's apartments, and killed every woman and child he met He, in fact, "ran amuck." ^ This act roused all XJrsat's friends, and Matusin was quickly expelled, and his wife and children fell victims to the fury of his enemiea Among those who aided in the latter operation was Sirib Musahor of Serikei, a district of the Eejang, in Sarawak territory. For this interference he was heavily fined by the Sarawak Government, and, in disgust, retired with all his foUowers into the Sultan's territory. I went in H.M.S. Grecian, Captain Eeane, to ^ In Malay, amok. 284 LIFE OP SIR JAMES BROOKE. [oHAP. xiv. inquire into this affair, as I wished to take the latest news to the capital, for which place I was bound ; but meeting some people off the bar of the river Muka, I heard that the whole place was deserted, and so continued my voyage. Whilst we were in Labuan, the Bajah came up in the Jolly Bachelor (sailing gunboat), and, leaving the Grecian, I joined him, and returned to Brunei I may notice that at this time Dr Treacher was administering the govern- ment of Labuan, and he determined to show that all Government oflBicers were not hostile to his former chief, so, on his landing in our colony, the Eajah of Sarawak was received with a royal salute of twenty-one guns. As the British Government were at that time considered hostile, it required some courage thus to distinguish Sir James. I never spent a more curious month than this. The Sultan had run up a very neat mat-house alongside the palace in which we took up our residence. We were three — the Eajah, Mr Low, and myself The Rajah had come for a week's visit, but he soon found that this would not be suflBcient. The whole capital was in intense ex- citement : we found one party arming against the other party — men standing with lighted matches by their guns ready to fire into a hostile neighbour's house ; everybody was preparing for a fight Immediately after our arrival the Eajah had an audience with the Sultan, who threw himself on his generosity not to desert him in this crisis ; and Sir James replied that if they wished he would remain at the capital until everything was satisfactorily settled. I never had a chance of witnessing a more startling proof of the personal influence that the Bajah possessed than what followed. Here was he in a 30-ton boat, with a crew of a dozen natives, the despised of his own Gov- ernment, but the absolute dictator in Brunei. At his suggestion a general unloading of guns took place, the armed retainers of the Pangerans returned to their homes, 1855.] CONDITION OF BRUNEI. 285 and quiet y^hs established. The different nobles explained to him their grievances, their wants, and wishes, and he set to work to put some life into the place. In this he was well seconded by Mr Low, who is one of the ablest rulers of Malays that I have ever met; and in sending whom to Perak, the Government have sent the right man. The Bajah soon found that the nobles were anxious that the ancient titles should be restored, and that the Sultan should, previous to his own coronation, name the four great vmzirs, or ministers ; and this the Bajah man- aged to arrange, and to settle to every one's satisfaction who should fill the ofSces. He did not expect much good from his work, but it has stood the test of time ; and now, twenty-four years after, the same forms exist. Makota, fortunately, was absent, so that he could not mar the negotiations. He had gone down ostensibly to settle affairs in Muka, but, in fact, to plunder for himself and the Sultaa It was really interesting to watch the Bajah during this month, — how he received deputations from the Sultan, from the nobles ; how the trading class would come when the latter were absent ; how the poor and the distressed flocked to him for relief, and how many he aided. There he was in his glory. He worked to introduce vitality into this wretched Court, and how pleased these nobles looked when he had induced the Sultan to name the four great vmzirs that recalled the memory of their ancient splendour. It was a continual levee — from morning to night our house was crowded. I must not, however, dwell too much on Brunei politics, as they could not be made interesting; but the Bajah succeeded in reconciling the hostile factions which had remained separated since the murders of Muda Hassim and Bedrudin in 1846. We returned to Sarawak in the Jolly Bachelor, — a long passage, beating against the S.W. monsoon four days. 286 LIFE OF SIB JAMES BROOKE. [oHAP. XIT. trying to double Sink point; but at length we arrived in Euching, and the Bajah sent his nephew Charles to Muka to try and settle matters, but nothing permanent was effected, so that troubles in all the Milanow countries ensued, and the Sarawak Government, &om that time forward, deemed itself authorised to interfere in their internal affairs. As these countries were in the Sultan's territories the policy was doubtful In August 1856 I was to leave Sarawak to take up my permanent residence in Brunei; but before doing so, I determined to have another good look at the interior of Sarawak. I started with my friend, Fox, to go as far as the frontiers of Sambas, visiting, by the way, the Chinese gold-working& During this trip two things struck me forcibly — the number of the new arrivtds of Celestials from Sambas, which the gold-working Company had constantly denied, but whom we saw by hundreds crowding the sheds and houses of the Chinese town at Bau ; and the second was a conversation I had with one of the principal officers of the Company. He asked me what had been the result of the Commission, — whether it was true that the Sajah was no longer friendly with the British Government; whether the Queen had ordered the navy no longer to protect Sarawak ; and finally, whether I, the Consul- General, was about to leave the country for good ? I soon found that these subjects had been greatly canvassed among them, and they acknowledged that their friends in Singapore had written to them about these affairs. I tried to remove their unfavourable impressions, but my efforts were useless. The Bajah had announced that the British Grovemment was no longer friendly to him, and the fact remained that I was about to quit the country. The evil results of the Commission met us at every step. On our return to Kuching we endeavoured to press on the Bajah the importance of weakening the power of the 1855.] THE RAJAH AND THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT. 287 gold Company, which, with its oflFshoots, evidently con- sisted of several thousand men, blindly subservient to their chiefs. The Bajah saw the danger, but decided to put off active measures until the return of his nephew, Captain Brooke, then in England, who was expected in a few months. Although the Bajah was very satisfied with the favour- able settlement of the jurisdiction question, which was more than he expected, still he thought that Lord Pal- merston should do something to restore his prestige — " per- sonally, I have received no amends.'' This cold treatment produced at length much irritation against the British Government, and it showed itself in every way. I do not pretend to say that Sir James Brooke had not every right to be angry with the treatment he had received ; but he showed it in a most impolitic manner. The abandonment of the interests of Sarawak was the theme of every con- versation, whether with foreigners, Chinese, Malays, or Dyaks, and the result was most disastrous. Every tur- bulent chief, every one who had lost by the introduction of good government, began to tbink that the Bajah was no longer invincible, and that perhaps it was possible to expel the English from the country, and establish the old order of things. One of the reasons why Sir James Brooke used this language must be explained. In 1855 and 1856 the Dutch were at war with the Malay chiefs of the interior, and the latter were continually sending to the Bajah for succour. His answer was invariable : The Dutch Gt)vernment is a powerful one — in the end it will prevail ; so the best thing you can do is to get, as soon as possible, the most favour- able terms. One of these chiefs who came to see us took the advice, went to Pontiauak, told the Besident he came by the Bajah's wishes, and got excellent terms from the Dutch authorities. However, during these disturbances 288 LIFE OP SIR JAMES BROOKE. [chap. xiv. there was much trouble on the frontiers, and the Chinese, Malays, and Dyaks often crossed the border to revenge the injuries they suffered from tribes under Netherland rule. The Eajah endeavoured to prevent this, and used to say, " As I am abandoned by the British Government, the Dutch may take this opportunity of attacking us if you do these things." His words, however, had a different effect from what he intended.^ At last August arrived, when I had to leave Sarawak, and Captain Drought, in the Auckland, came to fetch me away. It was a sad parting for both of us ; but we thought that arrangements would be made which would bring about my retura In a few weeks I heard — " I often feel the loss of your society ; the free communion of so many years is not readily supplied ; but I do not consider it as lost, for we may look forward to your return to Sara- wak." He complained that he could never get an argu- ment ; it was all " yes " and " no." * So weary did he, in fact, feel, that he determined to take a change to Singapore. Mr Crookshank had just returned from his leave, with his bride, who, the Rajah said, " shed a brightness on the old house ; " and therefore, leaving the government in his hands, he started for Singapore in the Spartan, Captain Sir William Hoste. From Singapore I soon received volumes of correspond- ence, which all, relating to local politics, would not be interesting to publish ; but he could not see me alone in the wicked old capital without forcing his affectionate advice into my ear. Whilst in England, his nephew, Captain Brooke, and ^ I notice in the midst of aU his cares at this time, his sending £25 to John Briggs of the Yew Tree, Reigate, in remembrance of some kindness received in chUdhood. * Most of his other old friends and followers were at this time in England, or at out-stations. 1856.] CHINESE TROUBLES. 289 his friend and follower, Charles Grant, were both married — the former to a sister of the latter; so the Eajah occupied himself in choosing furniture for the newly-married people. He still wished for my presence in Sarawak ; but as that could not be, he insisted that one of my family should have the first vacancy in the Government service in his tend- tory. " I want , who has claims upon us through his brother, who is a firm friend, and was a firm friend in the hour of adversity." I insert these lines, as it shows how the Eajah never forgot those who were true to him. In Singapore the Eajah lived a very quiet life. He declined all parties, and visited only among intimate friends. He was detained longer than he expected ; but at length the vessel he was waiting for — the Sir James Brooke, the first steamer sent from England by the Borneo Company — came in to Singapore, and soon after he started in her for Sai'awak. All was not quiet here : the Kungsi, or Chinese Gold Company, had been behaving with so much violence, that Mr Crookshank, who was in charge of the Government, thought it advisable to man the stockades, and to send for Mr Charles Johnson to bring up a force from Sakarang. This awed the Chinese, and quiet was restored; but I notice, in one of Mr Johnson's letters to me, he says, " I really hope that the Eajah will pull down that high tone of theirs, or they will do us a mischief one of these days," This was also the opinion of Mr Crookshank and many others ; so that, to guard against surprise, fifty men were directed to sleep in the forts. When, however, the Eajah arrived, he summoned the chiefs of the Kungsi, fined and punished them for their illegal acts, and seeing them submissive, he dismissed the guard, believing it impossible that so wild a scheme as attacking him could ever enter into the Kungsi's plans. The Eajah's last letter to me before the Chinese insur- T 290 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [cHAP. xiv. rection is dated Februaiy 14 (four days before the attack), and consists of twenty-eight closely-written pages — a sort of epitome of coast politics ; but it winds up with these words : '' Congratulate me on being free from all my trou- bles. The Chancery suit has been concluded by a decree of the Court on Wise's annulling the paper I gave him/' The tone of his correspondence at this time was jubi- lant Everything was going on well — the calm before the storm. 291 CHAPTER XV. THE CHINESE INSUBBECfnON. 1857. Chinese colonists are the mainstay of every country in the further East ; but they carry with them an institution which may have its value in ill-governed countries, but which in our colonies is an unmitigated evil — I mean their secret societies. A secret society is generally instituted under the form of a benevolent association, but secretly the members are banded together to obey no laws but their own, to carry out the behests of their leaders with- out question, and to afford protection to each other under every circumstanca If a member commit a crime he is protected or hidden away ; if he be taken by the police, the society secures him the ablest legal assistance, fur- nishes as many false witnesses as may be required, and, if he be convicted, pays his fine, or does all in its power to alleviate the discomforts of a prison. Should the so- ciety suspect any member of revealing its secrets, or from any cause desire to be rid of an obnoxious person, it con- demns the individual to death, and its sentence is carried out by its members, who must obey their oath. On these occasions the mark of the society is put on the victim to show who has done the deed. In our colonies we have not been able to put them down. 292 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE- [chap. it. For many years the Chinese attempted to form secret societies in Sarawak, but the Sajah's vigorous hand had crushed every attempt, and it appeared as if success had attended this policy, — and so it had, so far as the Chinese of the capital were concerned ; but in the interior, among the gold-workers, the Kungsi stood in the place of a secret society, and its chiefs carried on an exclusive intercourse with their fellow-countrymen in Sambets and Pontianak, the neighbouring Dutch possessions, and with the Tien-Ti- Hu6 (Heaven and Earth Secret Society) in Singapore. When Mr Fox and I made our long tour in the interior among the Chinese settlements, we became convinced that smuggling was being carried on to a great extent, for, however numerous might be the new-comers, the opium revenue had a tendency to decrease. At last it was discovered that opium was sent from Singapore to the Natuna Islands, and from thence it was smuggled into Sarawak and the Dutch territories. It was proved that the Kungsi had been engaged in this contra- band trade, and it was fined £150 — a very trifling amount, considering the thousands they had gained by defrauding the revenue — and measures were immediately taken to suppress the traflfic, — ^which, together with the punishment of three of its members for a gross assault on another Chinaman, were the only grounds of complaint that they had against the Sarawak Government But these trivial cases were not the cause of the Chinese insurrection in Sarawak, as before that date all the celes- tials in the East had been greatly excited by the news that the English had retired from before Canton, and that the Viceroy had offered £25 a-head for every Englishman slain. The news was greatly exaggerated. It was said that we had been utterly defeated by the Chinese forces, and now was the time, they thought, when they could expel the English from Sarawak, and assume the govern- 1857.] THE CHINESE INSUERECTION. 293 ment themselvea The secret societies were everyivhere in a state of great excitement, and the Tien-Ti sent an emissary over firom Malacca and Singapore to incite the gold-workers to rebellion, and used the subtle but false argument that not only were the English crushed at Canton, but that the British Government was so discon- tented with Sir James Brooke that they would not inter- fere if the Kungsi only destroyed him and his officers, and did not meddle with the other Europeans or obstruct trade. It was also currently reported that the Sambas Sultan and his nobles offered every encouragement to the under- taking ; and the Chinese listened much to their advice, as these nobles can speak to them in their own language, and are greatly imbued with Chinese ideas. To explain this curious state 6f things, I may mention that the young nobles are always nursed by girls chosen from among the healthiest of the daughters of the gold-workers. And I may add that about that time there was a very active intercourse carried on between the Malay nobles of Sam- bas and Makota, the Bajah's old enemy and the Sultan of Brunei's favourite minister, and that the latter was constantly closeted with an emissary of the Tien-Ti-Hu6 of Singapore, to which I am about to refer. To show that it was not mere conjecture as to the Tien- Ti sending emissaries abroad at that time, I may state that on the 14th February, four days before the insurrec- tion in Sarawak, a Chinese named Achang, who had arrived at Brunei from Singapore a few days previously, and had a year before been expelled from Sarawak for joining that secret society, came to my house to try and induce my four Chinese servants to enter the Hu^ and added as a sufficient reason that the Gold Company of Sarawak would by that time have killed all the white men in the country. 294 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [cHAP. XT. At Bau, the chief town of the Chinese in the interior, the secretary to the Kungsi showed a letter from the Straits' branch of the Tien-Ti-Ha4 to a Malay trader named Jeludin, tirging them to work against the foreigner. I mention these facts to show the ramifications of these secret societies, which in every country where they exist are the source of endless trouble and disorder. During the month of November 1856, rumours were abroad that the Chinese Gold Company intended to surprise the small stockades, which constituted the only defences of the town of Kuching, and which, as no enemy was sus- pected to exist in the country, were seldom guarded by more than four men each ; but, as I have before mentioned, Mr Arthur Crookshank, who was then administering the government, took the precaution to man them with a sufficient garrison, as it was said that during one of their periodical religious feasts several hundred men were to collect quietly and make a rush for the defences which contained the arsenal On Sir James Brooke's return from Singapore he instituted some inquiries into the affair, but could obtain no further information than such as vague rumour gave; but still, such experienced officers as Mr Arthur Crookshank, and the chief constable Mr Middle- ton, were not satisfied, as they felt that there was mischief in the air. I was sitting reading one day in my veranda in the consulate at Brunei, when a Malay hastily entered and said: "I have just arrived from Singapore. Whilst de- tained by very light winds we approached a schooner coming from Sarawak, and one of the crew called out to me, ' The Chinese have risen against the Bajah, and killed all the white men.' " He knew no more. This, coupled with what I had previously heard, made me very xmcom- fortable. In a few days a short letter from a friend told me part of the catastrophe, but it was not for two months 185r.] THE CHINESE INSUERECTION. 295 that I had the faU particulars in a letter from the Bajah himsel£ It appears that when the Kungsi saw their professions of loyalty were believed, they began to prepare for hostile operations ; and on the morning of the 18th February 1857 the chiefs assembled about 600 of their workmen at Bau, and, placing all the available weapons in their hands, marched the force down to their chief landing-place at Tundong, where a squadron of their large cargo-boats was assembled. It is known now that until they actually began to descend the river none but the heads of the movement knew its true object, so well had the secret been kept To account for their preparations, it was given out that an attcu^k was meditated on a Dyak village in Sambas, whose warriors had in reality lately murdered some Chinese. During their slow passage down the river, a Malay who was accustomed to trade with the Chinese overtook them in a canoe, and actually induced them to permit him to pass, under the plea that his wife and children lived in a place called Batu Kawa, eight miles above the town, and would be frightened if they heard so many men passing and he not there to reassure them. Instead of going home he pulled down as fast as he could till he reached the town of Kuching, and, going straight to his relative, a Malay trader of the name of Gapur, who was a trustworthy and brave man, told him what he had seen ; but Gapur said, " Don't go and tell the chiefs or the Eajah such a tissue of absurdities," yet he went himself over to the Bandar and informed him ; but the Datu's answer was, " The Eajah is unwell ; we have heard similar reports for the last twenty years,— don't go and bother him about it I will tell him what your relative says in the morning." This great security was caused by the universal belief that the Chinese could not commit so great a folly as to attempt 296 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [chap. xv. to seize the government of the country, considering that they did not number above 4000, while at that time the Malays and Dyaks within the Sarawak territories amounted to 200,000 at least. It is strange, however, and was an unpardonable neglect of the Bandar not to have sent a fast boat up the river to ascertain what was really going on. Had he done so, the town and numerous lives would have been saved, and punishment only fallen on the guilty. But shortly after midnight the squadron of Chinese barges pulled silently through the town, and, dividing into two bodies, the smaller one entered a creek above the Bajah's house called Sungei Bedil, while the larger con- tinued its course to the landing-place of the fort, and sent out strong parties to endeavour to surprise the houses of Mr Grookshank the police magistrate, and Mr Middleton the chief constable, whilst a large party was told oflF to attack the stockades. Strange as it may appear, none of these bodies w«i noticed, so profound was the security felt, and every one slept. The Government-house was situated on a little grassy hill, surrounded by small but pretty cottages, in which visitors from the out-stations were lodged. The Chinese, landing on the banks of the stream just above a house in which I used to reside, marched to the attack in a body of about a hundred, and, passing by an upper cottage, made an assault on the front and back of the long Govern- ment-house, the sole inhabitants of which were the Bajah and a European servant. They did not surround the house, as their trembling hearts made them fear to separate into small bodies, because the opinion was rife among them that the Rajah was a man brave, active, skilled in the use of weapons, and not to be overcome except by means of numbers. Boused from his slumbers by the unusual sounds of shouts and yells at midnight, the Bajah looked out of the 1857.] ESCAPE OP THE RAJAH, 297 Venetian windows, and immediately conjectured what had occurred. Several times he raised his revolver to fire in among them; but, convinced that alone he could not defend the house, he determined to effect his escape. He supposed that men engaged in so desperate an affair would naturally take every precaution to insure its success, and concluded that bodies of the insurgents were silently watching the ends of the house ; so summoning his ser- vant he led the way down to a bath-room, which com- municated with the lawn, and telliug him to open the door quickly and follow close, the Bajah sprang forward with sword drawn and revolver cocked, but found the coast clear. Had there been twenty Chinese there he would have passed through them, as his quickness and practical skill in the use of weapons were imsurpassed. Beaching the banks of the stream above his house, he paused as he found it, full of Chinese boats ; but presently hearing his alarmed ser- vant, who had lost him in the darkness, calling to him, he knew that the attention of the Chinese would be attracted, 80 diving under the bows of one of the barges he swam to the opposite shore unperceived, and, as he was then suffer- ing from an attack of fever and ague, fell utterly exhausted, and lay for some time on the muddy bank, till, slightly recovering, he was enabled to reach the Government writef s house. An amiable and promising young officer, Mr Nicholets, who had but just arrived from an out-station on a visit, and lodged in a cottage near, was startled by the sound of the attack, and rushing forth to reach his chiefs house, was killed by the Chinese, his head severed from his body, and borne on a pike in triumph as that of the Sajah ; while Mr Steel, the governor of Eanawit on the Bejang, and an experienced officer, quietly looked through the Venetians, and seeing what was passing slipped out of the house, and soon found himself sheltered by the jungle; and the 298 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE, [cjhap. XT. Eajah's servant, whose shouts had in reality drawn the Chinese in his direction, had to display very unwonted activity before he could reach the protecting wood and join Mr SteeL The other attacks took place simultaneously. Mr and Mrs Grookshank, rushing forth on hearing this midnight alarm, were cut down — the latter left for dead, the former seriously wounded. The constable's house was attacked, but he and his wife escaped, while their two children and an English lodger were killed by the insurgents. Here occurred a scene which shows how barbarous were these Chinese. When the rebels burst into Mr Middleton's house he fled, and his wife following found herself in the bath-room, and by the shouts was soon convinced that her retreat was cut off. In the meantime the Chinese had seized her two children, and brought the eldest down into the bath-room to show the way his father had escaped. Mrs Middleton's only refuge was in a large water-jar ; there she heard the poor little boy questioned, pleading for his life, and heard his shriek when the fatal sword was raised which severed his head from his body. The fiends kicked the little head with loud laughter from one to another. They then set fire to the house, and she dis- tinctly heard her second child shrieking as they tossed him into the flames. Mrs Middleton remained in the jar till the falling embers forced her to leave. She then got into a neighbouring pond and thus escaped the eyes of the Chinese, who were frantically rushing about the burn- ing house. Her escape was most extraordinary. The stockades, however, were not surprised. The Chinese, waiting for the signal of attack on the houses, were at length perceived by the sentinel, and he immediately roused the treasurer, Mr Crymble, who resided in the stockade, which contained the arsenal and the prison^ He endeavoured to make some preparation for defence. 