The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-06-17
The Progress of the Brooke Family.

II somebody were to tell four-ffths OF the
native inha bitants Of the second largest
island in the world that they live in
Borneo they would stare in blank amaze
ment, never having heard the name be-
fore. When Europeans began to haunt
the shores of the great island they found
the Sultanate OF Borneo. or Brunei, as it is
more commonly known, stretching along
the northern shores. In the course OF events
the British have appropriated the most
Of the Sultanate to themselves, leaving his
Highness the Sultan to extract such con-
ISOLATION as he can from tho fact that Euro
peans long ago extended the name OF his
territory over the whole island. few
weeks ago the Englishman, Rajah BROOKE,
seized one-half OF what was left OF Brunei,
and the event has made q great stir In
northern Borneo. Only few thousand
square miles arc now left to represent the
only surviving native government OF the
great island, the Dutch holding by far tho
larger part, while the British possess a
wide strip along the entire northern coast,
except the poor little slice that remains Of
Brunei, sandwiched in between British
North Borneo and Sarawak, the possession
OF Rajah BROOKE.
1t is the old story OF tho devil asking an
inch and taking an ell The strangely ro-
mantle career OF Sir JAMES BROOKE is very
well known Several books have been written
to tell how this energetic young English
man, fired with the spirit OF the old adven-
turers Of the Columbian era, the possessor
OF fortune Of $4,000 conceived the idea OF
carving out a name and career in the
Eastern Archipelago. 1t was while the
young officer was serving in the British
army In Burmah that he reached the au-
dacious conclusion that II the powers could
not suppress piracy In Malayan waters. he
would do it himself. So he threw up his
commission, put his fortune In his pocket.
bought small vessel, and quietly set out
for Borneo In 1882
The next the world heard was that smart
young man named BROOKE, with pocket
full OF money, was in high feather In the
Sultanate OF Brunei. He had helped the
Sultan to put down rebellion, and had been
rewarded with the title OF Rajah Of Sara
wax. Then very conveniently for the am
bilious projects Of Rajah BROOKE, the Sultan
of Brunei died. and the Rajah diminished
the cares OF his successor by relieving him
of large part of his territory. He declared
Sarawak and such other parts OF Brunei as
he chose to appropriate to be his own indie
pendent domain.
1t was great thing for the BROOKE fam
fly. The Rajah was terror to evildoers.
He had his ups and downs, but at last pi-
rates far and near trembled at his name.
Head hunting in his dominions became
crime punishable with death. With
wonderful energy he set about devel-
oping the commercial possibilities OF
his country The village OF 1000 peo-
pole where the young advcnturer had
landed in l}orneo became city Of $4,000
inhabitants. Trade grew with rapid strides,
the territory of the Rajah was recognized by
Great Britain as an independent State its
ruler was knighted by Queen VICTORIA, and
at length, after one of the most romantic
careers that ever an adventurer led, Sir
JAMES BROOKE, Rajah OF Sarawak, full of
honors and immensely wealthy, was gath
cred to his fathers. The present Rajah was