The Sun.
London, England, 1859-09-13 00:00:00

THE RECENT MASSACRES IN BORNEO

A writer in a contemporary says :—Sir,—Al
though the importance of Sarawak and the north
west coast of Borneo to British interests in the
China Seas may not be acknowledged by the Go-
vernment of this country, and it may be deter-
mined to decline the cession of the province from
Rajah Brooke, yet it must be admitted that British
subjects there resident are entitled to that protec-
tion which is extended by their Government to
their fellow countrymen in all other parts of the
world. if his protection is the mainstay of British
enterprise, and however necessary it may be to
place a limit to its extension in semi-civilised or
barbarous lands, yet where the residents have be-
come such either with the tacit consent, or at the
direct instance of, the Crown, their protection
ceases to be a privilege, and becomes a right. Now
Sarawak, as a separate State, has been most dis-
tinctly recognised by this country, and its import-
ance has been so far publicly acknowledged as to in-
duce many Englishmen to become resident in it.
Moreover, a bishop has been appointed nominally
to the see of Labuan, 'which is a pestilential fever
stricken rock unfit for habitation by Europeans,
and of very doubtful value as a naval station, but
practically upon the express understanding that he
should reside at Sarawak, and superintend the
missions of the Church of England in Borneo. In
this manner, in the interests of religion and com-
merce, and in addition to the governing class of
Englishmen who are headed by the Rajah, a com-
munity has been formed than which none. is more
worthy of the protectinn of the country.
It is, then, a cause for the deepest anxiety that we
are told that that community is threatened with
massacre; and that, notwithstanding the large
force now operating in China, even the shadow of
British protection is withheld from it.
To prove that the fear expressed is not imagi-
nary, I add an extract from a letter received by the
last mail from Sarawak. My correspondent, who
is not a person of cowardly or even nervous tern,
perament, writes :
" There are sad doings going on here among our
neighbours the Dutch. The Malays at Banger-
massim have risen, and are cutting the white men's
throats right and left. About 20 Dutch officers
and their families have been murdered ; also our
poor friend Mottley, his wife, and three children,
and four of the German missionaries, with their
wives and families, among the Dyaks, have also
met the same fate. The Resident at Sautong, too,
M. Goffroon, who helped us in the China outbreak,
and with whom C. J-- has been frequently in
communication from Sakarran, has been murdered.
These things are very awful, and come near to us.
J-- and the others, though they are very confi-
dent that our people will not act so, whatever hap-
pens, are, I think, somewhat nervous, as is natural.
It is very true that the Dutch have been harsh and
grinding to the natives, but I fear that there is a
growing spirit of hatred to the white man and
Christians in general."
The writer then goes on to lament that no naval
protection is afforded them. It is not, however,
asked that a British squadron should defend the
Government of Rajah Brooke in Sarawak. That
Government is founded on the will, as well as the
best interests of the people, and if they desire a
change it will cease ; but it is asked that the mas-
sacre of Englishmen should not be passed over un-
noticed, and that a threatened calamity should be
averted, if it can be so, as is not doubted, by the
occasional visit of a cruiser. I make this represen-
tation to you, sir, as a further appeal to the Go-
vernment to afford that protection to our fellow-
countrymen which the facts above related demand,
and that promptly. The subject may be passed
over with a sneer, and some trite maxim of political
economy, but if an impending outrage is invited
by the apathy of our rulers, when the blow has
fallen a storm of indignation may arise at home
to which even a strong Government may not be
wholly indifferent.

TEA AND SILK.—The principal excitement
throughout yesterday was in the tea and silk markets.
Most of the importers of tea have withdrawn their supplies,
and the business transacted, which has been considerable,
was mainly in second-hand parcels. On common congou
a rise of id. per lb. has been established, above 1,000 chests
having been sold at ls. 4d., and on blackish sorts an ad-
vance of ld, per lb. ha been paid. In silk nothing has
been done, holders refusing to sell at former prices, and the
dealers generally being unwilling to operate before the re-
ceipt of the letters which are expected on Wednesday. At
the opening of the market about three weeks ago the price
of China silk was higher than had been known for a long
series of years, with the exception of a short period just
before the panic. of 1857, but there has subsequently been a
reaction of about ls. 3d. per lb,
A prospectus has been issued of a limited liability
company, with a capita/ of £20,000 in £lO shares, to carry
on the Polyteclnic Institution. It is calculated from past
exk.erienoe that dividends at the rate of 6 per cent. may be
expected, and shareholders are likewise to have certain
privileges of admissin,
It appears that only six vessels were wrecked in
the Hooghly in the cyclone on the 26th of July.