1857.] DEFENCE OF THE STOCKADES- 299 although he had but four Malays with him. He had scarcely time, however, to load a six-pounder field-piece, and get his own rifle ready, before the Chinese with loud shouts rushed to the assault They were led by a man bearing in either hand a flaming torch. Mr Grjnnble waited until they were within forty yards ; he then fired and killed the man who, by the lights he bore, made him- self conspicuous, and before the crowd recovered from the confusion in which they were thrown by the fall of their leader, discharged among them the six -pounder loaded with grape, which made the assailants retire behind the neighbouring houses or hide in the outer ditches. But with four men little could be done ; and some of the rebels haying quietly crossed the inner ditch, commenced remov- ing the planks which constituted the only defence. To add to the difficulty, they threw over into the inner court little iron tripods, with flaming torches attached, which rendered it as light as day, while they remained shrouded in darkness. To increase the number of defenders, Mr Crymble re- leased two Malay prisoners, one a madman who had killed his wife, the other a debtor. The latter quickly disap- peared, while the former, regardless of the shot flying around, stood to the post assigned him^ opposite a plank which the Chinese were trying to remove. He had orders to fire his carbine at the first person who appeared ; and when, the plank giving way, a man attempted to force his body through, he pulled the trigger without lowering the muzzle of his carbine, and sent the ball through his own brains. Mr Crymble now found it useless to prolong the struggle, as one of lus four men was killed, and another, a brave Malay corporfd, was shot down at his sida The wounded man begged Mr Crymble to fly and leave him there, but asked him to shake hands with him flrst, and tell him whether he had not done his duty. The brave Irish- 300 LIFE OF SIB JAMES BROOKE. [chap. xv. man seized him by the arm aDd attempted to drag him np the stairs leading to the dwelling over the gate ; but the Chinese had already gained the courtyard, and, pursuing them, drove their spears through the wounded man, and Mr Crymble was forced to let go his hold, and with a brave follower, Daud, swung himself down into the ditch below. Some of the rebels seeing their attempted escape, tried to stop Mr Crymble, and a man stabbed at him, but only glanced his thick frieze-coat, and received in return a cut across the face from the Irishman's cutlass, which was a remembrance to carry to the grave. The other stockade, though it had but a corporal's watch of three Malays, did not surrender, but finding that every other place was in the hands of the Chinese, the brave defenders opened the gates, and, charging the crowd of rebels sword in hand, made their escape, though they were all severely wounded in the attempt The confusion which reigned throughout the rest of the town may be imagined, as, startled by the shouts and yells of the Chinese, the inhabitants rushed to the doors and windows, and beheld night turned into day by the bright flames which rose in three directions, where the Eajah's, Mr Crookshank's, and Mr Middleton's houses were all burning at the same time. It was at first very naturally thought that the Chinese contemplated a general massacre of the Europeans, but messengers were soon despatched to them by the Eungsi to say that nothing was further from their intention than to interfere with those who were unconnected with the Government ; which refinement of policy shows that the plot had been concocted by more subtle heads than those possessed by the gold-workers of Bau. The Bajah had as soon as possible proceeded to the Datu Bandar's house, and being quickly joined by his English officers, endeavoured to organise a force to sur- 1857.] MORNING AFTER THE ATTACK, 301 prise the victorious Chinese — ^but it was impossibla No sooner did he collect a few men than their wives and children surrounded them, and refused to be left, — and being without proper arms or ammunition, it was but a panic-stricken mob ; so he instantly took his determina- tion with that decision which had been the foundation of his success, and giving up the idea of an immediate attack, advised the removal of the women and children to the left-hand bank of the river, where they would be safe from a land attack of the Chinese, who could make their way along the right-hand bank by a road at the back of the town. This removal was accomplished by the morning, when the small party of English under the Bajah walked over to the little river of Siol, which falls into the Santubong branch of the Sarawak river. At the mouth of the Siol the Kajah found the war-boat of Abang Buyang with sixty men waiting for him, which was soon joined by six other smaller ones and some canoes; for no sooner did the Malays of the neighbouring villages hear where the Bajah was, than they began flocking to him. He now started for the Samarahan, intending to proceed to the Batang Lupar to organise an expedition from the well- supplied forts there. On their way they rested at the little village of Sabang, and to the honour of the Malay character I must add that during the height of his power and prosperity, never did he receive so much sympathy, tender attention, and delicate generosity as now when a defeated fugitive. They vied with each other as to who should supply him and his party with clothes and food, since they had lost all ; and if to know that he was enshrined in the hearts of the people was any consolation to him in his misfortunes, he had ample proofs of it then. No wonder that, in read- ing these accounts, the 'Daily News' should say, **We have sincere pleasure in proclaiming our unreserved admi- 302 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [ohap. xv. ration of the manner in which he must have exercised his power to have produced such fruits." When morning broke in Euching there was a scene of the wildest confusion. The 600 rebels, joined by the vagabonds of the town, half stupefied with opium, were wandering about discharging their muskets in every direc- tion loaded with ball-cartridge ; but at eight o'clock the chiefs of the Gold Company sent a message to the Bishop of Labuan requesting him to come down and attend the wounded He did so, and found thirty-two stretched out^ the principal being from gunshot- wounds ; but among them he noticed one with a gash across his face from the last blow Mr Crjrmble had struck at the rebels; and before his arrival they had buried five of their companions. Poor Mrs Crookshank had lain on the ground all night desperately wounded, and with extraordinary coolness and courage had shammed death, while the rebels tore her rings from her fingers or cut at her head with their swords : then her life was saved by her mass of braided hair. Early in the morning a servant found her still living, and went and informed the Bishop of Labuan, who with great diffi- culty persuaded the Eungsi to allow him to send for her. She arrived at the mission-house in a dreadful state. It was evident that in the intoxication of victory the Chinese aimedjiowjif not before, at the complete domina* tion of the country^, and summoned the Bishop of Labuan, iHr Helms, agent for the Borneo Company, and Mr Eup- pell, an English merchant, and the Datu Bandar, to ap- pear at the Court-house. The Europeans were obliged to attend the summons. The Malay chief came, but with great reluctance, and contrary to the advice of his more energetic brother; but he thought it expedient to gain time. The Chinese chiefs, even in their most extravagant moments of exultation, were in great fear that on their i867.] PROCEEDINGS OF THE CHINESE. 303 letum up the river the Malays might attack their crowded boats and destroy them, as on the water they felt their inferiority to their maritime enemies. It must have been an ofifensive sight to the Europeans and the Malays to witness the arrangements of the Court- house on that day of disaster. In the Bajah's chair sat the chief of the Gk)ld Company, supported on either side by the writers or secretaries, while the representatives of the now apparently subdued sections took their places on the side benches. The Chinese chief then issued his orders, which were that Mr Helms and Mr Euppell should under- take to rule the foreign portion of the town, and that the Patu Bandar should manage the Malays, while the Gold Company, as supreme rulers, should superintend the whole and govern actively the up-country. During this time the Europeans could see the bead of Mr Nicholets carried about on a pole to reassure the Chinese that the dreaded Bajah had really been killed. The Chinese chiefs knew better, but they thought to impose upon their ignorant followers. Everything now appeared to be arranged, when the Bishop of I^buan suggested that perhaps Mr Johnson might not quite approve of the conduct of the Chinese in killing his uncle and his friends, — for most of them sup- posed the Bajah dead, and the head of Mr Nicholets was there as proof. At the mention of Mr Johnson's name there was a pause, a blankness came over their faces, and they looked at each other as they now remembered ap- parently for the first time that he, the Bajah's nephew, w£is the resolute and popular ruler of the Sakarangs, and could let loose at least 10,000 wild warriors upon them. At last it was suggested, after an animated discussion, that a letter should be sent to him requesting him to con- fine himself to his own government, and then they would not attempt to interfere with him. 304 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [chap. XV. They appeared also to have forgotten that there was Sadong under Mr Fox and Eejang under Mr Steel, who could between them bring thousands into line, and that Seribas also was panting for a field of exertion. All this appeared never to have occurred to them before under- taking their insensate expedition. The Chinese were very anxious to have matters settled at Kuching, as with all their boasts they did not appear quite comfortable. They were not only anxious to secure the plunder they had obtained, but the leaders knew that the Sajah was not killed, and what he might be preparing was uncertain. They therefore called upon the European gentlemen and the Malay chiefs present to swear fidelity to the Gold Company; and under the fear of instant death* they were obliged to go through the Chinese formula of taking oaths by killing fowls. Next day the rebels retired up-country unmolested by the Malays, and a meeting was at once held at the Datu Bandar's house to discuss future proceedings. At first no one spoke ; there was a gloom over the assembly, as the mass of the population was deserting the town, carry- ing off their women and children to the neighbouring district of Samarahan as a place of safety, when Abang Fatah, son to the Datu Tumanggong, addressed the as- sembly. He was a sturdy man, with a pleasant cheerful countenance, and a warm friend to English rule, and his first words were : " Are we going to submit to be governed by Chinese chiefs, or are we to remain faithful to our Eajah ? I am a man of few words, and I say I will never be governed by any but him, and to-night I commence war to the knife against his enemies." ^ ^ Shortly after Sir James Brooke became ruler of Sar&wak, a case came before him in which Fatah was concerned. He was then a very yoong man, and had contracted a gambling debt of £3 ; but by adding interest, his creditors quickly made it amount to £30. He could not pay this, 1867.] PKOGRESS OF THE INSURRECTION. 305 The tiDanimous determination of the assembly was to remain faithful to the Bajah, but they were divided as to the course to be pursued. Fatah, however, cut the knot of the difficulty by manning a light canoe with a dozen Malays, and proceeding at once up the river, where he attacked and captured a Chinese boat, killing five of its defenders. In the meantime the women and children were all removed from the town, and some vessels were armed and manned, but imperfectly, as the Chinese had taken away the contents of the arsenal, and the principal portion of the crews of the war-boats were engaged in conveying the fugitives to Samarahan. Patah's bold act was well-meaning, but decidedly prem- ature, as the Malays, being scattered, could not organise a resistance, and urgent entreaties were made to the Bajah by injudicious people to return and head this movement He complied, as he could not even appear to abandon those who were fighting so bravely for him ; but he knew that it was useless; and arrived at Kuching to find the rest of the English flying, the town in the hands of the Chinese, and smoke rising in every direction from the burning Malay houses. It appears that when the news reached the Chinese that the Malays were preparing to resist their rule, they de- termined to return immediately and attack them before their preparations could be completed. They divided their forces into two parties, as they were now recruited by several hundreds from the other gold-workings, and had forced all the agriculturists at Sungei Tingah to join them — ^in fact their great cargo-boats could not hold half their and was in despair, as a noble to whom the debt had been ttansferred threatened to make his father pay it. Sir James haying settled the case for him, won the young man's heart, who ever remained one of his most trusty and trosted followers. It was this Patah who gave the warning of the Patinggi's plot, vide p. 258. U 306 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [chap. TV. numbers, so that one body marched by a new road which had been opened to the town, while the other came down by the river. As soon as the Malays saw the Chinese boats rounding the point, they boldly dashed at them, forced them to the river-banks, drove out the crews, and triumphantly cap- tured ten of the largest bargea The Chinese, better armed, kept up a hot fire from the rising ground, and killed several of the best Malays, — among others Abang Gkipur, whose disbelief in his kinsman's story enabled the rebels to surprise the town, and who to his last breath bewailed his fatal mistake; and one who was equally to be re- gretted, our faithful old follower Kasim. The latter lingered long enough to see the Bajah again triimiphant^ and said he died happy in knowing it. ^Notwithstanding their losses, the Malays towed away the boats, fortunately laden with some of the most valuable booty, and secured them to a large trading prahu anchored in the centre of the river. Having thus captured some superior arms and ammunition, they could better reply to the fire of their enemies who lined the banks. In the meantime the Bajah arrived opposite the Chinese quarter, and found a complete panic prevailing, and all those who had preceded him fljdng in every direction. Having vainly endeavoured to restore order, he drew up his boat on the opposite bank to cover the retreat, and after a sharp exchange of musketiy-fire he returned to Samarahan to carry out his original intention. He joined the fugitives, and his first care was to see to the safety of the ladies and non-combatants and wounded, and to send them ofif under the care of the Bishop and others to the secure and well-armed fort of lingga. He now felt somewhat relieved, as he knew that there the fugitives would be in perfect safety, as they were sur- rounded by faithful and brave men who could have de- 1857.] ARRIVAL OP THE "SIR JAMES BROOKE." 307 fended the fort against any enemies. There were no ene- mies in Lingga, except such as existed in the imaginations of the terror-stricken fugitives from Sarawak^ who had not yet recovered from their panic. The Bajah prepared on the following day to take the same route, in order to obtain a base of operations and a secure spot where he could rally the people, and await a fresh supply of arms. It was sad, however, to think of the mischief which might happen during this period of enforced inaction, particularly as the Datu Bandar and a chosen band were still in Kuching on board a large trading prahu, which was surrounded by lighter war-boats. Here was our gentle Bandar, a man whom no one suspected of such energy, showing the courage of his father ; Patinggi Ali, who was killed during KeppePs expeditions, and directing constant attacks on the Chinese whenever an opportimity oflfered. Thus harassed, the rebels were drag- ging up heavy gims, and it was evident that the Malays could not hold out for many days, particularly as there was now nothing to defend ; the flames which reddened the horizon, and the increasing volumes of smoke, told the tale too well that the town was being completely destroyed. With feelings of the most acute distress, the Eajah gave the order for departure, and the small flotilla fell down the river Samarahan, and arriving at its mouth, put out to sea eastward ; when a cry arose among the men, " Smoke ! smoke ! — ^it is a steamer I " and sure enough there was a dark column rising in the air from a three-masted vessel For a moment it was uncertain which course she was steering, but presently they distinguished her flag : it was the Sir James Brooke, the Borneo Company's steamer, standing right in for the Morotabas entrance of the Sarawak river. The crew of the Bajah's prahu with shouts gave way, and the boat was urged along with all the power of their oars, to find the vessel anchored just within the mouth. 308 LIFE OF SIR JAM£S BROOKE. [chap. XT. " The great God be praised," as the Eajah said. Here indeed was a base of operations. The native prahus were taken in tow, and the reinforcements of Dyaks, who were already arriving, followed up with eager speed. What were the feelings of the Chinese when they first saw the smoke, then the steamer, it is not necessary to conjecture. They fired one wild volley from every available gun and musket, but the balls fell harmlessly ; and when the English guns opened on them, they fled panic-stricken, pursued by the rejoicing Malays and Dyaks. Early that morning a large party of Chinese had crossed from the right to the left bank to bum the half of the Malay town which had previously escaped ; but though they suc- ceeded in destroying the greater portion, they signed their own death-warrant, as the Malays, now resuiuing the offensive, seized the boats in which they had crossed the river, and the Dyaks followed them up in the forest Not one of that party could have escaped. Some wandered long in the jungle, and died of starvation ; others were found hanging to the boughs of trees, preferring sidcide to the lingering torments of hunger. All these bodies were afterwards discovered, as they were eagerly sought for. The natives said that on every one of them were found froija five to twenty pounds sterling in cash, besides silver spoons or forks or other valuables, the plunder of the English houses. The main body of the Chinese on the right bank retired in some order by the jungle road, and reached a detach- ment of their boats which they had left at its terminus, and from thence retired to Balidah, opposite Siniawan, the fort famous in Sarawak history, which the Bajah had besieged on his first arrival, and which after the insurrec- tion became the headquarters of Mr Grant, a resident of Upper Sarawak. Thus was the capital recovered. The Kajah established 1867.] DISCOMFITURE OF THE CHINESE. 309 his headquarters on board the Sir James Brooke, and the Government soon began to work again. The land Dyaks, who had been faithful to a man, sent and requested per- mission to attack the enemy. This being accorded, the chiefs led their assembled tribes, and rushed in every direction on the Chinese, driving them from their villages, and compelling them to assemble and defend two spots only, Siniawan and Bau, with Tundong, the landing-place of the latter town. The smoke rising in every direction showed them that the loss they had inflicted on others was now retaliated on them. The Gold Company, in their blind confidence, had made no preparations for an evil day, and it was well known that their stock of food was small, as everything had been destroyed except their own stores at the above-named places, and these were required to supply all those whom they had forced to join them from the town, and their whole agricultural population. The harassing life they led must soon have worn them out without any attacks, as they could no longer pursue their ordinary occupations, or even fetch firewood or water, without a strong armed party, and as the Dyaks hung about their houses, and infested every spot. It soon became a question of food, and they found that they must either obtain it or retire across the frontier into Sambas. They therefore collected all their boats, and made a foray eight miles down the river to Ledah Tanah, and there threw up a stockade, in which they placed a garrison of 250 of their picked men, under two of their most trusted leaders. They put four guns into position to sweep the river, and, armed with the best of the Government mus- kets and rifles, they not only commanded the right and the left hand branches, but felt secure from a direct attack from the main river. Parties were sent out to plunder the Dyak farmhouses, and one bolder than the rest attempted to scale the mountain of Serambo to destroy the Bajah'^ 310 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [ohap. xv. country-house there; but the Dyaks barred the passage with stockades, and by rolling down rocks on the advancing party, eflPectuaUy defended their hill. These Chinese were very diflferent from those we see in our British settlements : many of them were half-breeds, having Dyak mothers, and were as active in the jungle as the Dyaks themselves. To check the Chinese and afibrd assistance to the land Dyaks, the Bajah sent up the Datu Bandar with a small but select force to await his arrival below the Chinese stockade ; but the gallant Bandar, on being joined by the Datu Tumanggong and Abang Buyong, and a few Saka- rang Dyaks, dashed at the fort, surprised the garrison at dinner, and carried it without the loss of a man. The Chinese threw away their arms and fled into the jungle, to be pursued and slain by the Sakarang Dyaks. Stock- ade, gims, stores, and boats — aU were captured ; and, what was of equal importance, the principal instigators of the rebellion were killed. As soon as the few that escaped reached Siniawan, a panic seized the Chinese, and they fled to Bau, where they began hastily to make preparations to retire over the bor- der. The Rajah, who was hunTing up to the support of the Bandar, hearing of his success, despatched Mr John- son with his Dyaks to harass the enemy : these, together with the Sarawak Malays, to whom most of the honour is due, pressed on the discomfited Chinese, who, fearing to have their retreat cut off, started for Sambas. They were attacked at every step, but being supplied with the best arms of the Government, they were enabled to beat off the advance-parties of their assailants, and retire in fair order along the good road that leads to Gumbang on the Sambas frontier. Still this road is very narrow, and every now and then the active Dyaks made a rush from the brush- wood that borders the path, and spread confusion and dis- may ; but the Chinese had every motive to act a manly J 1867.] FLIGHT OP THE CHINESE. 311 part, as they had to defend above a thousand of their women and children, who encumbered their disastrous flight. At the foot of the steep hill of Gumbang they made a halt, for the usual path was found to be well stockaded, and a resolute body of Malays and Dyaks were there to dispute the way. It was a fearful position: behind them the pursuers were gathering in increasing strength, and unless they forced this passage within an hour, they must all die or surrender. At last some one, it is said a Sambas Malay, suggested that there was another path further up the hill, which, though very steep, was practicable : this was imdefended, and the fugitives made for it. The Sarawak Malays and Dyaks, seeing too late their error in n^lecting to fortify this path also, rushed along the brow of the hill and drove back the foremost Chinese. Their danger was extreme; but at that moment, as if by inspiration, all the young Chinese girls rushed to the front and encouraged the men to advance, which they again did; and cheered by the voices of those brave girls, who followed close, clapping their hands, and call- ing them by name to fight bravely, they won the brow of the hill, and cleared the path of their less numerous foes. Whilst this was going on, another column of Chinese surprised the village of Gumbang, burnt it to the ground, and then crossed the frontier. They were but just in time, as the pursuers were pressing hotly on the rear-guard, and the occasional volleys of musketry told them that the well-armed Malays were upon them ; but they were now comparatively safe, as they all soon cleared the Sarawak frontier, and although a few pursued them, the main body of the Malays and Dyaks would not enter Dutch territory, and halted on the summit of the Gum- bang range. 312 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [ohap. XV. • The miserable fugitives, reduced to 2000, of whom above a half were women and children, sat down among the houses of the village of Sidin, and many of them, it is said, wept not only for the loss of friends and goods they had suffered from the insensate ambition of the Gold Company, but because they must give up aU hope of ever returning to their old peaceful homes. That Company, which on the night of the surprise had numbered 600 men, were now reduced to a band of about 100, but these kept well together, and being better armed than the others, formed the principal guard of the Tai-pe- Kong, a sacred stone which they had through all their disasters preserved inviolate. Several times the assailants, who mistook it for the gold-chest, were on the point of capturing it, but on the cry being raised that the Tai-pe-Kong was in peril, the men gathered round and carried it securely through all danger. But here at Sidin, all immediate apprehension being over, the discontent of those who had been forced to join the rebels burst forth without control, so that from words they soon came to blows, and the small band of the Company's men was again reduced by thirty or forty by the anger of their countrymen. Continuing their disorderly retreat, they were met by the officers of the Dutch Government, who very properly took from them all their plunder and arms, and being uncertain which was their own property, erred on the safe side by stripping them of everything.^ Thus ter- minated the most absurd and causeless rebellion that ever occurred, which, during its continuance, displayed every phase of Chinese character, — arrogance, secrecy, combina- tion, an utter incapability of looking to the consequences of events or actions, and a belief in their own power and ^ The Datch officers sent back to Sarawak eyerything which they considered was public or private property. 1857.] RESULTS OP THE REBELLION. 313 courage which every event belied. The Chinese nev^r have fought even decently, and yet, till the very moment of trial, they act as if they were invincible. I think that this insurrection showed that though the Chinese always require watching, they are not in any way formidable as an enemy; and it also proved how firmly the Sarawak Government was rooted in the hearts of the people, since in the darkest hour there was no whisper. of wavering. Had the Chinese been five times as numerous, there were forces in the background which would have destroyed them alL Before the Chinese had fled across the border, thousands of Seribas and Sakarang Dyaks under Mr Johnson had arrived, and the people of Sadong were marching overland to attack them in rear, while the distant out -stations were mustering strong forces which arrived only to find all danger past. I almost believe that it was worth the disaster to show how uniform justice and generous consideration are appre- ciated by the Malays and Dyaks, and how firmly they may become attached to a Government which, besides hav- ing their true interests at heart, encourages and requires all its officers to treat them as equals. The conduct of the Malay fortmen, of Kasim and Gapur, the generous en- thusiasm of Abang Patah, and the gallant rush at the Ledah Tanah stockade by the Bandar and his forces, show what the Eajah had effected during his tenure of power. He had raised the character of the Malay, and turned a race notorious for its lawlessness into some of the best-conducted people in the world. I may add that the results of the Chinese insurrection were very curious in a financial point of view. Though above 3500 men were killed or driven from the country, yet the revenue from the Chinese soon rose, instead of falling, which proves what an extensive system of smug- gling had been carried on. The breaking up of the Gold 314 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [ohap. ZY. Company was felt by all the natives as a great reliefl It is worthy of remark that while the Chinese were still unsubdued in the interior, boats full of their armed coun- trymen arrived from Sambas to inquire if Sarawak was not now in the hands of the Kungsi, and were proceeding up the river to join them, when they were met by the Malays, driven back, and utterly defeated. The Dutch authorities behaved with thorough neigh- bourly kindness on this occasion; for as soon as they heard of the rebellion of the Chinese, they sent roimd a steamer and a detachment of soldiers to the assistance of the authorities. Fortunately by that time all danger was past, but the kindness of the action was not the less appreciated. H.M.S. Spartan also. Captain Sir William Hoste, came over to Sarawak, but I fear that his instructions were less generous : he could aid in pro- tecting British interests, but not the Sarawak Grovem- ment. Whilst struggling with all these difficulties, the Sir James Brooke, which had been sent to Singapore for supplies, now returned, bringing a large party to join the Bajah, — his nephew Captain Brooke and his wife, Mr Grant, Mr Hay, a new recruit of whom the Rajah says, " A gentlemanly man, young, of good family and the right stamp." I wish the Bajah had generally sought these qualifications in his recruits. There came also a lot of people connected with the Borneo Company, including Mr Harvey the managing director, Mr Duguid the manager in Sarawak, and others. In giving me an account of the arrivals, the Rajah says, — " Our domestic intelligence is of the best and pleasantest. Brooke's wife is a sweet, sen- sible, but playful creature, . . . charming in manners ; " and who that knew her would not re-echo these words 7 When the news of the Chinese insurrection reached Seribas, all the chiefs were anxious to go to the succoui 1857.] KUCHING AFTER THE INSURRECTION. 