Evening star., 1902-01-11

His company set out plantations and i'm
ported Chinese cheap labor to work them,
but for some reason or other they were not
a success and the company failed. The
property then went back to the sultan and
the British got it under a new lease from
him and also from the Sultan of Sulu
Today Brunei Is still ruled by the sultan
under the ~Ifrigish. He has a capital city
built upon piles in bend in the river about
fifteen miles from the sea- His capital
is surrounded by hills, and standing upon
these you can see the houses apparently
noatlng upon the water. Brunei is the
greatest water city of the world. 1t is all
water and houses. The boats anchor
among the houses and the market is made
up of stalls each Of which is canoe, and
among which other canoes move about car
rying the purchasers from stall to stall
The sellers are women, each of whom
wears an enormous hat.
The Domain of Rajah Brooke,
The most important of the English pos
sessions in Borneo is that which now be-
longs to Sir Charles Brooke, the nephew
of Sir James Brooke, who became ia
nous the world over under the title Of
Rajah Brooke. The country is known as
Sarawak on the map. 1t is about as large
as the state of New York, and has a coast
line of 400 miles. 1t produces diamonds
gold, silver, quicksilver, coal, India rubber
rattans, camphor birds nests, sago, pepper
and gambler. 1t has number of navigabIe e
rivers, and 1t is indeed valuable piece OF
property.
The story of how the English came into
possession Of this country is curious. Sir
James Brooke landed in Sarawak in his
own vessel in 1889. He found it in a state
OF insurrection. The people were composed
of different tribes, who were fighting each
other. There was rajah named Muda
Hassin, who was the nominal ruler. but ne
could not keep the people in order, and
head hunting was the principal business.
Slavery was common and chaos reigned.
Sir James Brooke united his forces with
those of the rajah, and in short time was
able to reduce the people to order After
three years Muda Hassin abdicated in his
favor, and he became the supreme governor.
he at once began to organize his admins
tration after modern methods, at the same
time paying respect to the superstitions
and beliefs of the natives. He learned the
Malay language, and tolerated the Moham-
medan religion. although he introduced
Engnsn missionaries. For more than
perfectly satisfactory to the people, and in
1883 he brought 1t under the protection OF
Great Britain. The government is an
hereditary monarchy, being now ruled by
his nephew, but 1t is governed like one OF
the crowned colonies under the British
The capital Of Sarawak Is Kuchin9
town OF 10000 people. situated on the Sara
wax river, about twenty miles from the
sea- The place is well fortified. II has
public gardens, good roads and many COM
Portable homes. The English live in bun
galows and they have all the surroundings
OF civilization. Among other things there
Is lady's club, a gentlemen's club and a
newspaper, which is known as the Sara
wax Gazette. There are Roman Catholic
and Protestant missions, a reading room
museum and several factories. There
are coal mines not far in the interior and
timber Is being shipped from SaraWak to
Hong Kong and elsewhere. The country
mas now revenue approximating 81 ,OOO,-
wv, and its annual exports amount to more
than $3.000,O0O. The military consists Of
Ioo Dyaks, under English officers.
In Dutch Borneo.
So little is known of Dutch Borneo that
1t can be described only in general terms.
Even the Dutch have not yet begun to
master 1t. Their territory there is greater
than any country in Europe except Russia,
1t has over 100000 square miles. but thew
really rule only small portion of it, gov
erning as far as possible through natives.
They have two great centers.~ One Is at
BandJermassin, on the south coast at the
mouth Of the Barito river, and the other is
az pentianak, on the west coast, on the
kapuas river. The least important is the
west coast section. This contains about
100000 inhabitants, and has something like
| sixteen government stations.
| South and east Borneo has a population
| of more than 6O0, coo, and seventeen gov
| ernment stations. Bandjermassin contains
about 10000 people, and is one of the Oldest
settlements in Borneo. 1t lies in the heart
| OF country which Is rich In gold dia-
monds and coal, and 1t is place of consid-
| cradle trade. 1t is on a little branch Of the
Barito river. its houses covering the banks
Tor about two miles. The most of the
houses are shacks built upon piles, for the
| river often overdows. The Barito itself is
filled with craft Of all descriptions. with
bamboo RATS and floating houses. Not far
pack OF Bandjermassin are extensive coal
Il haN 49,
pies and other Hindu buildings.
The Sultan of Kotei.
1t Is around on the east coast Of Borneo
just about opposite the northern part OF
the Celebes that the river Kotei empties
into the Makassar strait. The Dutch
steamers call at Kotei, and one can 60 on
up that river to. the capital OF the Sultan
Tho first town Of any size Il samarinda
which 10 quite q trading p6rt. having &