The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1922-09-15

prepared by the National Geographic
Society. Washington, = ca
4 country such rs might have been
the creation of The imagination of Il
Rider Ilaggard Is SaruWuk, on ,hc
island of BOrneo-thc land of the
white rajahs. There, in Il territory
larger than Ohio, an English hcredi-
tary rajah rules over Il population OF
100000 MalayS, Dayaks and kayanS,
with Il Sprinkling OF Chinese and other
Far Eastern peoples. And he rules
in III exceedingly OmmOn II way.
Three rajahS of an English family
named Brooke have ruled V e Sara
wax since lS39-unCle, nephew and
the son of the latter. Ii has bcen the
aim of each, as the first rajph stated
il, ITO rule for the people ana with the
people, and to teach chem the rights
of freemen under the restraints Of
government" harmful customs. such
rs hcad-huuting, have been discouraged
or prohibited, but not one of their
harmless activities, however bizarre to
the western mind, has been intcrferpd
with. And though the white rajahS
have cndcavored to develop trade, they
have set their faces reSolutcly against
anything that Smuckcd of the eXploita-
lion of tleir people by either Euro
pvaus or A,.oticS,
The Saravak jungle, inhabited by
what Wtsty.ncra would call ~"Suyagc>."
is better protected tjan many forcs F.;
OF the Jal,,l States. The iclutou
tree, for example, yielGs a valuable
gum. but IS easily Killed if improperly
tapped. Inspectors have been APP
pointed ly thc government 10 insure
the proper handling Of this important
natural resource. Even butterflies
and the country is the home Of some
OF the mos beautiful Of these insects
are protected by the SaraWak game
laws.
The history of the white rajahs Of
SaraWak began in 1880. At that time
the Dutch occupied the southern por-
tion Of Borneo. while the northern part
of the island was nominally under the
rule Of the Sultan Of Brunei.
once Ruled by Brunei.
Many wears before. Brunei had been
one of the strongest Kingdoms Of the
Malayan archipelago. Its sultans had
conquered a large pert of BorneO, as
We'll as several Of the southern islands
couraged and an EXTENSIVE trade with
China was developed. But luxury and
corruption had done their work until
there remained only Il degenerate sui
tan, with Il retinue Of licentiOuS Malay
IN mobiles, whose sole occupation was
To rob the people in order to cater to
the pleasures of their master.
The sultan's capital was, and re-
mains today, the town of Brunei. about
200 miles from the northern extremity
Of Borneo.
In the days of its glory, when the
surrounding hills were covered with
pepper gardens ana wealthy merchants
came in annually in fleets Of junks laden
with the riches Of China, the town
may have merited in come degree its
appellatiOn Of the Venice Of the East !;
but for the past century it has been
nothing more than Il few score OF small
wooden houses built on piles on II
muddy bank which is bare ut low tide.
exposing an accumulation of refuse
from which Il stencil arises that is 4
novelty even to one who has become
accustomed to the varied odors Of the
East.
Sarawak was inhabited chiefly by
Malays, Land Day;ikS and Chinese, ana
had. M times, been independent under
Malay rulers; but in 1920 its govern
ment was in the hands Of Il vaSSHl of
the sultan. the Raiah Muda lIasim.
weak and incompetent. hut apparently
an amiahle man. not entirely devoid
Of humanitarian instincts: for he did
ON one occasion, avail himself Of an
opportunity to render timely assistance
70 Snlr ShipWrerkci English sailo"s
This event WAS thc cause OF James
.., -gnFE a.. Af..,A..Hr saf,s.Hs