315 of the Government ; and while many were thus away in Sarawak, our old adversary, Eentab of Lang Fort reputa- tion, attacked the villages of our friends. The Rajah there- fore determined to punish him, and started for Seribas himself to support the well-intentioned; and Captain Brooke visited the Rejang, while Mr Charles Johnson was ordered to attack Sadok, the chief's new stronghold, with his Malays and Dyaks; but as usual when he had but wild warriors to rely on, he failed, as they were not steady enough when serious fighting might be expected. I went down to Sarawak by the first opportunity, and reached it in July, to find everything proceeding ap- parently as if no insurrection had occurred. Though the Malay town had been burnt down, yet the inhabitants had soon recovered their energy, and had built their houses a^^ain, which, though not so substantial as the former ones, still looked very neat. Some things were missed in the landscape: the handsome Government -house with its magnificent library had disappeared; Mr Crookshank's and Mr Middleton's houses were gone, and with the ex- ception of the Bajah, they were the principal sufferers, as the Chinese had had no time to destroy either the church or the mission-house, or the Borneo Company's premises ; and although they all suffered losses from pilferers, yet they were trivial when placed in comparison with that noble library which was once the pride of Sarawak. I may notice that some friends and others sent out a large number of books to replace it ; but it appeared to me that every one had sent out a lot of unbound books he did not want, and in comparison to our pride they looked like a collection of rubbish.^ I have never seen a more perfect library than that of ^ A "grace '* was passed by the Senate of the University of Cambridge for sending copies of works printed by them, " as a testimonial of sympathy for y OUT recent loss, and of admiration of your character. " 316 LIFE OF 8IK JAMES BROOKE. [chap. xv. Sir James Brooke — perfect in everything except the class- ics in the original, which would have been useless, as few of us had kept up our knowledge of them. Otherwise it was admirable : the best historians and essayists, all the poets, voyages and travels, books of reference, and a whole library of theology — books on every side of the question ; and I well remember a sneaking parson from Singa- pore, who came on a visit, examining the library, and when he found the works of Priestley and Channing along- side of those of Horsley and Pye Smith, going away and privately denouncing **the Bajah as an infidel and an atheist, or, worse still, a Unitarian." Besides the loss of the library, the Bajah was at the same time deprived of all the records of his previous life, — for he had collected his journals and papers, and these shared the fate of his books. I found, as I had expected, that the loss of worldly goods had had little eflfect on my old chief, who was as cheerful and contented in his little comfortless cottage as he had ever been in the Government-house. His health, which before was not strong, had been wonderfully im- proved by his great exertions to endeavour to restore the country to its former state, and I never saw him ap- parently more full of bodily energy and mental vigour than during the two months I spent in Sarawak in 1857. Everybody took his tone from his leader. There were no useless regrets over losses, and it was amusing to hear the congratulations of the Malay chiefs: "Ah, Mr St John, you were bom under a fortunate star to leave Sara- wak just before the evil days came upon us." Then they would laughingly recount the personal incidents which had occurred to themselves, and tell with great amuse- ment the shifts to which they had been put for want of every household necessary. There was a cheerfulness and a hope in the future which pi-omised well for the country. I found that the deserted gardens aroimd the town had 1867.] END OF THE KEBELLION. 317 been in part reoccupied, for already there were Chinese here. In order not to interrupt the narrative, I have not before noticed that during the height of the insurrec- tion, when the rebels had only been driven from the town a few days, news came that several hundred Chinese fugi- tives from the Dutch territories had crossed the borders towards the sources of the left-hand branch of the Sara- wak, and were seeking the protection of the Sarawak Gk)vemment. Though harassed by incessant work, the Eajah did not neglect their appeal, but immediately de- spatched trustworthy men, who safely piloted them through the excited Dyaks, who thought that every man who " wore a tail " should now be put to death. No incident could better illustrate the great influence possessed by the Bajah over the Dyaks and Malays, or his thoughtful care of the true interests of the country during even the most trying circumstances. When the insurrection was completely over, the Bajah sent Sirib Moksain to Sambas with letters for the Dutch authorities. As the Sirib had been at one time in charge of the Chinese in the interior, he knew them well, and he said it was distressing to see the unfortunate agricul- turists, who had by force been made to join the rebels, lamenting their expulsion from the country. They begged for permission to return ; and subsequently many did, and established themselves in their old quarters. I could not bring myself to visit the interior, and wit- ness the ruin of so much prosperity. 318 CHAPTER XVI. THIRD VISIT TO ENGLAND. 1857-1860. A LITTLE later on the Bajah said, in a letter to his nephew. Captain Brooke — " I have sometimes thought that since the earlier days the bonds of sympathy between the native and European have been slacker." I quote these words, as they were but the reflex of my own thoughts during my visit in 1857. I did not as yet see any sign of want of sympathy, but there was want of intercourse. In the earlier days, every evening after dinner, the chiefs would assemble in the great hall, sit amongst us, and conversa- tions were freely carried on as between equala But when the ladies arrived that was all changed ; after dinner the ladies retired into the drawing-room, where the gentle- men soon followed, or remained impatiently waiting for the natives to go. This they soon observed, and gradually they left off coming. No wonder the bonds of sympathy between the native and European became slacker. How- ever, this is more for the future. The Bajah, in the joy of his heart at the restoration of peace, determined to pardon two political offenders — Sirib Musahor, who had retired from Serikei, and the Datu Haji (the old Patinggi), who had been sent away to Mecca, but was then a pensioner in Malacca. Sirib Musahor had at first been injudiciously treated, but as he 1857.] COAL-MINES. 319 showed some desire to return to Serikei, he was permitted ; and the Datu Haji was recalled apparently by the wish of the people, but I believe strongly against their real judgment, for they knew him to be a dangerous man, capable of revenga During my visit in 1857 I particularly noticed one thing in the Kajah, that though when in society full of mental vigour, yet when alone he showed a loss of buoy- ancy, a tone of melancholy in public matters, as if aU ambition was dead within him. " I weary of business," he said to me. Just before I reached Sarawak the news had arrived of the Indian Mutiny, and he was full of it. He turned " clammy with agitation when he first heard of it." How true is the ring of the following words I " I felt then, annoyed and disgraced though I have been, that I was an Englishman, and the ties and feelings which men have wantonly outraged are planted too deep to be torn up." Mr Duguid, manager of the Borneo Company, having volunteered to give me a passage to Brunei in the Sir James Brooke, I was well pleased to return thus to my post, and the Eajah decided to accompany me. Before we started, however, we were invited to be present at the wedding of Mr Chambers, then missionary at Lingga, and now Bishop of Labuan. On our way to Brunei we called in at Sadong to view the Borneo Company's coal-mines. The Rajah had a good look at them, but came back probably as wise as he went. This attempt to open a coal-mine in Borneo was a costly failure — ^rumour said £20,000 — and all because, to save a few hundreds, the opinion had been taken of a practical miner who coiQd have developed a real seam, instead of obtaining a report from a scientific engineer, who, by boring or other means, would have discovered if a workable seam existed. That is the way companies are too often managed. 320 LIF£ OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [chap. XVI. We arrived in Brunei, and I lodged my guests in my mat-walled consulate, and the Eajah opened negotiations about the sago rivers.^ Very little appears to have been settled, except that the Bajah was requested to see that right was done, whatever that might mean. He went to Muka, and thought that he had made an impression on the rival factions; but there was a blood-feud — ^the son wishing to slay the murderer of his father — and no hard or soft words could have any effect as long as Sarawak ^ supported that man of violence, Matusin. The Rajah now decided to return home to England. He had many reasons publicly. He said he wanted to discuss matters with the Borneo Company ; but in his heart he wished to enter into negotiations with the British Govern- ment, and see what they would do for Sarawak. He wrote, when nearing Egypt, "I experience no pleasure when approaching England, nor pain either." What an important year 1858 might have been for Sarawak had the Bajah known how to secure his ad- vance step by step ! but he wanted to clear all obstacles at a bound, and failed. In a letter which I wrote to my father, March 24, 1858, I find a sketch of the Bajah's character which is not with- out interest. " You say neither his friends nor his enemies have judged him right : perhaps so, — he has many injudi- cious friends. Take him for all in all, however, he is the man of the fewest faults that I have ever met with. Hasty judgment sometimes, and often hasty speech, are two faults which perhaps produce his third — ^that is, great impatience. In manner he is often absent and careless, ^ In Sarawak the term river is used instead of district, for the principal town of each district is generally on the banks of its main river, and it is by water and not by land that it is approached. The " sago rivers" comprise those of Oya, Mnlla, Mato, Bruit, &c., and on their banks the sago-palm flourishes. 1858.] RECEPTION IN ENGLAND. 321 which, not being understood by strangers, offends them ; but I will add what he is — ^he is a man of noble thoughts and noble actions, generous, generally most considerate ; afifectionate, and therefore beloved by all who are inti- mately acquainted with him. In conversation and argu- ment brilliant when in happy spirits, playful when play- fulness is required, earnest and sincere on all great sub- jects. I am not drawing his portrait, I am but touching on a few traits." As soon as he reached England, the Bajah felt that the tone towards him was changed for the better. The Minis- ters received him cordially, and Lord Clarendon, thanks to Lord Grey's intervention, showed himself earnest in his desire to do something for Sarawak. Both he and Lord Palmerston offered a protectorate : had the Rajah accepted at once, the affair might have been so advanced that no change of Ministry would have unsettled it Unfortu- nately, however, the Eajah's views were now altered, and he began to wish to recover the private fortune he had expended in Sarawak, — for the fact was, he was in reality a pauper : he had but his pension of £70 a-year. With very good reasons he urged that if England had a mone- tary interest in Sarawak, it would be inclined to look better after it ; but it is not the less to be regretted that he did not jump at the proposition of a protectorate, which would have so chamged the status of Sarawak as to have insured its prosperity. Every kind of interest was shown. Mr Labouchere asked if Sarawak woidd not take over the Indian mutineers ; to which the Bajah replied, — " Hindoos ? yes — but not Mo- hammedans ; " and a small party was sent, who, I may say, behaved exceeding welL Later on came the question of a naval station in one of the ports of Sarawak ; but to this the Bajah would not listen — why, I do not under- stand, as it would not only have insured efficient protec- X 322 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [cHAP. xn. tion, but would have been the first step towards that gradual absorption of the country which was so desirable. On February 2l8t the Rajah went to a levee, and her Majesty spoke to him most graciously, asking after his health ; and the Prince Consort shook him cordially by the hand. Indeed, the Eoyal family ever showed great interest in his career. The Ministers, he said, were re- markably friendly in their manner and tone. He was referring to Lords Palmerston and Clarendon, and he was particularly pleased with his reception at one of the evenings at the Prime Minister's. Now came a change of Ministry, for Palmerston, being defeated on the Conspiracy Bill, retired to give place to Lord Derby ; and the Eajah had to begin his work over again. How was it possible, however, for him to succeed in any negotiations with the British Ministers, when he could write of them in a few weeks as "base, truckling, and suspicious " ? Evidently the Bajah was not meant for the work of European diplomacy. On hearing of these things, I wrote to Captain Brooke : *' The Rajah's life appears destined to be one eternal war- fare ; a Ministry turn and listen to him, and promise much, and would have performed sufficient, and they are ousted. Then came a cool Ministry, to whom Borneo is a bore ; and the Rajah, irritated, writes to them in a very impro- per strain, 'holding them responsible for the lives and properties of British subjects in Sarawak.' They shrug their shoulders and laugh, for they know they are not responsible, and would not care if they were." Then came a tone of utter despondency, although, at the same time, he was vigorously backing his friends who were trying to agitate the country to support the Rajah, and thus influence the Ministry. Meetings, dinners, and speeches, however, did no good, as Lord Derby decided to have nothing to do with Sarawak ; but the Rajah notices, 1858.] DESPONDENCY. 323 "Lord Stanley has been more friendly than any other Minister." On a temperament so nervous as the Rajah's, this excitement was doing irreparable mischief. To add to his troubles, his nephews in Borneo were writing him letters on family and other matters which made him feel " dreadfully hurt and humiliated," and the cry from his heart could be understood — " Oh, I am weary, weary of heart! without faith, without hope in man's honesty;" and while working heart and soul for what he conceived to be the good of Sarawak, he had to hear that his nephews were " horror-stricken at the idea of Sarawak being sold into bondage." Thus were his nerves kept at the highest pitch of tension. *' On the 2l8t of October, after making a brief speech in the Free-Trade Hall at Manchester, I felt a creeping move- ment come over ma I soon knew what it was, and walked with Fairbaim to the doctor'a Life, I thought, was gone, and I rejoiced in the hope that my death would do for Sarawak what my life had not been able to eflfect" Thus, sixteen days after the event, he described his first attack of paralysis, which effectually stopped his campaign. Then came the great deputation to Lord Derby, which, though powerfully backed, was a signal failure. One of the wisest letters ever written to him, the Kajah received about this time from Mr Grant of Kilgraston, Captain Brooke's father-in-law, urging him to accept the protection offered by the British Government without haggling about terms. I must now briefly glance at the events which passed in Borneo in 1858. In Sarawak itself things were quiet enough ; but in the sago rivers of the Sultan's dominions there were continual disturbances brought about by the desire of the Sarawak Government to back up Pangeran Matusin, and by the constant interference of the Sarawak naJcodaha or traders in the internal affairs of those coun* 324 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [oHAP. xvi. tries. As a rule, the Sarawak nakodahs were very good men, but they were proud of their country, and wished to introduce the same system in these districts as that which prevailed at Sarawak. So far, there was little to be said ; but, like all merchants, they wanted a monopoly. Captain Brooke, who was administering the government of Sarawak, heard much of the evil doings in the sago rivers, and believing all the stories told by the naJcodahs, proposed to the Sajah to seize these districts, and declare them independent of Brunei Without reflecting, he fined people in the Sultan's dominions, and kept the fines. This high-handed policy greatly enraged the Sultan, and he begged me to remonstrate with the Bajah and Captain Brooke against this interference in his territory. This I did privately, and it is rather amusing to notice how these remonstrances were taken. The Bajah writes : — " Sept 7. — *' St John seems to think that you are in- clined to carry matters with too high a hand" "Nov, 6. — I received a letter from St John, of which I did not quite like the tone and spirit ; but I know he is a good fellow, and at heart our friend I must add, that St John thinks that I, as well as yourself, carry matters with too high a hand towards Brunei. Do not notice it, because it is done in all kindness." Before, however. Captain Brooke received this, he, being frankness itself, wrote to me to acknowledge that his policy towards Brunei had been too high - handed ; but explained that he had been deceived by the highly-col- oured reports of his ofl&cers in the Rejang. I have noticed these details, as they were the forerunners of troubles which brought about a great crisis in the history of Sarawak. In November 1858 there occurred an event which pro- duced a complete change in the policy of the Court of Brunei Makota, the Serpent, the Sultan's favourite 1858.] DEATH OF MAKOTA. 325 minister, the Eajah's first enemy in Sarawak and in his heart ever Sir James's enemy, was killed by the inhabi- tants of the interior whilst engaged in seizing a lot of young girls for his harem. The uproar that ensued is indescribable. MsJcota, as I have often remarked, was one of the worst and most oppressive of the Bomeon chiefs. Early in the month of November 1858 he started for a Bisayan village called Awang, a day's pull from the capital, and imme- diately commenced his exactions. He fined each of the chiefs for some imaginary breach of etiquette ; and as the fines came in slowly, set his followers to beat the Bisayas, and went so far as to apply torture to several. Even this did not rouse the people. At length, as if he were courting his fate, he assembled the heads of the villages, and told them that they must each furnish him with one of their daughters for his harem, and at the same time directed his men to seize the girls. Still no resistance was made, and the young things were dragged off to his prahu. When night came on, the chiefs met, and it was agreed to surprise the noble, and rescue their daughters. At midnight they came down quietly to the bank of the river, saw a light burning in the boat, and immediately attacked the sleeping crew. The surprise was so great that the men jumped into the water without any resistance, and Makota sought to escape with two followers in a small canoe ; but one of the girls, seizing the light, held it aloft, and shouting to those on shore, drew attention to the fly- ing noble, who was immediately knocked out of his boat by a well-directed stone, and he was drowned, being the only Malay I ever knew who could not swim. On first receiving the news of the death of his favourite minister, the Sultan was furious, and swore he would exterminate the whole race of the Bisayas ; but we used 326 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE, [cHAP. XVL onr influence to calm this anger, and but compaiativelj light punishment followed. The year 1858 was marked by a great revival of Lanun and Balagnini piracy. Among others, a Spanish vessel was taken in the Sulu seas by Panglima Taupan of Tawi- Tawi : a young girl, the daughter of a Spanish merchant, was the only one on board not massacred. Taupan took her for a wife ; and, as I wrote at the time — " Alas for the chivalry of the British navy ! Sir , who was present when this information was given, said it was a Spanish affair, not ours." Another fruit of the Commission, — officers dared not act. In December Captain Brooke lost his wife, and in her he lost his mainstay, for her calm judgment would have been of infinite service to him in the trials which were to come. Hearing at the same time of his uncle's attack of paralysis, he decided to return home, — a most ill-advised step. The year 1859 was a most unfortunate one for everything connected with Sarawak. When the Bajah lay on his bed of sickness, his friend, the present Sir Thomas Fairbaim, knowing the wretched state of the Eajah's finances, pro- posed to a few intimates that something should be done to relieve him from this state of distress : he thought that a Memorial Fund might be raised, and a sufficient sum collected to place the Eajah in a position independent of Sarawak. Whether it would have succeeded or not had the project been carried out with equal zeal by all those who pretended to feel an interest in it, it is not possible to say, but it did not succeed, only about £9000 having been raised. Eightly or wrongly, the Eajah always laid the blame of this failure on the shoulders of some members of the Borneo Company, whose interest he thought it was to keep him dependent on them. I notice how gradually he be- came more and more convinced of this, as I read his cor- 1859.] THE BORNEO COMPANY. 327 respondence during the year 1859. It is not worth while, however, to quote these letters, as the whole thing has passed away, and the principal actors in this affair are now quiet in their graves. But it is necessary to notice it, as it partly accounts for the feeling of suspicion with which this Company was afterwards viewed, and which was heightened by the following circumstance. The Chinese insurrection having completely disordered the Sarawak finances, the Bajah's Government was com- I)eUed to borrow £5000 of the Borneo Company, and in the height of his distress they pressed him for repayment in a manner which made him write, "Their conduct is discourteous and avaricious.'' Thus pressed by the Borneo Company to pay a debt due by the Sarawak Govemment — ^harassed by the doubts arising as to the loyalty of some of his friends — with discouraging news from Sarawak, and prostrate with sickness — the Sajah found himself in a most painful and distressing position. "A friend in need is a friend in- deed," and at that moment one appeared who generously advanced the money owing to the Company, and thus enabled him to clear oflF the debt It was a mistake on the part of the Borneo Company thus to estrange the Bajah by trying to snatch the fruit before it was ripa Had they shown that they were cap- able of governing the country, it is highly probable that, England failing him, he would have been glad to associate them with him in the government ; but without the aid of the existing rulers of the country, I can imagine the failure that would have resulted. The Rajah's correspondence during this year with her Majesty's Government was not pleasant, and ended ap- parently in complete estrangement. Fortunately public officers are not over-sensitive, and the unpleasantness was afterwards forgotten. 