The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-09-29
RAJAn or sAKAWAK.
How tho Son of IN EnElIsh Clergyman u
eatno an Eastern Potentate.


How THO Son of mn English Clergyman Dc.
eatno an Eastern Potentatc.
81. HiehsiaL
The life Of the frst rajah, Sir James
Brooke, K. Q. B.. X. 9. NJ. G., Ii. D.,
reads like a romance such as Stevenson
or Verne might write. His was o wild,
restless nature that his youth made
him dissatisfied with the quiet Of his
own English homo, and with tho even
tenor Of the days about his fathers
vicarage. Heentered tho English army,
aud was dangerously wounded in lead
ing charge against detachment OF
natives in India. He gave up the COM
mission and retired on pension about
the timo he reached manhood.
A long and nearly fatal sickness did
not quoll his thirst for adventure. He
had hardly regained his strength whom
he started out to explore India, Ma
lava and China. He wrote q valuable
journal of his wunderings, and returned
homo fred with the thought of explor.
ing tho then unknown islands Of the
Pacific. The sight OF the millions OF
acres Of rich, untitled land that were
embraced within tho boundaries Of
some OF these islands populated by 4
race OF peaceful, indolont beings, and
claimed by no European power, raised
in his mind dreams OF a great East
Indian empire.
Tho death OF his father left him with
property worth ono hundred and fifty
thousand dollars. y In spite Of tue pro-
tests Of his friends, he very soon pro.
ceeded to fit out u small schooner, man
ned aud armed it, aud sailed for Singa-
pore, and thence to the northwest
coast OF Bornoo, landing at Kiching, on
tho Sarawak river, in 1888
A field of conquest and hope OF en-.
pire at onco dawned upon him. The
province OF Sarawak, dependency OF
the sultan of Brunei, was governed by
an old native rajah. whose throne was
menaCed by the fierce, head.hunting
Dyaks OF tho interior. Brooke saw his
chance, and cast his fortunes with the
weak but rightful ruler. After many
marches with his little crow aud au
army Of natives through the almost im-
pcnetrable rubber jungles, and after
many hard.fought battles, the rebels
were dislodged from their forts and
order was restored. Tho young general
then interposed between the COM
batants, and protected the defeated
from the revenge OF the victors, thereby
winning the gratitude of'the former and
the confidence Of tho both sides.
The sultan conceived great liking
for Brooke, and finding that his native
s,l, aa,t1I - NtNln fIn In
arranged that Brooke should become
rajah OF Sarawak Us an independent
ruler.
Upon his accession to power, Rajah
Brooke set about to reform abuses and
build up the country. lie abolished
military marauding, did away with
every form OF slavery, established
courts, missions, and school houses,
and waged fierce war against head
hunting and piracy.
Head.hunting was remarkable and
extraordinary custom Of tho native Dy-
AXIS. They strove to secure heads to
decorate their houses, much as tho
American Indian longod to 60 hunting
for scalps. 1t was an ancient custom.
Piracy had been for century the
GuEHG VI Lu0 JuNu 1StlSt bub Sli SAtAAS9
Brooke knew that the future Of his king
dom depended on its suppression.
Every island and harbor swarmed with
pirates. They lived in big towns, and
had fortressess and cannon. They were
stronger than any of the native rulers,
and, knowing this, detied them. Brooke
began with tho feebler towns, conquer
ing one after another; then burnt them,
and took possession Of their swift out
rigger canoes, increasing his forces from
the very pirates that he was extermi-
mating, aud so worked relentlessly on.
Combined with the great qualities Of
fearness fighter, he had tho noble
faculty OF winning tho good will and ap-
prevail Of his foes to such an extent that
all through tho struggle they fought
half-heartedly, knowing the while that
they were really fighting against their
peoples good.
at the ond of nine years thelast pirate
stronghold was taken, and the victor
felt free to return home, pay his friends
visit, and solicit missionary aid to
civilize the country. sanl
TIE Wheeling Drug Company has So