The herald., 1922-09-28
saawak Native Eanna

SdfAWaN lNdhiNV NN'Sl WIN
prepared by the National Geographic
Society, Washington, d. c.
A country such as might have been
the creation of the Imagination of
Rider Haggard is Sarawak, on 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 Kayans,
with a sprinkling of Chinese and other
Far Eastern peoples. And he rules
IN an exceedingly common sense way.
Three rajahs of an English family
named Brooke have ruled over Sara
wax since 1S39-uncle, nephew and
the son of the latter. 1t has been the
aim of each, as the first rajah stated
II, 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 10 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
xr-hof 81
is better protected than many forests
Of the United States. The jeluton
tree, for example, yields valuable
gum, but Is easily killed if improperly
tapped. Inspectors have been APP
pointed by the government to insure
the proper handling of this important
natural resource 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 1899. 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 Ruled by Brunei.
Many years before. Brunei had been
one 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 done their work until
there remained only a degenerate sui
tan, with a 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 fleets of junks laden
with the riches of China, the town
I sNeS AhNiA'Nh III Spiilt utSltc It's
appelatiOn of the Venice of the East
but for the past century 1t has been
nothing more than a few score of small
wooden houses built on piles on a
muddy bank which is bare at low tide,
exposing an accumulation Of refuse
from which stencil arises that is a
novelty even TO one who has become
accustomed to the varied odOrs of the
East.
Sarawak was inhabited chiefly by
Malays, Land Dayaks and Chinese, and
had, at times, been Independent under
Malay rulers: but in 1889 its govern
ment was In the hands of a vassal of
the sultan. the Rajah Muda Hasim.
weak and incompetent, but apparently
an amiable man. not entirely devoid
Of humanitarian instincts; for he did.
IN one occasion. avail himself of an
opportunity to render timely assistance
to some shipwrecked English sailors.
This event was the cause of James
Brooke's first visit to Sarawak. which