328 LIFE OF SIB JAMES BROOKB. [cHAF. ZVL In 1859 the affairs of Muka were again brought prom- inently forward, as civil war had been renewed between Pangeran Matusin, the murderer of Ursat and his family, and Pangeran Dipa, the son of the victiuL Mr Charles Johnson, then in charge of the government of Sarawak, thinking that he must also pursue a high-handed policy, went there, and fined the Sultan's envoy, but had to carry off his protSgd Matusin, whom the people would not have. Some glimmer of the truth as to the bad conduct of this Pangeran appears to have dawned on the mind of Mr Johnson, but he was so full of meaningless alarms about the intrigues of Bomeon Eajahs, that his judgment was warped. He, too, kept the fine that was raised in the Sultan's territory, and refused to give it up, and went so far as also to propose to his uncle to seize the Sultan's territory, and appropriate it to Sarawak. When the Sultan heard of this insult of fining his envoy, he was very provoked, and sent for me to re- monstrate on the subject, reminding me that the pre- vious year the Eajah had written, " If we have wronged them [the Bajahs], or encroached on their territory, we are ready to make you, in your character as Consul-General and representative of England, the mediator between us." Acting on this, I did remonstrate in a private letter, but to little effect, as the following extracts will show: ** March 30. — St John's letter vain as usual" ''Aug. 14 — St John's interference is unwarrantable, the result of vanity, the tool of Makota" (forgetting that Makota had been killed the previous year). But mixed with these I find : " St John's view is sensible ; " " St John is a valued old friend and a true one." The letter which the Bajah calls '' vain as usual," contains the following passage, to which he refers : it was so true that I cannot avoid in- serting it The Bajah had accused the Bomeon nobles of being " weak, perfidious, and oppressive." I remarked 1859.] A PLOT AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT. 329 in reply, ** I "will not enter again on the relations between Brunei and Sarawak, but I must say, however * weak, per- fidious, and oppressive' the nobles may be towards their own subjects, they have been tnie to you at a time when their friendship was of some value. I have not forgotten, nor should you forget, their conduct at the time of the Commission, when there was every temptation to turn against you. I utterly deny that they have ever ' delayed, shuffled, or intrigued * in any matter in which you have been concerned ; and all the accusations against them are founded on the putatia (false reports) of the Sarawak naJeodahs, who delight as much in making mischief as the Pablats do here at the present moment I do not think that you can bring a charge against them which I could not easily refute. Kemember I am speaking of their con- duct towards yourself and Sarawak, not towards their own subjects." No wonder the Eajah did not like the tone of that letter ; but it was quite true, for the loyalty showed by the Sultan and great Eajahs to Sir James Brooke was a marvel to us alL The effect of this correspondence, however, was good, as I find the Bajah writing to Captain Brooke : " Pray instruct Charley to pay to the Sultan all fines levied in his territory : it is important as a peace- offering;" and to me, that the fines should be paid over to the Sultan, which on the Rajah's return to Borneo was done. While Mr Johnson was thus watching events abroad, he saw little of what was passing in Sarawak. Up to that period he had been more accustomed to his Dyaks at Sakarang than he was to the Malays of Kuching ; and the chiefs of Sarawak, with that fear of consequences which is inherent in them, did not give the complete confidence which would have enabled him to unravel the plot which soon disturbed the country. It will be remembered that after the Chinese insurrec- 330 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [ohap. xtl tion the Bajah had pardoned Sirib Musahor and the Datu HaJL These two chiefs had never forgotten or for- given the punishment they had received for their own bad conduct, and longed for the moment of revenge. Both Captain Brooke and the Bajah were absent — the latter reported dangerously ill — ^and the Government was in the hands of Mr C. Johnson. Now, the two chiefs thought, was the moment ; and.they formed a plot for cutting off all the Europeans. The well-intentioned gave warnings, but they were not sufficiently heeded. The first blow struck was in the most distant station. In the Bejang were two officers of merit — one a Mr Steel, well versed in native ways and language (the Mr Steel whose conduct in 1849 had been so great a distress to Mr Gladstone) ; the other Mr Fox, a man of considerable abilities, but inclined to push reforms too fast, and very excitable, though he was at the same time one of the most amiable of beings. In June, he and Mr Steel were at the Kanawit fort, Mr Steel sitting in a chair in the Court-house, and Mr Fox superintending some alterations in their garden, when a party of Kanawits,^ accompanied by some of Sirib Musahor*8 followers, a mongrel breed, came in apparently on business, and, spreading about the fort, on a given signal fell on the two unsuspecting Englishmen and killed them on the spot. They did not, however, meddle with the fortmen. When the news reached Sarawak there was great excite- ment, but no suspicion of a plot, and the Datu Haji accom- panied Mr Johnson to the Rejang to aid him. At Serikei they met Sirib Musahor, who had already taken measures to secure the fort, and who had put to death some of the ^ The Ean&wits are a distinct tribe, and must not be confounded with the Seribas who live on the upper waters of the Eanawit river. They are partially tattooed, and use the tumpUan, or poisoned arrow blow-tube. 1869.] SUFPKESSION OF THE CONSPIRACY. 331 men whom he pretended to suspect, without waiting the axrival of Mr Johnson. This created no suspicion; and the latter, listening to the advice of the two plotters, had the remaining fortmen tried on the charge of giving up their post, and they were found guilty and executed. At the same time a chief named Tani, formerly a great friend of the English, was accused, tried, and executed. On his way to death, he said, " I am innocent ; but the guilty will soon be known." The Kanawits, after having murdered Messrs Fox and Steel, plundered the fort, and then retired to a village they had built in the woods. The Dyaks, who had asked permission to attack them, were easily defeated by the poisoned arrows of the enemy. Mr Johnson then moved up a strong force with a gun, and surrounded them. He summoned the tribe to give up the actual murderers : they refused. He then said, " If you will fight in defence of these murderers, at least let me place your women and children in safety;" but this they also refused. After giving them time for reflection, the place was attacked, burnt down, and the tribe dispersed with great slaughter, the murderers unfortunately cutting their way through the attacking forc& Mr Johnson's party suffered heavily. I heard that as many as thirty Dyaks were killed by poisoned arrows. The effect of this poison is singular : the wounded man feels drowsy ; if he be allowed to give way to it, he invari- ably dies. One of the Malays who was wounded was kept awake, in spite of his requests to be permitted to sleep, and, after a glass of brandy, was walked down to the boats, and recovered. Mr Johnson then returned to Kuching, and he soon became convinced that Sirib Musahor was the real insti- gator of the murder. He subsequently attacked him, and drove him out of Sarawak territory, and the Sirib fled 332 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [oHAP. XTL to Brunei. His flight brought to light the Datu Haji's guilt, and he was only banished from the country, though he fully deserved death ; but his family connections being coextensive with Sarawak Malay society, he escaped. Mr Johnson throughout these transactions showed wonderful energy, activity, and courage; in fact^ almost the whole burden rested on his shoulders. The effect of the discovery of the plot on the Sarawak officers was curious. The gentlemen, to a man, stuck to their posts with firmness, and rode out the storm — can we speak too highly of these officers ? — the second class lost all courage ; while the Bishop and some of the mis- sionaries left, the former taking home news that it was a Mohammedan plot, with the Datu Imaum (the rival Mohammedan Bishop) at the head of it — whereas the Datu Imaum showed himself, as ever, the true and faithful friend of the EnglisL The story apparently spread the panic to England, for I notice the Bajali writes to Brooke : " The day you want protection against your faithful sub- jects, that day the government of Sarawak should end."* Still confidence was in general shaken, and although the Governor of the Straits had sent over the steamer Hoogly and a detachment of marines, yet had not Eng- land authoritatively declared she wished to have nothing to do with Sarawak? Hereupon the Bajah turned to Holland, and instructed Captain Brooke to open negotia- tions with the Dutch Minister in London. Brooke, how- ever, little liked the task, as he felt himself unfit for ^ Extract from the Bishop's Report for 1859 : ''I must again, through you, beg to call the attention of the Society to the insecurity and incon* venience of this place [Sarawak] as our central missionary post. The Rajah's illness, the deficiency of reyenue, the withdrawal of aU British protection from English subjects here, render our position more unsafe than ever. I shaU, I fear, be obliged to state that this is no longer the place where an establishment like ours, with women and children, can be safely and permanently kept up." 1853.] THE SUCCESSION TO THE RAJ. 333 negotiations. The Bajah vainly endeavoured to make him an astute diplomatist^ which, in dealing with Euro- peans, the Bajah himself was not, and urged him '' to rise in tone to the dignity of the representative of a free people." I may at once say that Holland declined to enter into negotiations. The Bajah was in great distress of mind as to the future of Sarawak. He was incapacitated for hard work, both of his nephews were suffering, and he added, " Not a single rising man in the service — not a man fitted to rule." Although no officer in Sarawak could admire Bishop McDougall's management of the mission, yet they all were of accord as to his great medical skill, and his unfailing kindness in sickness. They therefore got up a testimonial to him to mark their sense of his conduct, and the Bajah wrote, '* The Bishop deserves more than we can afford to give, for his kindness in sickness to each and all of us." Although the Bajah in his writings often spoke disre- spectfully of the climate of his mother-country, he could not make up his mind to live out of it ; and now that a sum of money had been collected to present to him as a testimonial, he thought no better use could be made of a part of it than to buy a small^ property to which he could retira He found in the wilds of Dartmoor a pretty place called Barrator with which he was enchanted, and having secured it, he felt for the moment cheerful and satisfied. The least satisfactory event to my mind of this year was the Bajah's correspondence with his nephew Brooke about his resignation of authority. There is a want of precision in it which was the cause of all subsequent mis- understandings. One day he annoimced that his surrender of authority was final, the next all this was forgotten ; but the fact was that the Bajah coxQd not resign — ^he had entered into engagements with other parties which posi- 334 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [chap. xvi. tively precluded him fix)m handing over the government until these engagements were satisfied. Those not con- versant with the Bajah could not understand the corre- spondence of this period. It ended in this question, " Do you acknowledge my authority or not ? ** The answer was, " Yes," So that all previous correspondence was annulled by this question and answer. One thing was, however, clear ; the Eajah, even during the height of his despondency and illness, never intended to retire until the financial ar- rangements were definitively settled. I notice that the Rajah was pleased with the following extract from one of my letters, and that he several times refers to it in his correspondence : " You say you shall never recover, but it is quite wrong to think so. Though you may abandon public work, you have many happy years to look forward to, if happiness can be found in the remembrance of unmixed good performed. I have lived with you many years, and know you well, and I am assured no man can have less to reproach himself with ; and it must be a pleasing thought to know what kindly remembrances you have left in the minds of all who ever knew you out here. I assure you that when I heard the name of Tuan [Mr] Brooke mentioned with interest by the Dyaks of the far interior, in spots where even the Malays had never penetrated, I was struck with the vast influence you exercise over the native mind, and regretted the neglect which has prevented your being imable to turn that influ- ence to still greater good." The year 1860 opened dully. Holland had refused to enter into negotiations ; England was indifferent ; so the Eajah turned to France. Here, too, there was failure : no nation would touch what was refused by England, as it was known that England would be displeased by such interference. Uncle and nephew were also in disaccord, and although outward peace was established, confidence I860.] THE KAJAH AND CAPTAIN BROOKE. 335 was for ever gone. Added to this, the Kajah was troubled by fake news from Sarawak, where in their panic they had mistaken a slave of Sirib Musahor's, who had appeared at Muka on some intrigue, for the Pangeran Tumanggong, the most powerful nobleman in Borneo, and son of the late Sultan. How such a blunder could have occurred is past all understanding. In the spring Captain Brooke returned to Sarawak, and I met him there on my way home. Hearing of the panic which existed, I went over from Singapore in a merchant- vessel, and could scarcely recognise Kuching, where once native and European were as ona I soon came to the conclusion that there was more panic than danger, and in that the native chiefs confirmed ma This I wrote to the Bajah, and I notice he says — " It delights me to hear St John's strong opinion of the love of the people to our Government." And there could be but one opinion as to the conduct of Mr Johnson in this crisis. He had acted as vigorously as it was possible for any man to act. It was clear that the conspiracy had been confined to those whose position had been rendered less important and lucrative by the advent of civilised men into the country, and that the mass of the chiefs and the people were as loyal as ever. The confusion of relative position between the Rajah and Captain Brooke still continued. The Sajah talked of abdicating but still governing, and Brooke of not being able to afibrd to pay the Eajah's allowance, and of his presence being invaluable in order to restore confidence in Sarawak. In April, Bishop Wilberforce had an interview with Lord Palmerston — ^that thorough " Unglish Minister," as he calls him — on the subject of Sarawak ; and this led to a renewal of intercourse between the Premier and the Eajah, which subsequently bore good fruit. 336 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOEJ!. [chap. xn. The Bishop's letter is perhaps worth inserting : — " 26 Pall Mall, April 4, 186a " My dear Rajah, — I have had an opportunity to-day at Windsor of talking with Lord Palmerston over Saraw^ affairs. He says there is a great difficulty, Ist^ in the purchase or acceptance of your sovereign rights by our Crown, because they are not absolute, but held under the suzerainty of another — a position which our Crown could not occupy. 2d, That there was a difficulty in recognising by any formal act a subject as a sovereign. But if you wanted, as I understood, no such formal acknowledgment at present, but to be allowed to call for the aid of British ships of war to maintain your position if attacked, and ifi waiving other questions, you applied for that, he plainly intimated that he would grant it, and recommended that such appeal should be made to him as the head of the Government. He had a due feeling about you personally, and with all his faults he is an English Minister ; and I cannot, therefore, but hope that if, before you go further with the French, you will make this appeal to him, Eng- land will be spared the disgrace of such a transfer." At this time that generous hand which had been stretched forth to save the Bajah from the Borneo Com- pany now came again to the rescue, and the money was found to fulfil the dearest wish of his heart — the purchase of a steamer for Sarawak. He soon found a suitable vessel in Glasgow, and christened her the Bainbow. Now he was happy; what a change of tone in all his letters! He "will nail his colours to the mast." In truth, no better or more welcome succour could have been found. As he said, " Sarawak was saved." Before I arrived in England, the Bajah addressed a letter to Lord Palmerston asking for protection for British subjects in Sarawak. I860.] MH EDWARDES'S INTERFERENCE AT MUKA. 337 Now came another trouble. I have mentioned that in 1859 he had cause to suspect an intimate friend's conduct towards him, and now he found that the same individual had been going about suggesting that he (the Eajah) was mad. Another had aided him in these calumnies, but as he signed a written retractation and apology, I will not refer further to him. When the Rajah first heard of his friend's ungenerous conduct, he wrote to him for an ex- planation, but got only an evasive reply. A long corre- spondence ensued, which Sir James Brooke submitted to his lawyer, who wrote back, saying " that anything more mean and shuffling he had never known," and " anything is better than a hollow pretence of friendship." Thus ended a long friendship ; for although years afterwards there was a reconciliation, it was but nominal In August the Eajah went down to Glasgow to start the Eainbow. I accompanied him. Never was he in better spirits about Sarawak : he might talk of abdicat- ing, but that was indefinitely postponed. Everything was now looking prosperous, when news arrived of a most unexpected event. The Governor of Labuan, whom I had charged with the Consulate-General during my absence, had suddenly interfered in the most " untoward " manner. When Sirib Musahor fled from Mr Johnson he called in at Muka, and from thence went to Brunei and Labuan. Of course the Borneon Government knew with whom they were dealing, and the Sultan had given me informa- tion before I left the capital, which left no doubt on my mind that Musahor had instigated the murder of — had, in facti by his paid agents, murdered — Messrs Fox and Steel ; but Mr Edwardes, Governor of Labuan, believed nothing of this. An able, active man, was this governor, capable by his vigour to infuse life into a colony if a spark of vitality was left in it; but he had strong prejudices, and one of Y 338 LIFE OF SIB JAMES BR(X)KE. [chap. xvi. these was against Sir James Brooke and Sarawak. When» therefore, he heard Sirib Musahor's plausible tale (and the Sirib was both plausible and taking in manner), Mr Edwardes, against his better judgment, decided that the man was innocent, and had been unjustly dealt with. Accordingly, when he met the Sultan, and heard his complaints respecting the encroachments of the Bajah's nephews, — for his Highness had neither forgotten nor forgiven Mr Johnson for fining his envoy — ^Mr Edwardes determined to interfere. He was delighted to have a chance of giving a blow to Sarawak: and against the strong advice of his experienced officers, he started in the Indian steamer Victoria, to eflfect his object When Captain Brooke arrived in Sarawak in April 1860, 1 had talked a good deal with him on the subject of the relations between Brunei and Sarawak, and he had determined to abandon the high-handed policy, and try to live in peace with his neighbours. But the disorders on the frontiers had reached such a height that he found it impossible. Pangeran Dipa, the Governor of Muka, had taken part with Sirib Musahor, had collected the latter*s dispersed followers, had fortified his district, fired on the Sarawak flag, and driven its traders from the river. A Sarawak Government envoy was treated in the same manner. Captain Brooke, uninfluenced by fiery counsels, went to Muka with a small force, decided to endeavour by conciliation to bring about such an arrangement as would permit the trade to continua But no sooner did he at- tempt to open communications with the chiefs than his boats were fired into, and he was compelled to pause at the mouth of the river. He threw up a stockade there, and decided to wait for reinforcements. When these arrived he made a brisk attack on the forts, and his brave brother Charles, under a heavy fire, passed the defences in the gun- boat Venus, with a crew of only twelve Europeans, and I860.] LOKD Russell's thanks to capt. brooke. 339 took up an advantageous position in rear of the stockades. At this moment Mr Edwardes arrived in the Victoria, and commanded Captain Brooke on his allegiance to cease the attack. Captain Brooke remonstrated, but in vain, and found to his surprise, nay, horror, that Mr Edwardes had en- couraged Sirib Musahor to come down to Muka. Cap- tain Brooke need not have paid any attention to such a summons, and it is probable that had he refused to listen to it, Mr Edwardes would not have dared to interfere by violence. But Captain Brooke took the wise step of withdrawing his forces, and appealing for justice to the British (government. For this conciliatory and prudent step he received Lord Eussell's thanks. I will not enlarge on Mr Edwardes's conduct, but his constant association with the murderers of his countrymen was very adversely com- mented on. Captain Brooke retired within the frontiers of Sarawak, and had a difficult game to play to hold his own under this renewed loss of prestige. Some of the chiefs became anxious, nay, frightened, at the idea of a conflict with the British Government. But there was little danger of that No sooner did the despatches reach home than Lord Bussell saw where justice lay, and very soon decided as to the steps to be taken. 340 CHAPTER XVII. LAST VISITS TO BORNEO — RBTURN TO ENGLAND— QUIET LIFE — DEATH IN 1868. 1860-1868. At that time, October 1859, I was down at Burrator, staying with the Rajah, and suffering from fever and ague. A note from the Foreign Ofi&ce recalled me to town, and, in spite of my illness, on hearing of what had occurred I could not do otherwise than volunteer to return to Borneo, and resume my duties as Consul- General As I left Downing Street, I stepped into the old telegraphic office at Charing Cross and sent the following message to the Eajah: "Edwardes disapproved. Eetum to Borneo November mail. Will you come ? " " Yes, certainly," was the reply. We decided to sail by the next mail I was confident of settling the affair without bloodshed. My instructions were elastic, and rather startled my friends, who thought the responsibility was thrown on my shoulders. I cared little for that, but as a matter of curiosity inquired at the office. I was told, " The meaning of your instructions is this : if you succeed, all right ; if you don't, Lord John Russell will puU you through." I was satisfied, and required no more. In the meantime, the same generous hand that had twice before come to the rescue, placed means at the I860.] ONCE AGAIN IN THE EAST. 341 Eajah's disposal, and guns and powder, and shells and rockets, were sent out by the ton. We started from Southampton the 20th November, and had a pleasant voyage. We enjoyed the Turkish bath in Egypt, and when we got into the Eed Sea we settled down to chess. The Bajah was in great forca The return to Sarawak excited his spirit, and the work to do made him brace up his nerves and conquer lassitude. Little of politics, but much of chess. We had fortunate- ly pleasant passengers. One lady, a connection of the Rajah's, and a missionary (formerly captain in the Innis- killing Dragoons), joined our party, and a pleasant party it was. The missionary (I forget his name, but do not forget his look, manner, and appearance, which impressed both the Eajah and myself) we vainly tried to persuade to give up the idea of being a missionary among the Santhals and come to Borneo. There was a field worthy of his exertion^. On our arrival in Singapore we were eager for news, and were relieved to find that only loss of trade had followed Mr Edwardes's actiom We found also that he himself had begun to doubt the wisdom of the course that he had pureued. I now Started for Brunei in H.M.S. Nimrod, Commander Arthur, calling in at Sarawak on my way, where I ofiicially informed the Sarawak consul that the Government did not approve of Mr Edwardes's doings. I 'went on to Labuan, relieved my substitute of his position as Consul- General, and' established myself in the capital, to find the Sultan sulky at the failure of Mr Edwardes's promises. I remained quiet a few weeks, when I found his Highness gradually coming round ; but it was long ere I was again established first adviser to the Crown, for Mr Edwardes's promises had either been great or had been misunderstood, and they thought that the British Govern- ment were about to remove the English from Sarawak and 342 LIFE OF SIR JAM£S BROOKE. [oHAP. XTU. return the country to them. I could promise the Sultan, however, that all the fines levied in his tenitoiy should be remitted to him, all arrears of revepue paid, and that some satisfactory arrangement would now be made to re- lieve him of all further trouble in the sago rivers. And this was really all the Sultan cared about The revenue hitherto raised in the sago rivers was quietly absorbed by the agents, and little ever reached the Bomeon Grovemment They therefore listened eagerly to the idea that this uncertain item should be exchanged for a fixed payment. The Bajah went over to Sarawak in his own steamer, and was received as one risen from the dead, for all had heard of his serious illness, and many believed that the news of his death had been concealed from them. This idea also was very prevalent in Brunei. In April the Bajah came to the capital, and, as I ex- pected, all the clouds of doubt and distrust vanished. The Sultan and his ministers received him most cordially, and agreed to all he required, which was to disavow all com- plicity with Sirib Musahor (whom we found that the Sul- tan had intended to arrest, but he fled in time), and to order a general disarmament at MukaL As I had been directed by our Government to do my best to see the afiTair settled without bloodshed, I undertook the part of mediator, and decided to go down to Singapore and obtain a ship of war in which to visit Muka, and convey the commands of the Sultan to the chiefs. The Chary bdis, a magnificent 21-gun corvette, was there with the Hon. Captain Keane as senior officer. He soon settled to take me over, and in a few days more we were at the mouth of the Muka river. I had given notice of my coming ; but as precautions were necessary with such a desperate set. Captain Keane manned and armed all his boats, and we pulled in. When we saw the fort crowded 1861.] SETTLEMENT OF MUKA. 343 with men, we half expected to receive a broadside from their guns ; but no opposition was made as we passed the boom, and 200 Englishmen were soon in a position to command all their defences. Pangeran Dipa received me well, and I produced the chops^ from the Sultan advising a cessation of hostilities, and that Sirib Musahor and his men were to leave the country. While these were being read Sirib Musahor himself came in, naked to the waist, which looked anything but peaceful, with his kris ready for action. He came and sat down by my side, and I had leisure to look at my old chess opponent. He was a fine man, with a heavy, though in general a smiling, sympa- thetic expression ; but now it was all gloom. But after he had heard the Sultan's orders read, he burst into pro- testations of his innocence. I quieted him as well as I could. We had been old and familiar friends in days gone by, and then I told them that her Majesty's Govern- ment had directed me to return to Borneo in order to ex- plain to them that they did not approve of Mr Edwardes's interference ; but they wished peace and order to be estab- lished, and all questions to be settled without bloodshed. I pointed out to them how useless it was to endeavour to cope with Sir James Brooke's forces, and that the best thing which could happen would be to receive him peace- fully, and enter into a final settlement Both Dipa and Musahor promised to obey the Sultan's orders, and they faithfully kept their word. I pitied Dipa, as he was not a bad man, and had been pushed into hos- tilities by the action of Sarawak in supporting Matusin, the murderer of his father. On returning to Sarawak, I informed the Bajah of the result ; but to make sure, he went with a strong force to Muka. Some silly story was told him about resistance if his steamer could not cross the bar, but that was all nonsense. Dipa and the people ^ Literally ** seal," but really meaniog credentialB, or orders under seaL 344 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE, [chap. xvii. of Muka were weary of fighting ; and when I pledged my word to Musahor that his life and property should be respected, he made up his mind to go away. The appear- ance, too, of such a vessel as the Chary bdis, and Captain Keane's judicious conduct in taking an overpowering force up the river to the middle of the town, showed them that Mr Edwardes's support was no longer to be relied on. As soon, therefore, as the Rajah reached Muka, every- thing was at his feet — ^the fort was disarmed, and handed over to him ; and though fierce and severe in words when opposition threatened, he was disarmed by submission, and treated all with as much kindness as possible. Faithful to the promise I had made, the Bajah permit- ted Sirib Musahor to leave the country with his property and those members of his family who elected to follow him ; and as the Sultan had positively forbidden him to go north, his prahu was towed to Sarawak, and he and his belongings were shipped to Singapore. That he was guilty of plotting against the rule of the English in Sara- wak, and that he actively incited the Kanawits to murder Messrs Fox and