The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-11-24

InOSE HDUH-
ren,ly iortuitoue circumstances which so often
change the whole aspect OF a mans life At
any rate, 1t was the turnng-pointi In Mr.. Brooke's
career. Finding that his misfortune had cost
MIN his position, and that he could not recover
n without tedious iormaliues, he left the ser.
vice. Uncontrolled master of himself and
endowed with sagacity and COURAGE OF no or
taking which his adventurous spirit or his
love Of research might dictate. In fact.
" was during this interval of leisure that he en-
e parked Ior China and on his passage saw for the
first time the Eastern Archipelago. He was
painfully interested In the condition OF Borneo
and Celebes, those great islands, sinking appa-
rently into hopeless decay. His sympathies
were awakened by the sutferiugs of the helpless
natives, and his indignation was aroused by the
outraQes of unbrldled piracy. His feelings can
be best gathered from his own language. ''These
unhappy countries afford str king proof how
the fairest and richest lands under the sun
may become degraded by O continuous course
of oppression and misrlile. Whilst extravagant
dreams of the progressive advancement OF
the human race are entertained, large tract of
the globe has been gradually relapsing into bar
barism. Whilst the folly of fashion requires an
acquaintance With the deserts of Africa, and
most ardent thirst for a knowledge OF the Gus
toms of Timbuctoo-whilst the trumpet tongue
OF many an orator exeites thousands to the
rational and charitable object of converting the
Jews or of reclaimiDg the Gipsies-not single
prospectus is spread abroad, not a single voice
is raised IN Exeter Hall, to relieve the darkness
OF this paganism and tine horrors of this slave
trade. Under these circumstances, have con-
sideIed that individual exertions may be usefully
applied to rouse the zeal of slumbering philan-
thropy.n
The feelings thus awakened were not of
transient character. His dreams henceforth
we're to visit these islands, see them for himself.
study their natural history, understand their
social condition, and ascertain what avenues
could be opened for trade, and what steps taken
to redeem the oppressed native races
In 1886, the death of his father leaving
him master of an independent fortune,
enabled him to realize, his dreams. He
was member Of the Royal Yacht
! Club as well as owner and commander
of a yacht-a position which admitted him in
toreien ports to all the privileges of an English
naval officer. In this little vessel he resolved
to undertake an adventurous voyage of dis
! covery. He approached his enterprise with
| wary forethought. 'I was convinced, /" he says,
THAT lt;was necessary to form men to nv par
/ pose, and by line OF steady and kind conduct
TO raise up personal regard for myself and an
! attachment to the vessel" He cruised three
! years in the Mediterranean, carefully selecting
and training his crew. He studied thoroughly
! the whole subject of the Eastern Archipelago,
! and acquainted himself as perfectly as possible
] with the minuti@ OF seamanship and with every
useful art And when his preparations were all
| complete on the 10th of December, 1888, he set
sail for Singapore. IN the yacht RoydtiSt,
vessel of one hundred and forty two tons,
! manned by twenty men and officers, with an
armament OF six 6-pounders, and full supply
/ OF small arms OF all sorts. Such were the
mighty resources wherewith be began an en-
berprise which has ended in raising him to the
government OF a petty KINGDOM. and to almost
sovereign influence over the whole empire of
Borneo Proper. .'..t rs.-
The reader has already had glimpses of the
feelings which prompted this expedition, In a
communication to the .Geoeraphical Register
he more tully uniolds his views; and from this
and from mis- familiar letters it Is not dif6cult
10 gain clear idea of the character aud motives
OF the man. That his ardent mind had been
fired by study of the career of his great prede-
cessor, Stamford Rsffies, is evident. That he
was himself one of those energetic, restless
Z nGtures, TO which tdleness or mere routine-WOrk
is The seyerest OF penalties, is equally evident
He had, moreover, a large share of that kind OF
enthusiasts which the cool sagaeiops men of
Y this woTl Id call ROMANCE and which deHfbts 10
\ iasten on objects seefihngly n1pessible He was
like the old knights, rejoicing most when
the deld of their devoir was distant and dan
geTOus. Yet not altogether like them. He was
rather a maps0f the twelfth century, discipliBed
ana invlgofAted by the hard common-sense and
4 sharp utiHtaTianism OF the nineteenth century.
And we must not forget that he honestly wished
! to benefit the native races. Every page, nay,
almost every line in his journals and letters,
bears witness 10 his profound compassion for
the despised and down -trodden Dyaks. Aside
from this, when we remem Ger that he wag a
\ genuine Engishman, proud Of bis native land
and thoughtful always OF her aggrandizemeR5,
/ We need be at no loss to understand his
motives. He went forth TO crafty love of
adventure, ito see something of the world and
I come back again. to extend q little the realms
, of scientific knowledge, to suggest, perhaps,
some plans for the improvement OF native
/ character. and last, but not least, to lear
whether there might not be opened new aven,ts
Tor the extension of British trade and Br''n
power. me-,
Thai the methods by which these obi<o.ds @ were
40 be attained were not very well d" ssiS az
10 his own mind, is clear. he hiEtthe IttL
cast my self upon the waters, like Eii IJ ,eH
book; but whether the world annot answers
after many days, is question cHerIe ofiI.
i And some years after, alludip W. W nnrace ms
consistency, he said; 81 81 the U. petition % isef
position at once; and i9fffu am M ace to conEes
before the world @BiSs"t High at rst IL tu ~ tS ST
responsibility wep;tSs1t doubt his directind
have since beese v.'s INVESTIGATION. He fox
primary pgen al some scientific knowlege.
with hlJeing no mesu observer; observer; and he pro
! posed researches into the geopranhv nfUrsJ
,fstory. and commercial resources Of thee
islands II he had Interior enoz, as We, thlv
existed In his mind as fascinating dreams rather
than Well.defned plans.
After "a tedious voyage of nearly siA moths
the ROgahst reached Singapore Junel B39.
While Mr.. Brooke was engaged in rehtjng his
yacht, and anXously revolving in his md lOw
he should obtain permission to penetrse hto
the neighboring Kingdom OF Borneo, he larled
that Muda Hassim, uncle of the Sulta, aid
Rajah of Sarawak, the north western proviceof
Borneo had displayed great humanity tOyprIs
q crew of shipwrecked Enelishmen. On resit
ing this information he started at once for Sra.
wax, hoping to Get some hold upon the RaM.
and by such help to pursue his researches. VSSi
the time OF his visit was most unfOrtumA
The whole province was in state of openR-
bellion; so that while he was received c0ur
teousy, and permitted to make some local SUI
veys, nothing of Importance could Oe accom-
plished. Bafned and wearied by delay, he saleC
back to Singapore, and from thence 70 Oeleps
where he renamed several months, engaged n
extensive explorations, and N c9necllng spec-