The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1922-09-14

prepared by the National Geographic
Society. Washington, d. c.
A country such as might have been
the creation of the. imagination of a
Rider Haggard Is SaraV'ak, en- the
island of BOrneO-the land OF the
white rajahs. There, in a territory
larger than Ohio, an English heredi-
tary rajah rules over a population of
100000 Malays, Dayaks and K-Jans,
with a s%priukling of Chinese and other
Far Eastern peoples. And he rules
In an exceedingly common sense way.
Three rajahs Of IN English family
named Brooke have ruleo over Sara
wax since 1S39-uncle, nephew and
the son of the latter. 1t has been the
aim of each, ss the first rajah stated
it, ito rule for the people and with the
people, and to teach them the rights
of freemen under the restraints of
government" Harmful customs, such
as head-hunting, have been discouraged
or prohibited, but not one Of their
harmless activities, however bizarre to
the western mind, has been interfered
with. And though the white rajahs
have ~endeavored to develop trade, they
have set their faces resolutely against
anything that smacked of the exploita-
ton of their people by either Euro
peans or Asiatics..
The Sarawak jungle, inhabited by
what westerners would call ~'savages,"
is better protected than many forests
of the United States. The jeluton
tree, for example, yields a valuable
gum, but is easily killed if improperly
tapped. Inspectors have beer ap-
pointed by the government to insure
the proper handling Of this important
natural %resourc Even butterflies
and the country Is the home of some
of the most beautiful of these insects
are protected by the Sarawak game
laws.
The history of the white rajahs of
Sarawak began In 1889. At that time
the Dutch occupied the southern por-
ton of Borneo, While the northern part
of the island was nominally under the
rule of the Sultan of Brunei.
once huieo by Brunei.
Many years before, Brunei had been
n Of the strongest kingdoms of the
Malayan archipelago. Its sultans had
conquered a large part of Borneo, as
well as several of the southern islands
of the Philippines. industry was en-
couraged and an extensive trade with
China was developed. But luxury and
corruption had lone their work until
there remained only a degenerate sui
tan, with q retinue Of licentious Malay.
an 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 and wealthy merchants
came in annually In fects of junks laden
with the riches of China, the town
may have merited In some degree It's
appellation of the Venice of the East |;
but for the past century II has been
nothing more than q few score of small
wooden houses built on piles on a
muddy bank which is bare ut low tide,
exposing an accumulation of refuse
from which a stencil arises that Is 4
| novelty wen TO N who has become
accustomed Il the varied odors of the
Fast.
Sarawak was inhabited chiefly by
Malays. Land Dayaks and Chinese. and
had. at times, been independent under
Malay rulers. but la 1889 It's govern
ment was in the hands of a vassal of
the sultan. the Rajah Muda Hasim;
weak and Incompetent. hut apparently
an amiahle man. not entirely devoid
Of humanitarian Instincts; for ne did,
On one occasion, avail himself OF an
opportunity to render timely assistance
to some shipwrecked English sailors.
| This event was the cause Of james
Brcoke's 6rst visit to Sarawak. which