Steel, I have no doubt — in fact, the chief murderers, Sawing and Talib, afterwards confessed that they acted by the direct orders of Sirib Musahor ; and the Dutch authorities had already sent from Pontianak, en hon voisin, information which distinctly implicated the Sirib. Yet I could not help pitying the man. He had been such a good fellow when we first knew him ; and he had been so severely treated without a sufficient allowance being made for his education — for his having been brought up in the idea that his will was law. Then he had been very unfortunate in the English with whom he had been brought in contact. Mr Steel, though able and admirable in his knowledge of native languages and customs, was an ignorant, hard man : he had been an apprentice in a merchant-ship. Mr Fox was efficient; but having been 1861.] THE RAJAH AT MUKA. 345 accustomed to deal with Chinese, was brusque in manner with natives of rank ; and the others were an ex- valet and ex-lawyer's clerk, one who would have done credit to the Club of " the Glorious Apollos," so pleasantly described in the * Old Curiosity Shop ' by Dickens. I believe the Sirib still lives somewhere in the Straits Settlements. Pangeran Dipa was sent away to explain his conduct to the Sultan, and the Eajah took up his residence in the fort to endeavour to settle matters, for constant civil war had introduced the most extraordinary confusion. Here the Eajah was in his element: from morning to night he was there listening to the complaints and wishes of the inhabitants, reconciling enmities, settling quarrels, undo- ing injustice, and aiding the poor. The Sarawak traders now flocked to the open fort, and brought comfort in their train, as the population, half starved, could now obtain supplies in return for their abundant sago. The Bajah expressed an opinion at this time that the Sultan and his ministers were cognisant of the plot to murder the white men in Sarawak ; but this is only a repetition of his nephew Charles Brooke's unsupported suspicions. He had an idea that Brunei intrigue was omnipotent, and saw its hand in every unexpected event that occurred in Sarawak, which should rather have been placed to the account of the sadly imperfect government of so extended a territory with so few competent oflBcers. When Sawing confessed that he had been ordered to murder Fox and Steele, he added that Sirib Musahor had declared it was Utah, or by the order of the Sultan. On hearing this, Mr Johnson felt convinced that the Brunei Grovern- ment were responsible, forgetting that nothing would be more natural than for Sirib Musahor to say this, however false it might be. Mumein, the Sultan, was perfectly in- capable of such conduct. When the Bisayas of Awang killed the Sultan's favourite, Makota, they too shouted 346 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE, [ohap. ZVIL * Titah ! tUali ! but no sensible person believed that the Sultan had ordered these men to kill him. Whilst this was going on, I was living quietly in Sara- wak. We had a party of anxious ladies — Mrs Brooke (for Captain Brooke had just married his second wife), and Mrs Welstead, her sister-in-law ; but we soon heard that there was to be no fighting, and calm was restored. Captain Brooke arrived with the bulk of the Sarawak forces, and then we set to work to consider the plans for the future. The Rajah soon joined us, and our party was all again united, but the old confidence did not exist One day in July, whilst reposing in my room, I heard my name called, and, getting up, I opened the door, and found Cap- tain Keane with another gentleman : '' Let me introduce you to the Governor of Labuan, and your successor." « Then what am IV " Oh, something in the West In- dies." And on opening my letters, I found that I had been promoted to be Chargi d! Affaires to the Republic of Hayti. I was delighted, for I began to weary of my solitary life in the capital. I accompanied Mr Callaghan, the new Governor, to Labuan in the Charybdis, in order to hand over to him the archives of the office, and introduce him to the Sultan ; and a few days after the Rainbow came into Brunei, bring- ing the Rajah and Mr and Mrs Crookshank. The Sultan was pleased at the Muka settlement, and though sorrowful to see his districts vanishing from him, was very well satis- fied with the Rajah's liberal offer to pay him an annual sum instead of his previous precarious revenue. He and his ministers soon drew up the documents which handed over the coast as far as Kidurong Point to the Rajah and his successors, for the annual tribute of a little over £1200. The Rajah was delighted with my spacious consulate, with the cool rooms and breezy situation, and said if he were rich he would purchase it of the British Gtovemment 1861.] THE RAJAH MUDA, 347 for himself. We soon left, and I bade adieu for ever to Brunei I could not leave it, however, without much regret. In spite of their faults, I liked the Brunei Bajahs, I liked the life, and I liked the people. I particularly liked those long exploring excursions which I had made into the interior.^ But I felt that I was doing nothing, and I was pleased at my advancement, for which I had to thank Earl Bussell. We called in at Labuan, and then stopped at Sarawak, as the Bajah, having decided to return to England with me, wished first to pass a short time in settling the future of the country. How wisely he settled every question, eighteen years of peace have shown ; but he scarcely be- lieved in the great stability of the edifice he had erected. Whilst we were wsdting for the return of the Bainbow from Singapore, Captain Brooke told me that he wished the Bajah publicly to install him as Bajah Muda, or heir- apparent to the Bajah. I suggested to Brooke to write a note to the Bajah, and I would deliver it. I knew the Bajah would do it without hesitation, but why or where- fore I took the precaution to have the wish expressed in writing I do not know. The terms, however, settle the status of the two relatives beyond dispute : — " Septmber 16, 1861. " My dear Bajah, — I shall be very much gratified if you will publicly install me as Bajah Muda before you quit the country. If you will do so, it will not only be a pleasing sign of your confidence in me, but will strengthen my hands in carrying on the government. — ^Tours, &c., "J. Brooke Brooke." After this letter there can be no question of their relative positions. All Captain Brooke asked was, that he should 1 Vide 'Life in the Forests of the Far East.' 348 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE, [chap. zvn. be publicly acknowledged as the Rajah's heir. I always told Brooke that as long as the Rajah lived he would never abdicate : he might talk loosely about it, but he would never in reality hand over his power and authority to another. And why should he have done so ? All the Europeans and the native chiefs were summoned to a public meeting. I was late, and did not enter the Court-house, but from the outside T heard the speeches, and the Rajah addressed the assembly in a manner which I can never forget. He spoke of the past, the present, and the future : introduced Brooke as the Rajah Muda, on whom would now fall the burden of government, as he was becoming old, and could no longer bear its fatigues ; but he would return among them if necessary, and what- ever danger threatened they might count on him. He then addressed his farewell to the audience in such feel- ing terms that all of us were affected. It was a splendid speech, in that choice Malay of which he was a master. The Rajah determined before he left to come to a settlement with his nephew about future negotiations with foreign Powers and with England, and these terms were reduced to writing by myself and accepted in writing by Brooke. I had seen enough of the misapprehensions which had already arisen from uncertain talk and random notes, so I had every proposition reduced to writing, as I was sure to be mixed up with the negotiations in England. In order to have a quiet and long talk together, Brooke and I started for a short trip up couiltry, when we settled clearly what was to be my line of conduct in these nego- tiations, and what I was authorised on his part to support. Everything now being settled, and the Rainbow having arrived, the Rajah started with a large party for Singapore. We were detained there for several weeks on eiccount of the non-arrival of a mail, and the inhabitants showed Sir James Brooke that all the divisions of the past were no 1862.] THE VOYAGE HOME. 349 more, and that he wad now truly appreciated as the great pioneer and champion of civilisation and commerce in the Indian Archipelago. What a pleasant voyage we had home ! The Rajah was thoroughly happy. He had succeeded in all his plans beyond his hopes ; not a drop of blood had been shed. He had restored the prestige of Sarawak, and shown that English agents worked in unison with him. We now again became devoted to chess ; and one day he proposed a match, in which he and I were to play a consultation game against two good players on board. They were getting the best of it, when the Eajah said, "Let us dash at them with this move." I easily showed that though bold it was too risky, and quickly pushing a pawn said, " That is our move." At first he did not see the eflfect of this apparently innocent proceeding, which looked like an effort to gain time; but it soon flashed on him, and he whispered, "The best move you ever made." Our ad- versaries treated it, as we thought they would, as a sign of uncertainty, and it was not till the next move that they saw their danger. It was fun to hear the Rajah's gay laugh as he pushed our advantage and triumphantly won the game. We had a very quarrelsome set on board, and in their troubles all came to him for advice, and many must re- member with satisfaction the way in which he prevented anything serious arising from these misunderstandings. He was in private life the most conciliatory man I ever met, which would make me surprised at the tone of his recent public correspondence, if one did not remember how deep and indelible a wound the Commission had inflicted on him. As I have said, he never did get over the mortification, wounded pride, and the sense of deadly in- jury which this wanton act inflicted But Muka was the last kick of the dying beast The Rajah spent the year 1862 in endeavours to bring 350 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKK [oHAP. zvn. Sarawak under the attention of Ministers, and fortunately he left aU communications in the hands of his frienda Among the communications which he received this year was one from Philar^te Chasles. The following is an ex- tract : " Votre graude entreprise de civilisation orientale, si puissament et si prudemment soutenue, me touche le cceur et Hhwe mon esprit; elle me plait et me ravis comme une des belles choses de notre temps." Belgium, in the meanwhile, appeared inclined to treat for Sarawak, but as nothing came of these negotiations, I need not enter into them. Belgian statesmen evidently neither understood how to acquire a colony or to develop it had they acquired one. The Kajah thoroughly enjoyed this year. He passed it in alternate visits to his relations and friends, includ- ing a trip to Paris, and varied it by long stays in Burra- tor, where he was endeavouring to bring up two young cubs for the Sarawak service. But> as usual, these cubs remained cubs to the end, and .were a source of trouble and mortification until they disappeared from the scene. Strange infatuation to believe that he could do anything with such materials, when gentlemen cadets were to be had by the score. Whilst the Bajah was making an unusually long stay in Burrator, I thought he was moping, so I tried to in- duce him to come up to London and enter general so- ciety, but partially failed, as the following playful note shows : — ''BlTRRATOB, 2l8t JutU 1862. " My dear Nestor, — ^Why should not I enjoy the dregs which life has left in my cup ? Why should that senti- mental and sympathetic harpy Society devote me to a routine which I dislike, under a delusive expectation of doing good to Sarawak ? Have I not sacrificed taste, feel- 1862.] THE RAJAH IN RETIREMENT. 351 ing, ease, and independence in a vain pursuit after a sub- stantial good to come out of this shadow ? * Now my weary eyes I close, Leave, oh leave me to repose.' Pleasant are country sights and sounds, spite of rainy weather. I love retirement, I love mine easy-chair, I love my bed at half-past ten at night. Now, how can Society make amends for this loss ? Let her only promise, and I will devote myself to the yawning chasm of finery and false pretence, as Marcus Curtius did of old to the gaping earth, — only Sarawak would be none the better, as Eome was supposed to have been. It is a delusion and a snare prompted by the substance of thirty to the skeleton of sixty according to ordinary chronology; but by my reckoning six hundred and sixty years have I been upon this earth. So it is, though I do not know exactly how. Tou must believe, but not inquire. Now, my dear boy, go to church twice every Sunday because you owe it to society ; wear light duck trousers this cold weather be- cause society obliges ; sit up late at night, eat and drink too much, listen to twaddle and praise it Set up a taber- nacle on the mount of fashion, bow down to it and wor- ship it Duty to society commands it But do ask your- self in your sober moments what society has ever done for us that we should do so much for society. Now, having said all this, I beg to tell you I am coming up in July, just to touch the hem of society's garment." The news from Sarawak continued good. Sadok was taken easily, through the defection of Eentab's followers, and this closed the series of mismanaged expeditions. The Bajah's nephew Charles returned to England, and was a comfort to him. In May 1862 I published two volumes of travels in Borneo, entitled, *Life in the Forests of the Far East,* 352 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE, [chap. XVIi. which were well received. In them I had the chapter on missions, which, in consequence of a conversation with Captain Brooke, who had strong views on the subject, I had agreed to write. I thought I was stating the opinion of all,^ particularly of Mr Chambers, the present Bishop, with whom I had had long conversations on the subject of the non-success of the mission ; but my chapter raised a storm in a teapot, and I was attacked both publicly and privately, particularly by my good friend Mr Chambers, — but this I could readily forgive, as he was now connected by marriage with the Bishop of Labuan. The assailants were not satisfied with attacking my public statements, but one went so far as to send private letters to my friends attacking my personal character. The Bajah was very angry, — much more angry than I was, for I knew with whom I had to deal — and his letters are full of the subject : " The slanders propagated make my blood boil, and I shall authorise Brooke and Crook- shank to express my opinion publicly." "The letter is weak and wicked." " I cannot stand by to see St John driven to the wall for saying what is strictly true." I was not much moved by all this excitement, and in- tended to have been contented with adding a note to the chapter on missions in my second edition ; but the Rajah was not so easily satisfied, and used his literary talent and energy in writing a reply, which was called a vindication, and to which I put my name. Competent authorities con- sidered it " crushing ; " at all events it put an end to the discussion. One satisfactory result arose from my chapter: the management of the mission was completely changed, and I heard that most of my recommendations were put into practice ; and when, later on. Bishop McDougall ^ In poindng out the defective management of the mission I was only conveying my own ideas, and, as I believed, those of the liajah and Captain Brooke, thoogh neither knew what I had written until published. 1862.] NEGOTIATIONS WITH GOVERNMENT. 353 retired from Sarawak, the series of refonns may be said to have been completely carried out While these things were fermenting, news arrived of a successful action having taken place under the personal direction of Captain Brooke between the Eainbow and some Lanun pirates, and the Bishop of Labuan sent a very unfortunate account of the transaction to the * Times,' which greatly excited and scandaUsed the religious world, and caused many erroneous impressions to get abroad. In the autumn I went down to stay with the Rajah in Burrator, and, while there, received a letter from Captain Brooke, in which he complained of discouraging prophecies sent him by his uncle. I answered, September 22, 1862 : "I should not much trouble myself about the Rajah's gloomy views; they have been gloomy for the last five years, and none of his prophecies have come to pass ; and after all, they will not in any way affect the country. I myself cannot conceive any one desiring to change the status of Sarawak — it is a unique thing in the world. I hold that as Sarawak has gone on for twenty years of times full of trouble, it has a good chance of going on another twenty, with increased prospects of success. Don't be depressed by any one, and I am sure there is a bright future for Sarawak.'* My prophecy appears to have been a true one. During this time the negotiations with the British Government were making progress, though very slowly. Mr John Abel Smith, afterwards M.P. for Chichester, had charge of them, and he opened the campaign by going down to Earl Russell's at Richmond, where the two ques- tions of protection or cession were discussed. It was evident that Earl Russell's opinions were for protection ; but the difficulty was to interest the Ministers, and this Mr Smith undertook to do. At length even the ques- tion of protection was dropped, and it all centred in the z 354 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE, [ohap. xvn. recognition of Sarawak as an independent State. Daring these negotiations I was asked to famish docamente on the three qaestions, and sent in a memorandam on each. Bat the caatioas Government wanted to know more, and at length referred the whole qaestion to Lord Elgin, Grovemor-General of India, and he instracted the Gover- nor of Singapore, Colonel Cavanagh, to make a private visit to Sarawak. I left England jast as the Bajah received some intelli- gence from Borneo which indaced him to retam there. I had been very ill, and rose from a bed of fever to em- bark for the West Indies ; bat my leave was ap, and go I mast. On the point of starting I received the following affectionate notes, which show the Bajah's tender natare : " Dec, 30, 1862. — I was greatly relieved by year letter of yesterday, and care will restore yoa, — care of yoar health in details, and nothing else. God speed yoa on yoar way ! Yoa will anderstand how I regret parting from yoa, bat daty must be done." **Dec, 31. — G^d bless you, and fare- well ! remember me as your true friend, as I shall remem- ber you." Captain Brooke, who had heard from Lord Elgin on the subject of Governor Cavanagh's visit, received his guest well, and offered him every aid in his power to further his inqidries : in return, the Colonel thought he could not do less than show some of his papers, among others one of my reports which was marked "Secret and confidential" It would appear that this had an extraordinary effect : per- haps it was only the last hair that broke down an ex- hausted patience. Captain Brooke thought that his rights were being overlooked, and in a moment of excitement sent a defiant letter to the Bajah, and protests to her Majesty's Grovemment against a transfer of the country without his consent and that of the council At that time Captain Brooke was scarcely himself: he had lately lost 1868.] THE RAJAH AND CAPTAIN BROOKE, 355 his second wife, and previously his eldest boy, and was im- patient under these repeated losses, and perhaps under the Governor's inqnisitiveness. He did not consult any of his officers, and it was thought that he made confidants of those whom, being the Bajah's enemies, he should have dis- trusted : but a diligent examination of all the papers that have been intrusted to me, make me doubt whether he con- sulted any one. I think that the letter was scarcely writ- ten and sent ere it was regretted, as but one subsequent communication refers to the subject, and the others are as calm or calmer than any previous ones. I may notice that the Bajah never saw the report referred to, as I made it a practice not to show anything oflicial to him, for we differed greatly in our views, and he would have asked me, perhaps, to alter or to modify them. The Rajah did not receive this defiant letter quietly — in fact he could not. He found his negotiations with the British Government rudely interrupted, and he at once determined to go back to Borneo and resume his position as Rajah, confident, I believe, that defiance would vanish at his approach. As I have said, Captain Brooke no sooner had written the letter than he regretted it, and to avoid every appearance of divided counsels, went over to meet his uncle in Singapore, and affairs were speedily arranged. The Rajah insisted on submission, and Captain Brooke took leave of absence and returned to England on an allowance, while the Rajah continued his course to Sara- wak in a British ship of war. What a change ! And he could not help writing, " The Ministers were very kind on the recent occasion." There he found every one sur- prised at his return, as few, if any, had suspected the true cause. I may here remark that at that time the only real question before the Government was recognition, as both cession and protection had been put on one side, and Lord Russell wished only for an independent opinion as to 356 LIFE OP SIR JAMES BROOKE. [oHAP. xvn. whether there was an established Government in Sarawak acknowledged and obeyed by the people. The Rajah found the country prospering — indeed, Cap- tain Brooke could manage admirably everything pertaining to the details of the home administration, and there was nothing to change in the system. As I anticipated, not a single person had a suspicion of what had occurred ; and the native chiefs when informed b^ged that nothing pub- lic should be said, as it would be calculated to do harm. The chiefs must have rather wondered at this time to find seven English ships of war anchored in the Sarawak river, ostensibly to look after pirates ; but I do not doubt that there was another motive, and that they were sent to strengthen the Eajah's hands, and to show all that the days of estrangement were past, and that the English Government were again friendly to Sarawak. In fact, since this great demonstration every shadow of suspicion that the Eajah was abandoned by England vanished from the native mind, and no more has been heard of con- spiracies among any class of natives. In England affairs were progressing favourably, and Lord Russell sent a message to Sir James Brooke to the effect that, should his authority be undisputed, he was now ready to propose to the Cabinet that Sarawak should be recognised as an independent State, under his rule and government. On his arrival in England, Captain Brooke fell into injudicious hands, and openly attacked his uncle. The dispute ended in the Rajah's disinheriting his nephew: and there I might take leave of the subject, but in fairness I should add that I was, and ever have been, a warm partisan of the Rajah, and strongly supported and ap- proved the measures he took; but I cannot but confess that, after reading all the correspondence which passed between Captain Brooke and his uncle, I am not surprised 1868.] EXPEDITION AGAINST THE kAYANS. 357 at the fonner showing considerable irritation, though in this instance he acted under a very mistaken view. Both the Bajah and Brooke were my intimate friends ; perhaps I was most intimate with the younger man, who was of my own age, but I was devoted to the interests of botL Had mutual friends both in England and Sarawak been more conciliatory, the estrangement between uncle and nephew would never have gone so far as it did. Knowing that his health would only permit a short residence in Sarawak, the Bajah did his utmost to give an impetus to the country. The only enemies that were then troubling its peace were the powerful Eayan tribes who dwelt in the far interior. Their warriors would come down the great river Bejang and attack the outlying Sarawak villages : and as they had recently destroyed several, and murdered their inhabitants, the Bajah de- termined to put a stop to it. He therefore directed his nephew, Mr Charles Johnson (now Mr Charles Brooke), to organise an expedition, and this he did on a great scale. He displayed wonderful energy in conquering the obstacles presented by a mighty river, dashing over innumerable ledges of rocks, and foaming rapids and cataracts of a formidable character, in spite of which he carried his force of 15,000 men into the far interior, where, however, the enemy fled at his approach. This expedition effectu- ally cowed the Kayans. They were a cruel set, as the folloMring account of their conduct, taken from the report of the Besident of Kanawit, will show : — " The Kayans killed all the Dyak captives, to the number of seventeen. After torturing them in the most fearful manner, cutting them about and taking out their eyes, they then cut their throats. There were some women tor- tured and killed." After the expedition, the Bajah, seeing that all was quiet and peaceful, and being convinced that he could 358 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [ohap. xni. rely on all his officers, whether native or European, decided to return to Europe, leaving his nephew, Charles Brooke, in charge of the government. In one of my letters I slightly reproached him with having the appearance of forgiving one who had deeply injured him and remained impenitent. His answer is characteristic : ** True it is he injured me, and deeply, and perhaps what you say is true that he will injure me again ; but in Sarawak I carmot quarrel or feel resent- ment towards any one, however great the evil done to myself" He could be superior to the petty feelings which sway too many men. One officer alone ^ in Sarawak left the service, as his friendship for Captain Brooke would not allow him to make the pledges the Eajah thought necessary — Mr Hay ; but of him the Bajah wrote, after detailing the motives of his leaving, '' He is a man of honour and a gentieman." In September 1863 the Eajah left Sarawak for the last time. He fully intended to return, but that hope was never realised. He left Sarawak tranquil and prosperous ; without an element of discord, without a single native chief on whom suspicion could rest; prosperous too in finances, — a prosperity which has but increased as time has passed away. Whilst in Port au Prince I received in December 1863 a letter from the Bajah announcing his safe arrival in England in health and good spirits. During the time the Rajah had been away in Borneo, his friends in England had not been idle, and the question of the recognition of the independence of Sarawak was kept constantly before the Ministers, with a result which was highly gratifying to all those who felt an interest in ^ Mr Grant had previously left Sarawak, and was confidential agent of the Government in England, which appointment he resigned at this time, in consequence of Captain Brooke's deposition. 1868.] NE€W)TIATI0N8 WITH GOVERNMENT. 