The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-11-24
BORNEO AND RAJAH BROOKS.
tContinuod n-om orr NinN PaOe ]


lost, but the most bloody war could hardly
have produced worse results. The CO Intry was
nIIed with cOmbatants, Every straggler was cut
oil. violence and rapine were the law. Trade
and agriculture laDguisbed. rich province was
last ielapsing into Wilderness; and all its
people were beginning 10 suffer alike Or shelter
ana sustenance. As our hero was about
70 set SAIL the Rajah opened his whoe
heart to him. HIS prospects we're anything but
hauerlng. He found himself unequal to the
reduction OF the rebels. He was surrounded by
traitors: At the court Of the Sultan, hostile
ca0al, taking advantage OF his ill-fortune,
threatened his power and h,s life. In this
strait, he besought his visitor to remain aud
give MN aid, promising in event of success to
confer upon him the government OF the pro-
vince. After few days reflection, Mr.. Brooke,
DeneVlng, as he declares, that the cause OF the
sultan was Just, believing also that what the
whole people needed most was peace, and that
peace would place him in position TO render
them the greatest service, acceded TO this
request without, however, be IL observed, bind
ing muda H0ssim to any precise supulatlons
concerning the government. H... F.. EI. ...r
Many pages of his journal are devoted to an
account OF this war; and most curious story 1t
IS OIL cowardlce. bravado, and inefhciercy. lt
was advance and retreat boasttul cOallenge and
as Ooastlul reply, marching and countermarch-
Inc, DAY after day, and month after month.
Like the heroes of old, the adverse parties
spoke to each other, We are coming, we are
coming; lay aside your muskets and fight us
WITH your swords; and so the heroes ceased not
to talk, but always forgot TO fight" The sum of
all their achievements being TO lay waste the
country, 10 interrupt honest industry, aud to
put IN peril the lives OF the un0ttending. MIR.
Brooke soon tired of this farce. Gathering
motley force, consisting of Malays Dyaks Chi.
neset and his own crew, he prepared Tor an
assault Then, planting his cannon where they
commanded the stronghold of the enemy, with
| few welldTected volleys he brought ITS walls
| tumbling about their ears. The insurgents,
| driven to the open country, and altogether
| amazed by this specimen of Saxon energy, sur
rendered AT "a
| lating war was ended.
Peace being restored Mr.. Brooke did not
insist on thehteral fuldlment of the terms which
| Muda Hassim had in his extremity been so ready
| 10 proffer. He chose to occupy position OF
| influence, rather than one OF outward authority.
| contract was entered into by which he be-
came Resident of Sarawak. The conditions OF
| the agreement were, that the RaIah on his part
! should repress piracy, protect legitimate COM
| merce, and as far as possible remove from the
| Dyaks unjust burdens; while his ally, in return
| for these concessions, should open trade,
| sending vessel to and fro between Singa-
| pore and Sarawak, exchanging foreign luXu-
| Tles Tor native products, and more espe-
! cially for antimony, OF which article the
| part of the treaty, Mr.. Brooke proceeded to
| Singapore, purchased a schooner loaded her
with an assorted cargo returned TO Sarawak,
| and at the earnest request of Muda Hassim
| landed and distributed his goods.
But auspicious as was the commencement of
this alliance, soon grave causes of complaint
arose, On every point the decetful Malay came
short ofhis agreement. Having obtained valuable
property, be showed no alacrity in paying for it;
weeks and months passed without bringing lin
apparently any nearer to pecuDiary settlement.
So far from repressing piracy, he encou-
ragged it; and fleet OF one hundred and twenty
prahus, with his tacit consent, actually put to
sea. When O crew of English seamen we're en-.
slaved and carried to Bruni, under the most
frivolous pretexts he refused to intercede with
the Sultan for these unfortunate men. And SO
10 ctro f1-ia del nlpn 40 mo- ltyb
proof either of his courage or his humanity tc
despatch at this very time, as Mr. Brooke did
his yacht to Bruni, to attempt something in be
half OF his ensaved countrymen, and to remain
himself with only three men at Sarawak. The
yacht came back, however, having effected
nothing. - ...
exhausted. Despoled OF his goods, nnding that
despite his remonstrances, the Dyaks were
he resolved to R Fiat p%gae % Sp rSFssS
He repaired on board his yacht, loaded hel
guns with grape and canister, and brought hel
broadside to bear upon the Rajah's palace. Then
an interview with Muda Hassim. The terror Of
that iunctionary was extreme. The native tribes
openly sided with their English friends. The
Chinese residents remained obsttnately neutral
The Malays, between CoWardce and treachery
afforded hum no efficient support. To crown
ALL his resolute and iucensed ally had only to
wave his hand to bring down upon him swift
destruction. "After this demonstration, things
went cheeTily to conclusion" Muda Hassm
finding that his creditor was inheGible, anG
being unable or unwilling to pay for the goods
which he had fraudulently obtained, offered In
payment of all debts to surrender the Govern
ment. The offer was accepted, the agreement
drawn up, signed, sealed, guns tired, and flags
waved, and on September "a, 1S4l, Mr.. Brooke
became Rajah OF Sarawak. In August of the
following year the Sultan solemnly confirmed
the agreement.
The territory thus strangely passing into the
hands OF private English gentleman was {
tract of country bordering upon the sea sixty
miles, and extending inland from seventy t
eighty miles. Situated at the northeastern
extremity of Borneo, pierced by two small bu
navigable rivers, its position is most favorable
tor commerce. Its soil is deep and nch, yield
ing under any proper culture large crops of al
tropical products. Its forests are filed with
trees fit for shipbuiding and abound in tina
variety from which is obtained the gutta percht
of commerce. The hills are rich in iron ant
lin OF the best quality; The mountaI
OF smaller rivers are found diamonds
in such profusion that most of tn,
Malays wear them in set in rings and othel
ornaments. From this single province comes
nearly the whole supply of antimony in th'
world II do not believe" says a resident
"that In the same given space there can bC
found so great mineral and vegetable wealth IL
any land IN the whole world"
With what sentiments the new Rajah entered
upon his duties can be best understood by
| perusal of his familiar letters He writes t
his mother: "Do not start when | say that
am going to settle in Borneo, that am abou
| 10 endeavor to plant there mixed colony amIC
| a wild but not unvirtuous race aud to become
the pioneer of European knowledge and i'm
| pTovement The diffusion OF civilization, com
merce, and religion through so vast an islanC
as Borneo, call grand object-so grand tina
sell is quite lost W9eh tN cOasiae[ & IL; ana ever
attempi.n "a few days ago was up a higt
mountain and looked over the country. II Is I