Polynesian. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu], Hawaii) 1844-1864, 1851-03-08
,NO. 49,.


those countless voices of applause which
hear in all circles of society. Ii admire
Sir James Brooke, | am one of numberless
convinced-Of my present readers.
Armed with the authority of the British
government, Mr. Brooke again left England
not now in private yacht, but in British
irigate, and reaching Singapore, was over
. taken by an .a.onor which no generous mind
begrudged him. Mr.. Brooke became Sir
James-he returned to his infant territory f
Sarawak. As he sailed up the river he as
received by his dark-skinued subjects with
shouts of real applause-an echo of those
English acclamatIons which still, doubtless
sounded in the mental ear of the Ralah.
Every gun on both banks of the river was
fired, flags were waved, the people thronged
on the shores, the chiefs came in their canoes
| to meet their white ruler, and no indie alton
was wanting 10 prove that Sir James Brooke
had naGe ior himself a monument in the
hearts oi his native subjects. The proof of
this NAV be found in the fact that the peace
ful tribes of other provinces are jealous of
Sarawak, and the numbers of the people
! flock to it to enjoy the blessings of English
rule. This is delightful picture, and the
mind fingers with pleasure on It's contempla-
| tion.
! Sir James then visited the capital of Bor-
neo, where the Sultan presented with the
Treaty with Great Britain, sealed with sill
yer seal, and enclosed in silver box.
Thence he proceeded to visit the piratical
Sultan of Sulu-the chief island in the group
of that name, lying between Borneo and the
Philippines With this buccaneering prince
he commenced negotiations, which, on Sc
cOnd visit, were consolidated into a treaty.
| Thus has our countryman, IN this as IN all
cases, preferred Cancellation to hostility, try
| ing all the devices of peace before resorting
to arms. This he did with the Sakarran and
Sarebar pirates, infestlng a district TO the
northeast of Sarawak These tribes were
formidable to the whole island They were
distinguished by the men wearing rings in
their ears; and it is a household proverb
among the peaceful races, 'sWhen you meet
a Dyak with many rings in his ears, trust him
not, for he is bad man." One river in
particular, the Kaluka, was formerly dotted
along both its banks with happy and flourish
ing communities of people, who cultivate the
land and traded in the products of the soil.
The borders of that stream are now melan-
choly wastes of ashes and ruin, the work of
the innocent and simple" Sarebar and Sa-
karran pirates, who once employed the for
ces Of an alley to attack Palo, a village con-
sisting of houses built on piles forty feet in
height. They approached in the night, ard
hewed through the wooden pillars, until the
ohty building came crashing to the earth,
mingling and manning their unhappy inmates.
What was the motive of this atrocity? The
Palo people had refused to become pirates.
Are not our readers in love with the sweet
and simple buccaneers
They do not deny their practices. They
even offered Sir James share of their booty,
if ne would let them alone They do not
seem to be aware of the kind friends they
had in London, who deny what they confess,
and excuse what they boast of. Sir James
Brooke, as our readers well know, attacked
and destroyed their great fleet, and the re-
salt is, that they have solemnly promised
never to equip another for piratical purposes.
Probably they will take to trade, which will
be as much benefited by their alliance as it
was injured by their hostility.
Inte the politics of this subject / cannot
here enter. have marked in this rough
sketch the salient points in Rajah Brooke's
career. Probably we shall one day fRd his
life narrated in full detail. But from this
rapid outline the reader-even ii he have
not already acquainted himself with some of
the white Rajah's proceedings-may per-
ceive what an extraordinary course of ad-
venture his has been. We. may say to him,
as Of other great men who have mounted the
elevation of success, he has won the prize
But has he not risked the loss of life and
property has he not arrived at the goal af.
ter running the gauntlet of unnumbcred dan
gers, tatigues, anxietics, and privations be
has and who IS there among his enemies
that possesses the same courage and ability,