359 the success of Sir James Brooke's great experiment in Borneo. The following extracts from a series of letters in my possession give a curious ancl interesting account of the negotiations, and do credit to all the statesmen whose names are mentioned in them. The writer, Mr John Abel Smith, M.P., addresses these letters to the Kajah, and as the events are now all past^ it is a pleasure to be able to record the opinions of such men as Lord Palmerston, Lord Bussell, Sir Henry Layard, the Duke of Argyll, Lord Granville, Lord Grey, and Lord de Grey (Lord Ripon), &c. ''June 30, 1862. — I now proceed without preface to give you more in detail a report of my interview with Lord Palmerston on Saturday. '' I told him that I had come to express the interest I and many others felt in your work in Sarawak, which I believed deserved the support and good wishes of all who felt interested in the wellbeing of their kind ; and that we wished to ascertain whether he would feel justified in giving effect now to the favourable opinion he had long since entertained and expressed of your conduct and ob- jects. I then, as briefly as I could, told him all I knew of your position and prospects, including the application firom Belgium, and all that I have myself been doing lately with Lord Russell, &c.; and concluded by saying, that after offering upon the shrine of Sarawak your own fortune and the contributions of your friends, and devoting to that soil the best years of your life and all the spring-time of your health and strength, you were naturally now bent on securing, as far as you could, the future of a people for whom you had made such costly sacrifices, and that you could not reconcile yourself to the chance of their re- turning to barbarism in the event of your death happen- ing before you had made arrangements to secure the per- 360 LIFE OF SIB JAMES BROOKE, [ohap. xvn. manency of the system of govemiDent which you had established, and of that gentle rule by which you had succeeded in winning them over to the gradual introduc- tion of religion and civilisation. ** I said that although you felt that the sacrifices you had made should not fall wholly on yourself, if others reaped the benefit of them — in which opinion I thought public feeling would strongly concur — still, that I honestly be- lieved that personal and pecuniary motives were with you wholly secondary to the great object of securing the future permanency of a civilised and civilising government in Sarawak; and that, trusting to the justice of your country, you would not allow the money question to stand in the way. I explained to Lord Palmerston the extent and population of the extensive territory now ceded to you, its fertility and resources, its increased and increasing trade, its present revenue, &c. ... I ended by telling him that I did not come to ask him to pledge himself at that moment to the details of any particular plan or scheme; that from what I knew of the views and feelings of some members of the Cabinet, I was aware how difficult it might be to assume the immediate sovereignty on the part of the Queen, and at once add Sarawak to the Colonial Government of England; and that even if this difficulty did not exist, I entirely concurred in an opinion you had expressed to me, that it would be most desirable in the interests of humanity and civilisation that the present form and manner of government should not be at once abandoned, and that you were able to do more at present than any one else could, and much less expensively, and that I was disposed to believe that a system of avowed and unequivocal protection would be better for all parties than immediate occupation. That in exchange for the support, sanction, and open recognition of the British Crown, you would not be indisposed to make a conditional / ,; ' 1868.] LORD PAI^ERSTON's VIKWS. 361 agreement as to the future, and that your views of the protection necessary were most moderate, involving no troops or costly effects, and embracing only such support as would be given by the presence of such a naval force as might be thought desirable or necessary. That what I asked then and th-ere only was, a declaration of Lord Pal- merston's general views and feelings, and permission, in concert with any subordinate of his Government in whom he might have confidence, to lay before him such details as might appear best calculated to carry out the object in view, for the purpose of being afterwards submitted through Lord Eussell to the Cabinet. " Lord Palmerston, in answer, went at some length over your past proceedings, and what had occurred at various times in reference to your establishment and government in Sarawak. He spoke of you in the handsomest terms, and seemed thoroughly to appreciate your character and objects. He admitted the value and capabilities of Sara- wak, and never attempted to depreciate its importance in order to advance his own views. He said, * I understand you to mean that you want to have the English Govern- ment at the back of Sir James Brooke distinctly and openly, and declaring to the whole world that they were prepared to stand by him and protect him.' He said the great difficulty has been, and is, that of the Queen recognis- ing one of her subjects as an independent ruler, but * there were probably the means of getting over this.' That with the strong adverse feelings of Mr Gladstone and others, im- mediate assumption of Sarawak with the colonial system of Great Britain was most difficult ; but that he was well disposed to forward your views as far as he could, and he used the words, ' I will do what I can to help you.' " He told me to go to Layard, to repeat to him what had then passed, and to see if a scheme could be put on paper which would 'be within his power to carry out, while it 362 LIFE OF SIB JAMES BBOOEE. [cHAP. XTH. would also satisfy your wishes and secure the objects yon had in view. ''I had a good deal of discussion with him as to the line which would be taken in a matter of the kind by various members of the Cabinet, especially Sir Greorge Lewis, the Duke of Newcastle, and Sir Charles Wood. He spoke very hopefully of the Duke of Newcastle I asked him plainly and directly, if such a matter as this was strongly and unreservedly supported in the Cabinet by himself and Lord Russell, whether there would be probably any determined opposition on the part of his colleagues, and he replied with a decided negative. **I cannot pretend to recollect all the details of the lengthened observations made by Lord Palmerston, but I think I shall have enabled you to understand their general purport, and the amount and extent of his agreement with us. I should be most ungrateful if 1 omitted to state that I have rarely had a pleasanter interview on public busi- ness ; that he was frank, cordial, and unresei-ved in man- ner and expression, and seemed entirely disposed to enter into my feelings as to yourself and your claim on the admiration and consideration of your countrymen. He gave me leave to come to him again whenever I had anything to say, and was altogether most obliging and gracious. " I find that I have omitted one remark of Lord Palmer- ston's which struck me at the time as significant of his meaning to enter into my views. He said, * What can we do to declare to the world our interest in Sir James Brooke unless we take possession of his territory?' ' By the by,' he added (answering himself), * we could write a letter to the Sultan of Borneo saying how great a friend the Queen was to Sir James Brooke, and that she meant to protect him heartily.' This means little, but shows he appreci- ated and understood my application and statement" 1868.] COLONEL CAVANAGH's REPORT. 363 Tbe Eajali's friend continued liis negotiations, but as Colonel Cavanagh had been directed to proceed to Sarawak and report thereon, everything was in abeyance for the moment, and the result of the Governor's mission was impatiently expected. At length it reached England, and Mr Abel Smith continues :— " Feb, 24,1863.— Very shortly after my last to you, Colonel Cavanagh's long-expected report arrived, and Lord Eussell at once permitted me to read it It appears to me to do little credit to Colonel Cavanagh's powers of observation or discernment, and to be totally silent on the future to be expected from the country, if placed under the direc- tion of a power able to secure its internal and external security, and an impartial administration of law. All this is comparatively imimportant, inasmuch as I am able to inform you that Lord Eussell is satisfied with it to a cer- tain and (for you) sufficient extent, and considers it estab- lishes the fact that there is a regular government carried on in Sarawak in your name, acknowledged by a willing and obedient people — that the ordinary forms of govern- ment are observed — and that the administration of justice is careful and regular. He also admits that the state- ments made by me previously, imder your direction, as to the population, trade, and resources of the country, are sub- stantially borne out by Colonel Cavanagh's returns. ... I have the present satisfaction of informing you that Lord Eussell has authorised me to inform you that if your authority in Sarawak is undisputed, he is ready at once to propose to the Cabinet the recognition of Sarawak as an independent State under your rule and government." The disparaging remarks on Colonel Cavanagh's report may not perhaps be deserved, as the Colonel may have only followed instructions, perhaps a little too strictly. News having reached England that the Eajah had arrived in Singapore, and had, as I have previously stated, met 364 LIFE OP SIR JAMES BROOKE, [chap. xvn. Captain Brooke, who unreservedly submitted to his unde's authority, the correspondence continues as follows : — ''April 24, 1863.— I called on Lord Russell last Sunday. I delivered and saw him read your letter transmitted through me, and I also read out to him slowly and care- fully your letter to myself accompanying the despatch to Lord BusselL I informed him that you had proceeded to Sarawak from Singapore ; that your authority in Sara- wak bad never been for a moment questioned or disputed ; that I had conveyed to you his message, * that if all was quiet in Sarawak, you were prepared to propose the recogni- tion of the Eajah's territory as an independent State ; ' and that the time was now come for him to determine when and how he would proceed to carry his intentions, as expressed through me, into effect. Lord Russell remained silent and thoughtful for a minute or two, and then scdd, * What I promised to do was to send out a consul to Sarawak, and ask for an exequatur. That I am now ready to do, and I will at once make inquiries at the Foreign Office of the steps to be taken, and the require- ments for which I am bound to ask.' " I said, I conclude that what you say still implies a communication with the Cabinet, and a reference of the whole matter to the decision of that body ; to which he replied in the affirmative : and I asked at once if he wished me to see any members of the Cabinet before the question was brought forward; and I mentioned the names of Lord Granville and the Duke of ArgylL He interrupted me with the suggestion of the Duke of Somerset's name, who he thought was likely to take a strong interest in a question of this kind, both personally and officially; but he subsequently expressed a wish that I should see also the Duke of Argyll and Lord Granville. Lord Russell said he would give me ten days or a fortnight to prepare the members of the Cabinet for the discussion. 1868.] COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE CABINET. 365 " I told Lord Eussell that the more I heard of the state of matters in the China seas, and of the present and future probable progress of Sarawak, the more I felt disposed to believe that a closer connection with that * State ' than was implied in simple recognition was desir- able for England, and that it would naturally be more economical and more easily arranged now than if post- poned to a later period, and I pressed the prudence and propriety of his consulting others besides myself as to the best mode of dealing with the question. He was again silent for some time, and then broke out with, * I suppose Lord Palmerston will be favourable to Sir James Brooke.' I recalled to his recollection what had passed between Lord Palmerston and myself, and the strong message he had sent you, and told him that, as far as I was able to judge, simple recognition would fall short of Lord Palmerston's wishes. He made no reply to this, and the matter dropped." ''May 9, 1863.— The Duke of Argyll, I am sorry to say, has gone to Scotland ; he will not be here to give ns any help, which he is well disposed to do. . . . Lord Granville is very friendly. " Previous to his [Mr Fairbaim's] going abroad, he had at my request an interview with Lord de Grey, and he also was so kind as to write me a letter expressive of his feelings towards you, and of his opinion and recol- lection on one or two points on which I desired to have the support of his evidence. I think his letter so good a one — it breathes so strongly the spirit of a true and generous friendship, and I have found it so useful already both with Lord Russell and Lord Palmerston — that I have ventured to send you a copy of it, in the hopes that you will share the pleasure it has given me. '' Since I last wrote I have seen Lord Stanley and Lord de Grey. The former was most cordial and earnest in his 366 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE, [ohap. zm. expression of respect and confidence towards you, and in the unreserved declaration lie made that the time was come for the recognition of the independence of Sarawak, and that he was ready to support this opinion either in or out of Parliament Lord de Grey, as a new member of the Cabinet, was more guarded ; but he spoke of you most kindly and favourably. I am persuaded Lord de Grey will not oppose, I hope he may warmly support, the recognition of Sarawak, when proposed by Lord EusselL" ''May 19. — I had a long and detailed conversation with Lord BusseU at Pembroke Lodge. I recalled to him all that had occurred in reference to yourself, and did my very best to make him master of the situation in all respects. I am happy to add that he declared himself perfectly satisfied, and expressed his willingness to pro- pose the recognition of Sarawak to the Cabinet on the first practicable occasion, instructing me to send certain papers, and especially Mr Fairbaim's letter (which I read to him), to the Foreign OflSce, for future reference, and asking me to call on Lord Palmerston and give him such information as I could on the various points alluded to by me in my recent interviews with him (Lord R), and ascertain whether Lord Palmerston was willing that the question of recognition should at once be submitted to the Cabinet* In obedience to Lord Russell's suggestion, I saw Lord Palmerston at Cambridge House last Friday, and am happy to say that I found him as warmly prepos- sessed in your favour as ever. He authorised me to con- vey to Lord BusseU his hearty assent to recognition at once; and he repeated what he said in a former interview — viz., that it would be a pleasure to him to find himself able to do anything agreeable to you," " June 10, 1863. — I have had a long chat with Earl Grey this morning on Samwak matters, and found him 1868.] BECOGNITION GRANTED. 367 most kind and friendly. Lord Grey's disposition, in short, is entirely satisfactory." • **Aug, 17, 1863.— When I wrote to you on the 10th, I was much disappointed and disturbed at not having heard from Lord Eussell He had seriously promised me not to leave London without attempting to settle the question of recognition, and as he has never in his life deceived me, I was utterly perplexed at hearing of his departure from London without any commimication to me. " I was more than angry, and was meditating a strong remonstrance, when I luckily met Layard on Thursday last in the street, who came up to me and said, — * I sup- pose you know that the recognition of Sarawak was settled in the last Cabinet, and that the Government have agreed to appoint a consul as the most direct and least formal method of recognising it as an independent State. I told Lord Russell that I would tell you of it ; but I have had my mind full of other important things, and I forgot it. I hoped that you might have heard of it in the interval from Lord Eussell himself.' I told him that I had not heard from Lord Eussell, and after expressing my joy and thankfulness, agreed to call on him on Friday to go more into detail." " Sept. 9, 1863. — I have the satisfaction to inform you that recognition is at last a fait accompli. Since I last wrote to you, the Foreign Ofl&ce have applied to the Treas- ury to sanction the salary of a consul to Sarawak, and I have reason to believe that the terms of the letter convey- ing this application are most satisfactory and honourable to Sarawak, as the appointment of a consul there is justi- fied on the ground of public policy, and its advantage te the general interests of England. " This application to the Treasury is an invariable and necessary form, but after the consent of the Cabinet, only a form. The reply of the Treasury is not yet received, in 368 LIFE OP SIR JAMES BROOKE, [chap. xvii. consequence of all the higher officials being out of town. I urged Layard strongly, as this decisive step had been taken, not to delay longer the writing an official commu- nication to the Sajah of Sarawak of the intention of the English Government to ask his exeqtiatur for a consul ; but he replied, first, that it could not be done until the Treasury had sanctioned the salary; and secondly, that he felt it to be of the greatest importance for you that the Office should treat Sarawak exactly as they would any other independent power, and that the course always pursued was not to write until they had selected the con- sul, when your eoceqtuxiur will be asked for that particular person. He gave me, however, leave again, in precise terms, to let you know in confidence how matters stand, and he (Layard) has behaved with such friendly earnest- ness in your behalf, that I cannot doubt the sincerity of his motives." (Mr Layard's wjis the only official course that could be pursued.) " Oct 26, 1863. — I have seen Lord Russell since his return from Scotland. He was full of kindness about you and your concerns, and quite prepared to name a consul at once." Thus was Sarawak recognised in the fullest and most generous manner, and the hand that had inflicted the deepest wound on the Bajah by appointing the Commis- sion in 1853, now healed it, by according to him the most important sanction of his policy that it was possible for the Government to giva The statesmanlike view taken by Lord Eussell proved how fully alive he was to the importance of the north-west coast of Borneo. The accounts of the interviews with Lord Palmerston are very interesting, and show how frank and generous was his nature. Mr Bicketts was appointed consul, and went to Sarawak in May 1864, and his presence there was valuable as a 1864.] LIFE IN ENGLAND. 369 public recognition of the Eajah's Government by that of England. But as there was nothing for a consul to do in Kuching, it was not found necessary to keep up the ap- })ointment. He could only repeat in his reports what had been published fifty times over. At his departure an unpaid vice-consul was named, but even that has disap- peared—why, I cannot imagine, as there must be some one in Sarawak unconnected with the local Grovemment who could hold the appointment. During the whole of 1864 the Rajah's correspondence shows a return of health and strength ; in fact, he spent the summer in a round of visits — a fair proof of improved condition, — and in the autumn he went out partridge- shooting. The following brief extracts from letters to a friend show an altered tone from the gloom of previous corre- spondence : " Zlst August 1864. — I know your flight for Italy is not far off, and before you go I want to tell you of my innocent doings, and to hear yours. At Fairbaim's I caught fish and saw races, then to H. L., and from H. Lodge to KeppePs cottage at Basingstoke, a hijou after your wife's own heart and yours. A tiny green lawn, bounded to the east by the drawing-room windows, and on the west by the clear gushing stream of the Itchen; a pretty country, social neighbours and county magnates within reach. . . . From the cottage I moved to my cousin Charles Stuart's, close at hand, where we played at croquet till I was fit to drop. From Basingstoke I went to West Sytherley, where I had my regular exercise at croquet, and one day was devoted to an inspection of John Day's racing stable — well worth seeing. At last, on Saturday I returned to Burrator, and was pleased to find how fresh and green it was by comparison to other places. A fine sum- mer is very enjoyable, and I have found the open air, gentle exercise, and relaxation, good for my health and spirits." 2a 370 LIFE OP SIR JAMES BROOKE. [oHAP. XVIL " 2Sd October 1864.— For myself I get on well, and nothing shows it so much as hope restored to my mind I met with a clever remark in a novel called ' Julia Mala- testa/ by T. A. Trpllope : ' The surest mark of the in- tensity of suffering is the limitation of the sufferer's de- sires to absolute repose.' I have felt the truth of this, and have recently experienced new sensations of life and hope." The Rajah was, as I have noticed, exceedingly pleased with the recognition of Sarawak as an independent State imder his rule and government, but he soon began to wish that Lord Palmerston would add protection to it His news, however, from Sarawak were highly satisfeu^tory — telling of peace, commerce, and rising revenue ; and de- spising the petty annoyances to which he was subjected, he appeared fairly happy. The news of the progress of Sarawak, of the indirect revenue alone rising £4500 in one year, of the steam gun- boats being built, made all those who had separated &om the Bajah when things looked less prosperous regret the estrangement ; and I was not surprised to hear that one, of whom I had the worst opinion, was anxious for a re- conciliation, but that the E^gah should have listened to these hollow advances is rather remarkable. He gave me his reasons for this reconciliation, saying that as he who had injured him had retracted what he stated, and con- fessed himself wrong, "I let bygones be bygones." "As for f I have shaken hands with him, and I do desire peace and goodwill, and forgiveness and charity, but there is a limit to these things. We may pardon without weak- ness, and recollect without revenge, but he can never pos- sess my confidence again. When you write next, assure me, thou bad heathen, that thou dost not hold hatred^ malice, and uncharitableness to be cardinal virtues." I had to rest satisfied with these assurances ; and glad was 1865.] THE TUAN MUDA ADOPTED AS HEIR. 37l I to learn afterwards that the Bajah had not fallen under an influence which had been so pernicious in former days. A great change was now noticed in all transactions with the Dutch ofBicials. I have referred to their prompt and generous conduct in sending help to Sarawak at the time of the Chinese insurrection, and their friendly warnings concerning the conspiracy of the Datu Haji and Sirib Musahor, but naturally they were puzzled how to deal with a Government which was unacknowledged. One result of the sending of a British consul to Kuching was immediate. The Dutch of&cials met the Sarawak officials on equal terms, and quickly and amicably settled all border questions, and expressed not only a desire for frequent and friendly intercourse, but Mr Kater, their principal agent, spoke of their warm appreciation of the Bajah's labours. The American Government began now to turn their attention to Borneo, and a Mr Moses was sent to Brunei as consul ; but as he had no money, and was unsupported from home, his grand schemes came to nothing. He obtained from the Sultan a great cession of territory for certain sums to be paid annually; as this stipulation was not adhered to, everything fell througL But it showed that money could do anything in the capital In 1865 the Eajah wrote, " I have improved wonder- fully in health and spirits." Friends also brought about a formal reconciliation between the Rajah and his nephew. Captain Brooke, but it never went beyond. This, however, I am sure, was not altogether the Rajah's fault. On Sep- tember 15th he wrote to me : " The Tuan Muda " (Charles Johnson, now^ Brooke) "has unreservedly consented to become my heir, and I have left it with him to adopt his nephew Hope^ as his successor if he wishes to do * Younger brother of Captain Brooke. * Captain Brooke's only sniriying son. 372 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE, [chap. xrn. 80. I would not injure the poor boy's prospects if I can help it" In June 1866 I reached England, and during my ten months' stay at home I saw a great deal of the Sajah. He was now full of obtaining further concessions from the British Gk)vemment — either protection or a gradual transfer of the country ; and at one time I thought he had a good chance of success, as the present Lord Derby was favour- able, but it all fell through. The Rajah was in very fair health, and spent a good deal of the summer and autumn in visiting his friends. In September, however, he received what he thought was such bad news respecting the finances of Sarawak that it made him iU. He thought that certain transactions there would be looked upon as a breach of faith by some of his friendly financial supporters, and he would not be confuted. We did our best to point out to him that this financial imbroglio was nothing, simply arising from the stupidity of one officer and the carelessness of another in not pointing out to his nephew, Charles Brooke, that he was undertaking too many improvements at a time, and that a cessation of expenditure on these public works would soon set matters right The sale of the steamer Eainbow, however, in order to pay debts, was an error ; but by resolutely setting himself to work out the problem, the Rajah soon raised the necessary money, and ordered another steamer to be built, the Royalist, so named after his famous yacht In October I went down with the Rajah to stay with Mr Fairbaim at Brambridge House, and there he signed a document offering to hand over Sarawak to the English Government without any personal gain, but with the fullest guarantees for the rights of the natives and of the debts contracted, whose payment he was most anxious to effect during his lifetime ; but there was then the cold fit in England with regard to colonial extensions. I860.] SARAWAK OFFERED TO H.m/s GOVERNMENT. 373 The foUo^iDg is the Bajah's letter, addressed to the Right Hon. Lord Stanley, the present Earl of Derby : — " My Lord, — I have the honour to state to your lord- ship, for the information of her Majesty's Government, that I am willing to cede the State of Sarawak and all my rights therein to the British Crown, I would merely stipulate — " 1. That the religion, laws, and customs of the people be respected. "2. That the State debts, amounting to a sum not exceeding £75,000, be paid or guaranteed. Segarding the interests involved, I venture to urge upon your lordship the importance of an early consideration of this propo- sition. (Signed) J. Brooke." In November we went to Burrator. I never enjoyed a visit more. We were nearly two months almost alone, and we could talk over everything which interested him, and it was the last time that he had an opportunity of unfolding his views. He was uneasy about the future government of Sarawak. He had decided to make Charles Brooke his heir, but he felt uncertain about the result should lus brother Captain Brooke present himself in Sarawak and claim the succession. I myself thought there could be little doubt about the result, and that Captain Brooke would have been received by aU, as the natives in gen- eral could not understand why he had ceased to be heir to the Bajah.^ As between the Bajah and his nephew there could be no doubt, but between the two brothers there could be little question as to the result. The Kajah felt this, and did not know what steps to take. Many combinations were proposed ; but as they came to nothing, it is not worth while to refer to them. ^ Captain Brooke died in 1868, leaving one sairiying son, Hope Brooke. 374 LIFE OF SIB JAMES BROOKE, [chap. xyh. The Rajah used eveiy day to take walks and rides, and as his mind became more satisfied as to the financial future of Sarawak, he grew more cheerful We went oc- casionally, to the churchyard, and he pointed me out the spot where he intended to be buried. " At aU events," he said, '* I shall have rest there." He used to dwell on the future, and say that his successors, he was sure, would keep Burrator in remembrance of him ; and that he should like it devoted to the purpose of supplying the officers of the Sarawak Grovernment with a refuge where, during sickness, they might come to recruit in the bracing air of Dartmoor. Alas for the vanity of human wishes ! It was during this visit that I more especially noticed the Rajah's kindness to all his neighbours, and the re- spectful affection with which he was regarded. He would take me into the cottages, the farmhouses, the schooL He was everywhere at home. He seemed to remember each face, and no detail of their absent relatives was for- gotten by him. It was really touching to see the confidence shown him by the little children, who would approach him and quietly touch his hand. The Rajah interested himself greatly in all that con- cerned the parish, aided in restoring the old church, keep- ing up the school, and doing the duties of a country gentleman. Poor Rajah! In his anxiety about the finances he offered me £1000 a-year to go out to be treasurer in Sarawak ; but that I could not accept, and he felt that it would not be fair to press me to leave the Grovemment service for so uncertain a position. Curiously enough, I received a letter written about the same time by his nephew, Charles Brooke, asking me to come out and report for the Rajah's satisfaction on the condition of Sarawak. As Christmas approached I prepared to leave Burrator, as I had promised to dine at home that day. He accom- 1867.] AN ATTACK OF PARALYSIS. 375 panied me as far as Plymouth, where "we passed the even- ing with his friend Dr Beith, an old Dido man, and there he sat down to a game of whist and played till midnight. How cheerful he was, and how full of fan ! I left him on the 22d December. He returned to Burrator, and I went up to London. On the morning of the 24th December I received a telegram from Dr Beith saying that the Kajah had had another attack of paralysis. I decided to go back imme- diately, but went first to inform some of the Kajah's friends of what had happened, and after calling at the Foreign OflBce I had barely time to reach the Great Western station and catch the afternoon express. There I found two of his warm friends ready to go too, and we started on our melancholy journey. What a sad Christmas eve ! We flew along through the snow, arriving at Plymouth about midnight, and after a delay waiting for a carriage, started again to the moors. What a bleak night it was ! how the wind blew as we drove across Dartmoor, to find ourselves about 4 am. at Burrator ! I choked as I asked the question, " How is the Eajah ? " He was nearly speechless, but when I entered the room he recognised me. As soon as he was struck down by the attack, Dr Beith had been sent for. He came, and after a short time asked, " Shall I telegraph for St John ? " The Eajah shook his head and said, ''No; Christmas time." His thoughtful kindness so apparent even in his own great danger ! He had soon two of his Sarawak officers with him — ^his nephew Mr Stuart Johnson, and Arthur Crookshank, who was worth more than all in a sick-room. We agreed to divide the night into watches, and sit up each so many hours. Dr Beith, Dr Willis, and the clergyman of the parish and his wife (Mr and Mrs Daykin), were xmremitting in their kind attentions. 376 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE, [chap. xvil. The attack was a severe one, for although in a month he could get down into the drawing-room, make his will, look over and destroy papers, yet he never really re- covered sufficiently to use his hand. I made a temporary will for him, and he began, " I leave to my dear friend, Spenser St John ^* I looked up and said, " No, dear Bajah, don't let there be any money between us ; leave me your papers, as you promised." A shade of disappoint- ment appeared to pass over his face, and then he went on and clearly dictated the rest In February the Rajah was sufficiently well to be re- moved to the Baroness Burdett Coutts's house at Torquay, and I left him in good hands while I went up to London to prepare for my departure to the West Indies. I ran down to Torquay once more before leaving, and in the beginning of April 1867 I saw him, and as I bent over him I felt it was for the last time. As I neared the door he called me back, and I saw the tears falling, and then I could see how he also felt that it was our last adieu. Although more than ten years have since passed away, its remembrance affects me deeply. The Rajah somewhat recovered from this attack, but was never able to do any work again. He occasionally dictated a letter, but the exertion was a great tax on his little remaining strength. I was, however, carefully kept informed of all his movements. He returned to Burrator for the last time in May 1868 ; and in June, whilst cough- ing violently, he suffered from another paralytic stroke, and he never again recovered consciousness. Mr Crook- shank, who hurried down to the aid of his old chief, watched him during these last painful days, and was pres- ent when the spirit of that grand old man passed away. His funeral was considered quite private, though there were present Arthur Crookshank, Sir James's nephew Stuart Johnson, Mr Knox, Mr J. A. Smith, General 1868.] CONCLUDING KEMARKS. 377 Jacob, the Bajah's old friend and follower, Charles Grant, and many others who came to pay their last tribute of affection, besides, of course, all the warm-hearted parish- ioners. He lies buried in the spot he had himself chosen. His memory is and will be long cherished among his neigh- bours, for though they know not what great deeds he had done, yet his sympathetic kindness was felt by all who approached him. CONCLUDING EEMARKS. For many years I have had little intercourse with those residing in Sarawak, but I have heard enough to be well assured that the country is advancing in prosperity, though slowly. The best account that I have seen of the condi- tion of the interior is that given by a Mr Denison, for- merly an officer in the Sarawak service; and the impression which the reading of his account gives is, that the land Dyaks, about whom the old Sajah felt so much interest, are deteriorating. They appear to be now abandoned in favour of tribes farther from headquarters. No one, not even the Government, feels the old interest in them, and the abuses of the Malay rulers have been gradu- ally creeping back. They never, however, forget the old Bajah, and their noble-minded chief is ever a subject of profound respect and tender affection, on which they love to dwell. The missionaries appear to despair of making an impression on these poor savages, and, like the Gov- ernment, devote most of their energies to the sea Dyaks. I should have been glad to have been able to give a favourable account of their work among the energetic Dyaks of Seribas and Sakarang, but I have not the mate- rials.^ Indeed, last year I met accidentally a superior ^ Since the above was written, I have been infonned that the mission- aries amongst the sea Dyaks haye had considerable success — particularly 378 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BKOOKE. [chap. XVIL officer of the Sarawak Qovemment, and he spoke most despairingly of the work of the missionaries and their second bishop. But he allowed that as they extended education they freed the Dyaks from the influence of the Malays, and thus, politically, were an important element in the cause of progress. The discovery of cinnabar (quicksilver) added to the riches of the country ; but the principal profits appear to be absorbed by the Borneo Company, and little finds its way into the cofiers of the Grovemment. But the real progress of the country has been quite recent — ^in fact, since the present Eajah has turned his attention to agri- culture. Now I hear the Chinese are cleaving down the forests, and garnMer and pepper are beginning to be im- portant exports. It is a satisfaction, however, to know that, on the whole, the work of the old Eajah is being so well carried on ; that pecu^e and security reign both in the exterior and interior ; that piracy is a thing of the past ; and that Eng- lish influence is extending, however slowly. I should have been pleased to have been able to visit once more the scene of my early life, to make an extended comparison between the past and the present, and to be able to bring to the notice of one's countrymen the gallant work that is being quietly but surely carried out in Bor- neo, to fix the impression that the old Kajah did not live in vain, — ^that the seed he so wisely sowed is bearing wholesome fruit That it is so, I am well assured. with the Seribas, some of whom, both men and women, have taken to teaching Christianity amongst themselves. If Mr Gladstone haa been unable hitherto to discover any justification for the policy which found expression in the battle of Batang Marau, perhaps he may now have the candour to see it in this ; and other results I have mentioned have not been altogether uninfluenced by that action and policy. 379 APPENDIX. Fram the Consula/r Reports, IS77— presented to both Houses of Parlia- ment by commcmd of her Mcyesty. February 1878. BORNEO.— Sarawak. bepobt by consul-general ussser on the present condition of sarawak. Terbitory. Sarawak, or the territory now induded under that general appellation, has a coeist-line direct of about 220 miles in length, taking it fix)m Tanjong Datu, in latitude 2° 5', to Tanjong Kidurong, in 3° 10' north. Owing to its irreg^ular character, deep bays, and indentations, its actual extent may be calculated at 400 miles. The territorial area is supposed to comprise about 28,000 square miles, and extends a great distance into the interior, in easterly and north-easterly direction, probably as fo as the head waters of the Bejang river. Its capital and seat of government, with a population numbering 20,000, is called Euching, and is on the Scurawak river, about 16 miles from the sea. Population. It appears to be difficult to calculate the population of this large territory. Many tribes and races are found within its limits, Malays as well as Dyaks. The estimate arrived at by the Bajah's Gh)vemment is as follows : — 380 APPENDIX. Number. Malays, 60,000 Chinese, 7,000 Milanans, 80,000 Sea Dyaks of the Batang Lnpar and other riyers^ 90,000 LandDydcs, 85,000 Total, . . 222,000 The sea Dyaks once formed the famous piratical tribes who, in common vnth the Balagnini and Illanuns, once devastated the Archipelago. Since their reduction and subjugation by Sir James Brooke, they have proved to be amongst the stanchest and most loyal supporters of the Brooke dynasty, and are principally relied on as a local militia in case dT trouble and danger. It was these tribes, once so sternly dealt with, that a few short years afterwards flew to the assistance of the late Kajah, when he was surprised and forced to fly from Euching, the capital, by the Chinese rebels, whom these wild warriors pursued with relentless ardour xmtil the miser- able remnant of the mutineers was enabled to seek a refrige in Dutch territory. The Chinese in Sarawak are now an orderly and well-con- ducted community, and although many times more numerous than they were in those days, would never again dream of such a rash experiment as their outbreak of 1857. This con- spiracy was supposed to have been incited principally by exaggerated news of English disasters in China, and to have had extensive ramifications elsewhere. The Gk>veniment of Sarawak has since then instituted a heavy penalty against those taking part in a htiey or secret Chinese society, the members of which in Sarawak, as in Singapore and Penang, are generally the instigators of riotous and rebellious conduct on the part of the Chinese. The recognised leader and active chief of a secret huet/ is liable to capital punishment by the law of Sarawak. The Malays of Sarawak struck me as being a superior race to those of Brunei, although the latter set store by their purity of descent, and the former must be derived from the same stock. Many of the Sarawak Msday chiefs have pleas- ant fitces, and exhibit an intelligence that has probably been called into existence by the active part they are permitted to APPENDIX. 381 take in the goyemment of the country. The Malays are also traders, and engaged in industrial pursuits. The Dyaks appear to be steadily improving ; their country, once a terror to strangers, as the land of head '' hunters," is now orderly and safe for the most part ; and their chiefs, as will be seen eventually, take an active part in the manage- ment of their own local affairs, and are subsidised and recog- nised by the general Government. Government. The Government of Sarawak may be termed a mild despot- j^, its arrangements being in their general features and effect not' imlike the constitution of a Crown colony. The Rajah is of course the absolute h ead of the State, and he possesses the po wer analogous t o but superior to "that wfelded by a "colDtiial govern or in a Crown~coIb hy of spontaneous and independent acjionl Tins power is, however, rarely exercised, and for all practical purposes of local and general government, he is assisted by a legislative council composed of two Europeans and five native Malay chiefs. While the current business of the coxmtry is carried on by this body, a larger assembly is periodically held. This council is composed of the principal represejitatives, native as well as European, of the various districts, and in the ordinary course sits once in three years, except when specially summoned to discuss important and pressing business. It numbers between fifty and sixty members, nine -tenths of whom are natives. Any important change in the law or modification of native custom would be considered by the General Coxmcil, and rejected or confirmed as occasion might suggest. Doubtless also all matters of general importance to the State would be discussed by this body. The Executive Government is carried on by the Bajcdi and his European officers, assisted by natives, members of both cormcils, and would appear to partake of the nature of a privy counciL The government of the various districts and out-stations, forts, and rivers, is intrusted mostly to European officers, who are termed Eesidents ; these are generally assisted by subor- 382 APPENDIX. dinate or Assistant Besidents. There are also employed native or Eurasian and Chinese clerks, who act as writersi accountants, interpreters, &c., at each station. The number of the European staff is as follows : — Nnxobec Divisional Residents, 2 2d class „ 4 Assistant „ S Magistrates, 2 Commandant at EncMng, 1 Treasurer, 1 Medical officer, 1 Junior and subordinate officers in training for higher posts, 5 Total, . . 19 There are also the commander and officers of the Rajah's gunboat Aline. The native staff of paid chiefs and members of council con- sists of twenty-two in all, who are distributed as under : — Number. At Euching, 5 Ladong and Lundu, 3 BatangLupar, • 8 Rejang, 8 Hoka, 8 BintulUy 2 There are no fixed regulations as to promotioni and the salaries are of a modest description. Laws and Customs. The greater portion of the Sarawak law, especially as re- gards social matters, such as divorce, inheritance, marriage, &c, is, as might reasonably be expected, unwritten. It is administered principally with the assistance of native authori- ties properly versed in the traditions governing their social code, and handed down to them imder a patriarchal system, but altered from time to time by the Europeans and natives governing the country, to suil^ as well as may with safety be attempted, the increased scale of civilisation progressing steadily among the native inhabitants of Sarawak. The criminal law is framed and generally administered APPENDIX. 383 upon the basis of English law. Special enactments are in some cases made to meet the particular circumstances of the country and people, and considerable freedom is necessarily permitted to those administering it, avoiding for the present the technicahties of a regularly framed code ; and as a rule, the discretion thus extended to the administrators of the law does not appear to be abused. Moreover, most decisions of importance come xmder the notice of the Rajah, who himself administers justice in the Supreme Court of Kuching in patriarchal &shion, assisted and backed by Europesm and native assessors. The courts of first instance are three in number : one for criminal cases, presided over by the Resident of each district; one for social matters, as divorce, matrimonial disputes, &c., presided over by native judges (members of council) ; and a petty debt court, or Court of Requests. From the two first of these courts appeals lie to the Rajah in the Supreme Court in Euching, or, when the Supreme Court is held in the dis- tricts, to the Divisional Residents, who are also the presiding judges thereof This Supreme Court appears also to take initiatory cog- nisance of aQ serious criminal offences, such as murder, for- gery, arson, &c No sentence of death may be carried out without the con- firmation of the Rajah, to whom the evidence is submitted. Appeals from the Court of Requests lie to a lull bench of magistrates of not less than four in number. Besides these regular centres of jurisdiction, the distant tribes of Dyaks and others are permitted to elect their own chiefs of villages, or " long houses," who may settle petty cases, receive trifling fines, which are limited in amount and do other little acts of justice, for which they are held re- sponsible ; but any caae of importance must be referred to the established courts. The most important of the native customs, which is against our ideas of humanity and justice, the institution of slavery, has been reduced to the narrowest limits that can at present be safely reached. The Sarawak Government appears to act wisely under the circumstances in which it finds itself situated with regard to this custom. Unable summarily to 384 APPENDIX. abolish it, but prudently recognising its existence, instead of pretending to ignore it, the Government has grasped the nettle, and by gradually surrounding it and hedging it with prohibitory and doubtless obstructive regulations, is taking the best means to effect its eventual extirpation. The export and import of slaves is peremptorily forbidden under severe penalties, and is conscientiously checked. But lately the Bajah fined and drove out a Brunei chief of importance, who was convicted of an attempt at this serious offence. The first important feature of the slave regulations is this, that under ordinary circumstances any slave may work out his own freedom, by paying to his master a comparatively low amount, which any bondsman, I should think, could raise if he desired his liberty : £Q sterling seems to have been the sum originally fixed by the law, but I do not know if this is the limit ; and female slaves and children are less weighted. One good point resulting from the general tenor of the slavery laws is, that a man who has so worked out his freedom will in most cases highly value it, and prove a stecuiier and more beneficial member of society than one of a ruck of idle, dishonest, and ignorant savages, suddenly set free vnthout a proper appreciation of the value of liberty, with no sense of responsibility, and not possessing the power of utilising his precious possession. Without controverting the great principle of the right of freedom inherent in every man, the restdts of a sudden and total abolition are, as we have reason to know, generally disastrous for a long period. The regulations respecting immoralities between masters and female slaves are of the strictest description. Any woman slave with whom her master has had intercourse becomes ipso facto free. Special exemptions also are made with regard to the offspring of such connections, although in this respect, and as regards the children of bondsmen gen- erally, some improvement will, I trust, be effected as soon as prudently may be. No slave can be transferred vnthout the frill privity and consent thereto of the local court, before which the trans- action must take place and be duly registered. Certain classes of slaves become ipso facto free by lapse of time, or from neglect of the owner to claim them. APPENDIX. 385 A distinction is made between outdoor and indoor slaves, in flavour of the former ; these may be looked upon as partak- ing of the character of the serfs in feudal times, and would appear to be specially benefited by the rule as to lapse of time mentioned in the preceding paragraph. Maltreatment of slaves is severely punished, at times to the extent of manumission by the court having the power of liberating such maltreated slaves. To quote fix)m the works of an oflScer of the Sarawak Government : — " In Sarawak any sudden steps to abolish slavery could not have been carried out without giving offence to the native chiefs, on whose goodwill the Government, especially at the outset, had much to depend. However, the system relating to slavery that was then organised, and which has been steadily pursued, has been successful in leading to a decrease of the evil, especially in preventing masters from holding and wielding unjust and cruel power ; and the natives are finding out that slave labour is not equal to free labour, and the lat- ter is very perceptibly taking the place of the former." And again, I may cite the words of the present ruler of Sarawak, addressed to his Residents in an exhaustive circular on this subject in 1868, before his accession to the Raj : — " The Tuan Muda wishes to express his opinion that this is a very important question, which involves much that might raise the prejudices and antipathies of the chiefs and all those who possess slaves ; he thinks if the custom were discussed publicly, with a view to bringing about reforms to ameliorate slavery, that such a discussion would have a contrary effect, and cause masters to bring claims (in most cases just ones) against people who have been slaves, but who have been liv- ing comfortably, and to all intents and purposes indepen- dently, for many years past. '' Such reforms as are requisite the Tuan Muda thinks had better be quietly and gradually brought about in conjunction with the chiefs themselves, rather than permit the question to become a public one ; as in the majority of cases the master would be a gainer and the slave a loser, were the question so raised as to cause the meisters to put in their claim." 2B 386 APPENDIX. To summarise the general tendency of the Sarawak laws and regulations respecting slavery is to abolish the system gradually and efifectively without disturbance, to fieice a social evil, and by recognising it to reduce it within the narrowest limits, pending its total abolition. The^power of England has it always unquestionably with- in its means summarily to abolish such an evil within its de- pendencies ; nevertheless, the system of pawns and domestic slavery was allowed to exist for many years on the Gold Coast, under the flags of her forts. It is therefore not to be wondered at that Sarawak has to be cautious, depending as she so much does upon native goodwiU, and being without the reserve of strength and prestige of a strong power, before she attempts any wholesale legislation in direct contraven- tion of all 'present and past local feeling and custom ; and she acts wisely, in my opinion, in gradually inducing her subjects, by an appeal, or rather by frequent appeals, to their own interest and right feeling, of their own freewill to allow this ancient but indefensible custom to drop quietly out of her records. Much of the local legislation is marked by sound sense ; for instance, the treatment of imprisoned debtors appears to be right and sensible. Every debtor confined in prison can, if he likes, work for the Gk)vemment, receiving a fixed monthly wage for his labour. Half of these earnings may go to the creditor, the other half he retains for his persoiial use. In case of his leaving a wife and family on the hands of the public, the latter half is transferred towards their support This arrangement caimot take place without the joint consent of debtor and creditor. I believe that the Contagious Diseases Act, or one akin thereto, is in force in Euching. The laws regarding the habit of the Chinese in seeking intercourse with girls of immature age are also strictly en- forced. All native marriages, to be lawful, must be effected before a civil registrar. Questions of divorce, marriage, inheritance, &c,, are re- ferred to native courts competent to deal with such matters. Coroners are appointed in the principal centres. APPENDIX. 387 Capital crimes are tried by a mixed jury ; British or other ^European subjects guilty of heinous crimes are tried by a jury of Europeans, Her Britannic Majesty's Consul having the right to be present. In cases of Europeans seriously mal- treating or murdering a native, one-half, or at least one-third, of the jury is to consist of natives. The land regulations are useful, and present no peculieur features. The law of bankruptcy appears to have been in some measure assimilated to the English law. Military Force. The permanent military force of Sarawak consists of a well- driUed and effective body of men termed the "Sarawak Bangers." They number about 200, and are well made and of powerful physique, being mainly recruited from the Dyaks, whose beauty of fofto, xmited with their strength and activity, is rarely to be surpassed. They are neatly dressed in white tunics and trousers, with black braid ornaments, and are armed with the Snider carbine. The forts at the out-stations are massive wooden structures armed with a few smooth-bore guns of old pattern, and each fort is manned by about a dozen " fortmen," whose duty it is to garrison and defend the work. They are mostly occupied by the European officers of the districts, and are fourteen in number. They are quite efficient against native attack. Some of them are placed in sole charge of natives. The militia, which constitutes the real force of Sarawak in the hour of danger, is composed of aU the able-bodied men in the tribes of the Batang Lupar, Seribas, and other sea Dyaks — of the same tribes in fact, the subjugation of whom, by the late Sir James Brooke, and their transformation into defenders of their country, from their former occupation of bloodthirsty' pirates, was the subject of so much mistmderstanding in Eng- land, and the cause of much undeserved animadversion on a high-spirited and humane ruler. These people could turn out about 25,000 warriors, who are 388 APPENDIX. ready to assemble at the summons of the Grovemment, cuid devote themselves to its defence. They are in various ways specially favoured, in considera- tion of their services, such as receiving whole or in some cases partial exemption from the capitation tax. The naval force of Sarawak comprises the gunboat Aline, a fine vessel ; a screw steamer of about 250 tons burden ; and two heavy river steam-launches, the Ghita and the Firefly. Public Works. Besides the forts, the most striking buildings are the " Astana," or residence of the Rajah at Kuching, a handsome and well-ordered dwelling, replete with every comfort, and surrounded with tastefully-laid-out grounds. The court-house, a solid and handsome building in plain style, is also at Euching, as well as a fort, barracks, and a prison. Of these the fort is being rebuilt and enlarged, and the prison is undergoing alterations and improvements. Several new roads, of good construction, are being cut through the forest in different directions from Kuching ; one of these will open up a communication vnth the province of Upper Sarawak. The principal means of commimication, however, lie in the numerous rivers and streams intersecting the country. Shipping. Besides the gunboats already mentioned, there are two trading steamers belonging to the port of Kuching — the Rajah Brooke and the Royalist — of 254 and 151 tons bur- den respectively. The remaining tonnage of Sarawak, which is principally native owned, is composed of schooners and small coasting craft, 130 of which belong to Kuching ; the others belong to other ports, and are apparently not registered at the seat of Government. They belong to people at Muka, Bintulu, Sibu, and other places* APPENDIX. 389 Exports and Imports. The chief native products of Sarawak are as follows : — Baw sago, sago-flour, pearl sago, antimony (sulphide, regu- lus, and oxide), quicksilver, gold, coal, timber, gutta-percha, india-rubber, cocoa-nuts, rice, dammar ^ diamonds, canes, and dye-woods. The imports consist mostly of opium, salt, tobacco, doth, crockery and brass ware. On comparing the returns attached to this report, some of the exports for 1876, especially for jimgle produce, are con- siderably in diminution of those of 1871. This is especially noticeable in the articles under the head of foreign exports, of gutta-percha, india-rubber, birds' nests, and antimony. These jungle products are getting gradually worked out in the neighbourhood of the province of Sarawak Proper ; and the natives are now turning their attention, owing to the special encouragement of the Eajah, to agricultural industry. Pep- per and gambter are now being largely cultivated, and the results are not yet suflSciently large to show the improvement expected, but which a few years will probably develop. The natives will then, while not neglecting the various sources of wealth lying easy to their hands, not have to rely solely on them for their prosperity, but on the more stable and solid fruits of their own industry. But the corresponding statements of 1871 and 1876 never- theless point to a steady improvement in trade, and the territory can show exports during the past year, foreign and coastwise, amoimting to more than £250,000 sterling — the imports being but little under that amoimt. Kevenue and Expenditure. I have not been furnished with any returns of the expendi- ture of Sarawak, and it is possible that the Gt>vemment may not have been in a position to supply accurate information under this head, owing to a radical change which has lately taken place in the method of keeping accounts of the Eaj. 390 APPENDIX. The revenne amounted in 1871 to 157,501 doL, and in 1876 to 183,182 doL, showing a decided although not lar;^ increase during the five years. It is principally derived from &rms, such as opium, arrack, pawnbroMng, &c. (Gambling &rms are still permitted. An important item is furnished by the royalties on minerals, antimony bringing in the largest ^lare. The exemption tax is of 2 doL per man, paid by the Malays ; those serving in the militia are free. The Dyak tax is a capitation tax of 3 doL per family ; those liable to military service are exempted in part. Bachelors pay half the tax. It is probable tiiat this tax can be bat partially collected. The remaining revenue is made up from customs duties, both export and import, the former being a small impost on raw jungle produce. Manufactured produce is not weighted- A portion of the revenue is also derived from land and town- ship lots. PuBUO Debt. In the absence of specific information on this point, I c^n only state that I believe the public debt to consist of a considerable sum of money, which was advanced from his private fortune by the late Eajah, Sir James Brooke, and which now forms a mortgage or first charge upon the public assets of Sarawak. Ecclesiastical. There is but one mission in Sarawak, the English Protes- tant Mission, sent out by the Society for the Propagation of the GospeL It is presided over by the Eight Keverend Dr Chambers, who is Bishop of Labuan, Sarawak, tod Singapore. It numbers about six members, scattered over the territory. Its efforts do not appear to have been attended with marked success, the number of converts being stated as but few. Each mission-station has a school attached to it. APPENDIX. 391 Educationau The Sarawak Qovemment has three Government schools at present — two in Euching and one in Upper Sarawak. I liave no statistics concerning them. General Geogbaphical and Physical Features. Sarawak may be described for the most part as an exten- sive and dense forest, intersected in every direction by rivers and streams, and traversed in some parts by lofty mountain- ranges. These streams form natural waterways, and in great part take the place of roads, and thus they afford access to the most distant tribes, who would otherwise be unap- proachable. Some of these rivers are poweiful and rapid, such as the Bejang river. The timber of Sarawak, especially in the south, is bound- less in quantity: valuable woods of many descriptions abound, and are generally used in native house-building, and for other purposes. Gk>od shingles are made in Sarawak from an al- most indestructible wood named biltan, and brick-making is carried on to some extent in the neighbourhood of Euching. Sarawak is rich in minerals. In common with many other parts of Borneo, it possesses valuable coal-mines. In one portion of the territory an expert sent out from England calculated that a supply existed in one spot of more than 4,000,000 of tons, not difficult of access. A small mine is now worked at a trifling cost by the Grovemment in the Sadong district, and sufficient is obtained from it to supply the three Grovemment steamers, and to leave a surplus, the sale of which about recoups the Government its working expenditure. Quicksilver has been worked in various places, and un- doubtedly considerable qusoitities yet exist. Antimony has been foimd and 'worked by the Borneo Company in large amounts, and at great profit. Gk>ld exists in small quantities, and is principally washed by Chinese ; it would probably not repay European labour. The same may be said of diamonds ; they are not numerous, but I have seen some good specimens. 392 iLPPENDIX. Copper, manganese, and plumbago have aLso been dis- covered in Sarawak, but not yet in sufficient quantity to warrant their being worked. The aspect of the country, especially in the south, is beautiM. The landscape in the neighbourhood of the Ma- tang and Santubong ranges, in the vicinity of Euching, are particularly striking and romantic The flora is numerous and interesting, and magnificent orchids abound. The fauna of Sarawak is varied and extensive, and has been worked from time to time ; but there is doubtless much to be done yet. In common with the rest of the forests of the island of Borneo, it is the chosen home of the rmasj or orang-outang, of which two species exist. The climate is wet, 182 inches of rain having fallen in 1876. It, nevertheless, appears to be fidrly healthy for Europeans, who all seemed to be in good health and spirits during my stay there. The average temperature is rather higher than that of Labuan, and may be stated at about 85° Fahrenheit. In the mountains a sensible diminution is perceptible. General Remarks. The position and prospects of Sarawak caimot fail to be of considerable interest to Englishmen. It is not too much to say that Sarawak presents one of the few remaining chances of existence to the enervated and indolent race of Malays. Under such a Government, which appears to strive to im- press them with a sense of their duty to the State, as well as with a feeling of self-respect, by inducing and encouraging them to take an active part in the administration of public affairs, the Malays of Sarawak ought to prosper ; and they have, moreover, continually before their eyes the example of the misgovemment and anarchy existing in the wretched king- dom of Borneo Proper, which is apparently hastening to ruin and decay. The comparison between Brunei and Sarawak cannot but be gratifying to the inhabitants of the latter ; and if any spark of pride and energy yet lingers in the breasts of this once powerful people of Bnmei, the reflection upon their misgovemment and apathy, plainly forced upon them APPENDIX. 393 by the aspect of the prosperity of Sarawak, when compared with the decadence of Brunei, should stimulate the latter to some attempt at reviving their ancient prestige. But I fear that nothing will now arrest the general decay and ruin sen- sibly attendant on. the Malay races of the Peninsula and Archipelago. To their inherent vices of sensuality, rapacity, and indolence, the youth of Brunei, and doubtless of other Malay countries, are superadding the deadening effects of opiimi ; and the action of this drug, injurious as it probably is to the active-minded and industrious Chinese, must in time prove positively fatal to the enfeebled and nerveless constitu- tions of the modem Malays. The policy of the Sarawak Government appears to me to be just and equitable toward the native Dyak and other races. It may fairly be assumed to be so, if we take as a test the feet that extensive tribes of savages have been trans- muted from lawless head-hunters and pirates into compara- tively peaceful agriculturists. The crime of head-hunting is now scarcely known in Sarawak. Indeed, I regret to state that it appears to be more common in the territories of his Highness the Sultan than elsewhere ; and so bold did I find these gentry on my arrival in Labuan, that two cases were absolutely before me of head-taking within the British colony of Labuan itself, where a panic on that account had existed for some time. The same remarks apply to the crime of pi- racy, a pet offence with the old marauders, and a venial one in their eyes. What little piracy exists on the western coasts of Borneo is not to be foimd within the dominions or seaboard of Sarawak. It is rather to be looked for in the territories on the north-west coasts of Brunei, again partially within the nominal jurisdiction of the Sultan, and to a greater extent on the north-east coast. There are doubtless to be found in the rule of Sarawak many defects, some of which might be at once amended — others, again, that time only can efface. In criticising se- verely any special legislation or custom at present obtain- ing within the coimtry, it would be necessary that all the attendant circumstances should be thoroughly elucidated and considered, before arriving at a sweeping and condemnatory judgment upon matters which, to the eyes of the most civil- 394 APPENDIX, ised colonists in the world, appear anomalous or even wrong. Sarawak is yet not forty years old, and has time before her to amend and improve any defects of government. As long as the main objects constituting the wel&u^ of the community be kept in view, and the people are generally contented and happy, the objections to which I have referred can practicallj have but small weight in the baltmce. One of the principal recommendations attaching in the eyes of the native to Europeam rule in Sarawak is the honesty of its administration, especially in pecuniary matters. The ob- ject of the Malay nobles in olden times, and indeed now in the territories of Brunei, was to squeeze as much as might be from the wretched aborigines ; the principal aim of the Euro- pean appears to them to be, to solve the problem of how to carry on an effective Gt>vemment at the lightest possible cost to its subjects. This difficulty has met with a creditable solu- tion in Sarawak : a taxation of about ^0,000 per annum, dis- tributed amongst a population of 200,000 souls, and giving a statistical average of &om 5s. to 6s. sterling per head, can scarcely be called oppressive. (In calculating this average, I strike out about 50,000 frontier natives, who probably escape paying taxes at alL) Another recommendation in the eyes of the native is the possibility of obtaining even-handed, if rough, justice. It is not necessary, as they see and admit with satis- faction, that litigants should enter into a pecuniary competi- tion with their opponents to purchase the flavour and counte- nance of their judges. Education and progress will sfitfely and surely eradicate many of the evils remaining in the State, which may be viewed as legacies, fortunately diminishing, of a barbarous regime long since extinct. In the meantime, natives, Moham- medan as well as pagan, will be best managed and improved by showing a proper degree of respect for their usages and customs, especially by a complete tolerance of their forms of worship ; and the only real blot in Sarawak, that of slavery (although existing in a modified form), may be trusted to die out with the gradual extension of European rule, and the in- creased intelligence of the coming generation. The occasions requiring the employment of armed force are becoming rare, and disturbances are strictly locaL APPENDIX. 395 The real power of Sai-awak is based upon the remembrance o^ and gratitude due to, the late Bajah, Sir James Brooke, as well as upon the firm administration and even-handed justice of the present Government. No one visiting Sarawak can fail to observe the respect and affection in which the present Rajah and his femily are held by the entire community. The fact is as noticeable among Europeans as among the natives ; and I may observe that the moderately paid but fairly efficient European staff is socially on a par with the officials of the generality of our colonies. The mode of life amongst the European body is quiet and unostentatious ; but of hospitality there is abimdance, and no visitor leaves Sarawak without pleasant reminiscences of his stay. A further noteworthy feature is to be found in the results obtained with so little money. The civil list of the Bajah is, I know, modest in all respects ; and it is not every Government that, on a yearly revenue of £40,000 sterling, would be enabled effectively to rule 25,000 square miles of territory, with a population of over 200,000 souls, to keep up a respectable standing military force, to garrison and maintain fourteen forts, to pay a competent staff of European officers and native authorities, to maintain three gunboats, to protect commerce and agriculture, and generally to guarantee safety to life and property within its limits. Sarawak is on good terms with its Dutch neighbours, who have lately by vigorous measures repressed and put an end to the disturbances caused by their frontier Dyaks of Eapuas. In conclusion, I may observe, that although de facto, and, as he contends, I believe, de jure absolute ruler of Sarawak, the Bajah clings to his English nationality; and '^British interests," to use his own words, " are paramount " within his dominions. In spite of the anomaly of the position, this fer- tile country should only be looked upon as an item of the great colonial empire of Great Britain, and, I trust, as virtually under her shield and protection. I append a list of printed instructions for young officers from the Bajah. They appear to be wise and practical, and offer an indica- tion of the spirit in which the Government of Sarawak is carried on. 396 APPENDIX. Hints to Young Out-station Officers from the Rajah. An ofiBcer, to be efiScient, must have regularitj in his habits ; and to possess this, he shonld tie himself down to do things at stated times and intervals. He should never give an order for anything to be done except he sees that his order is pro- perly carried into effect. No out-station in the country is so extensive that it cannot be guided and governed by one man who possesses an active mind combined with discipline or regularity. Such an one can not only superintend all things pertaining to public interest, but devote a certain amount of time to social and friendly intercourse with those he has to govern, and this is necessary in order to obtain some know- ledge of the character of the people. He can do all this, and yet find plenty of spare time for leisure or study, and would enjoy the latter the more by keeping his mind in a state of discipline. Such occupations also tend to preserve health. Fortmen, — Men entered to take service should be free men, and not slaves or debtors — and, so far as can be ascertained, bear an honest character. The recruits should go through some kind of drill, even to make them hold themselves up- right and march up and down when on duty. To keep them- selves clean is something towards making soldiers of them. They must be made to obey with alacrity, and be usefril. If other good men are over and with them, it will not be long before they show whether they are good for anything. Be- sides their watches, they should turn out at seven o'clock every morning and do at least one hour's work in clearing or cutting grass, or in other ways making the grounds tidy. Arms. — Besides a regular inspection once a-week, an oflS- cer, if he has an eye practised to see things in order, could never walk through or enter his fort without observing if anything was out of place : a trial of a lock or two, and a feel with the finger in the muzzle to see if rust exists, will show him the state of the arms. An officer who has not been brought up to manage arms can soon put himself in the way of becoming accustomed to them, by trying a few experiments. Seeing how others use them will teach him something. Seek- ing information and facing difficulties till they are nmstered. APPENDIX, 397 is the only road to eflSciency in every profession. Everything to the smallest item should be in eye of an ofiBcer. Arms, nnmber and kind — ^ammunition — cartridges, big and small — shot, sheU, caps, wads, rammers and sponges, priming wires and horns, vent lists, &c. ; how stowed ; how to be got at quickly ; safe from fire ; properly arranged. There should be a regular inspection of all these things once a-week, the officer examining for himself, and not trusting to the reports of others. Some difficulties may arise at times in obtaining supplies from Euching : there would, however, be no difficulty in mak- ing good the deficiencies, if there were a stock of fine and coarse grained powder, a bullet-mould, and some lead. Native fortmen can make as good small-arm cartridges as those sup- plied from Euching. The charges for big guns can be put into blachu bags, made the size of the bore of the gun. Wads can be twisted into grummets, the size of the different bores, of rattan, or akar, as good as rope. Torches can be made of the sheath of cocoa-nut blossom, or old manilla rope, well-dried cocoa-nut husk, or many barks of trees. The length of any dispcurt is one-sixth the difference between the circum- ference of the base and centre rings— on the latter the dispart is placed ; a temporary one of wood, or wax tied or stuck on, will prove as true as the best. One-fifth, or even the sixth, of the weight of the shot is used as the weight of an ordinary charge ; with light brass guns even less will be found sufficient in firing round-shot. Swivels and light guns are apt to kick dangerously when overcharged. In loading big guns, the captain of the gun should always stop the vent — and the man who sponges should do it by turning it round quickly three or four times, well forced into the base of the gun. In ramming home the charge, the loader should only leave his arms and never his body exposed before the muzzle of the gun, and, after striking it sharply twice, should spring back, while the captain pricks the charge with the priming-wire to find out whether it is home : if so, the shot is then forced in with a wad on it, to keep it from rolling from its place. The wad should fit tight, as, if the shot gets misplaced, it is apt to burst the gun. In march- ing or walking with natives who are carrying loaded muskets, 398 APPENDIX, it is very difficult to make them nnderstand that it is neces- sary to keep their arms at half cock. An officer had better see that they do this, or keep out of the way himself, as there is almost as much danger in letting the hammer rest on the nipple with a cap as carrying it on fnll cock. On Cleanliness, — It is a mistaken idea that natives who are fortmen cannot be tanght to keep a place clean and tidy. After the necessity of this is pointed out to them for a short time, they will see to doing it as well as any Europeans, who also require to be taught at first in a similar way. It cannot be too carefully attended to, as it looks well to visitors, and is a good example to the whole country. An officer has little pride who allows any untidiness, however mean his habitation may be. Morning and afternoon sweeping of every part is necessary. A brushing away of cobwebs, and the floor kept clear of oil-spots and other dirt On Watching, — The men who watch should be kept from sitting down : if they are once allowed to do this ^ey be- come slovenly, will soon lie down, and sleep will be the result. The best and surest test o£ a good watch is to hear the steps of a sentry as he mardies day or night. K these are silent, ten to one if he is not asleep, or at any rate not watching. Fortmen, especially new ones, are very liable to be insolent in their bearing to the inhabitants of the country, and sometunes hail boats to stop them for amusement or for private purposes — such as to buy fish, sirihy or fruit. Such anomalies must be prevented, or the fort gets a bad name, and is looked upon more as a hindrance than a benefit. The people will hold themselves aloof, through fear of being in- sulted, and the use of such a building as a centre point, where all parties can bring their complaints and seek pro- tection, is lost. The fort, or officer of the fort, must make the rules obeyed, and in doing so he may often, or sometimes, have to resort to severe meeisures, such as firing on a passing and suspicious -looking boat, or apprehending troublesome characters — but this is only in accordemce with his duty, and can be understood as such by all parties. It will only tend to make him respected, and not in any way bring about dis- content or a bad name. Four muskets, or rifles, should always be kept ready loaded APPENDIX. 399 and capped — and discharged once a-week. More than four, only when the country is in a disturbed state. Cash and Revenue, — Any transaction which has to do with money must necessarily be of importance, more especially when the money is not the individual's own property. One of the most important branches of duty connected with an out-station is that proper supervision be kept on the Revenue and Treasury departments, and if these are not properly attended to, an officer is fsur from having his charge in an efficient state. If one part be &ulty, however trivial, it more or less affects the whole. Out-station cash and revenue business is of so simple a character, that any one who has no knowledge of methodical book-keeping and double entries can keep all straight and clear if he pays proper attention to it. There never can be any excuse for extravagance nor for- getfulness in monetary concerns : twenty minutes a-day of supervision, or two hours a-week, or eight hours a-month, would prevent mistakes arising. The above times given could enable one to examine everything, to see wages and bills paid, and, if necessary, to copy out accounts or cash statements. However much an officer may be called away on other services, he can always spsure eight hours a-month in attending to so important a duty, and no officer is fit to hold any post of importance tmless he does so. General Bemarks, — Proper deference should always be shown to the chiefs, of whatever class they may be ; and in any case of difficulty, more especially when an officer feels he has not sufficient experience to decide with safety, and even oftentimes in trivial affairs, it is as well to ask the advice and opinion of the head-men. It satisfies them and strengthens you, and a great object is to throw as much re- sponsibility on the shoulders of the native chiefs as possible. You are not obliged in all cases to follow their advice, but the fact of asking it is a compliment to them, and gives them an interest in what is being done by the Government. There is no doubt, when uninfluenced by prejudice and relationship, the decisions of natives are very sound and sensible. Euro- peans too often give them credit for knowing too little : this is a mistake ; and a man should never be above taking advice, 400 APPENDIX. however old he may be — and when in a strange country it is trebly necessary and useiiiL In everyday concerns — jungle- walking, marks denoting danger from traps and ani- mals, management of boats in river or on coast, judging the state of weather, and in many other '^ays — the knowledge of natives must necessarily be superior to a European. There are certain personal dangers to be avoided by those who have to occupy positions of trust when young, who are thrown much on their own resources, and bold authority over others without the check of senior officers and public opinion always immediately over them. The danger is, in allowing any relapse of right principle or sense of duty, which an English gentleman is supposed to have instilled into him from childhood. Also, the avoidance of becoming overbearing and despotic when left so much with subservient natives. This topic might be much enlarged npon, but any one can think it out best for himself, and will come to the conclusion that the manner of life in this country should not be different fit)m what it would be in England. Manner with Natives, — The best manner in the long-run with natives is to be thoroughly natiuul, and in no way patronising. A mixture of kindness and freedom, with severity when required, without harshness or bullying. Jok- ing to be limited to the comprehensions of the people ; if they cannot understand a joke, they are liable to misinterpret and gather wrong impressions. Never put natives on a familiar footing. They hold their position in society, and you yours. They are not inferior, but they are different. Always be guarded against giving way to sentimental likings for particular natives in calling them by familiar terms, and admitting them into intimate friend- or relation- ship. They cannot imderstand or appreciate this behaviour, and in the end will dislike it It injures and often ruins them, as a petted horse is spoiled, kn officer who tries such an experiment with the best intention, and in the hope that it will raise the tone of the native, labours under a mistake, and will lose influence by such 8W5ts of misplaced kindness. An officer on duty, as one is in an out-station, is not as a private individual who can do as he likes. He should recol- lect that he is in harness, and that to hold himself steadily at APPENDIX. 401 the collar determines not only his future, but the fiiture of the commnnity among whom he lives* Nothing artificial or extraneous in the shape of gilt or tinsel will help to gain the confidence of the natives. They are too matter-of-fact, and only admire and respect strength in its entirety. An officer working for the general good in his profession, with a healthy tone of mind and body, doing his duties with earnestness, strength of purpose, and tact, is marked, and leaves an impression on the multitude. A reaUty is one thing, a shadow another — and by the sum total of his many acts the result is shown to be sound or otherwise. 2C 402 APPENDIX. COMPARATIVE REVENUE RETURNS. 1871 • 1876 . DoL c. DoL c Farms- Opium .... 42,800 00 46,300 00 Gambling 12,402 50 13,338 00 Anack • 7,601 60 5,703 72 Pawn 452 00 860 00 Antimony royalty , 16,064 10 8,888 88 Quicksilver „ 4,444 44 4,444 44 Exemption tax . 19,500 00 19,343 70 Dyak revenue 11,650 00 21,338 23 Import duties — Tobacco tax 4,320 00 6,033 00 Salt „ 2,850 00 5,402 00 Excise „ 536 00 • ■ • Matches y, 54 00 522 00 Spirits „ • • • 441 OO Jars, steely &c . • • • 1,538 00 Guns • • • 226 00 Export duties — Sago tax . 135 00 5,200 00 Gutta-percha . 2,950 00 Camphor . 300 00 Bilian 1,898 00 Bee's-wax 130 00 Birds' nests 120 00 Rattan 1,990 00 Giillga 17 00 Miscellaneous . 34,702 00 36,199 00 Total < 157,601 54 183,182 97 APPENDIX. 403 TRADE RETURNS FOR 1871-76. Imports — Foreign. Articles. 1871. 1876. Dol. DoL Trearore .... 113,337 94,985 Gutta-percha » 1 7,260 722 Rice 1 1 t 89,699 129,601 Gold . 1 i 2,369 1,527 Cloth . » 4 212,359 250,165 Brass-ware . » 23,260 18,108 Fish . » 1 8,335 14,466 Opium . » 4 15,358 34,820 Tobacco ■ * 52,928 52,467 Tea • 1 '' 2,517 3,101 Wines . » 4 10,531 7,874 Sugar . » 4 12,305 11,491 Jars 1 4 15,571 8,417 Iron-ware > 4 20,263 32,802 Crockery-ware » 4 18,318 7,236 Cocoa-nuts . 1 4 19,868 14,978 „ oil . » « 20,901 25,813 Salt . > 4 1 1,125 10,612 Gunnies B < 6,200 8,621 J Paddy . » 4 280 1,715 Beche de mer 200 3,110 Raw sago ' . « 4 673 3,033 Birds' nests . ■ 4 240 580 Sundries ■ 4 116,481 108,884 Total » P 4 » 780,368 845,128 404 APPENDIX. TRADE RETURNS FOR 1871-76— Obn