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 LIBRARY 
 
 OF THE 
 
 University of California. 
 
 O^'is 
 
BUILDERS OF 
 GREATER BRITAIN 
 
 Edited by H. F. WILSON, M.A. 
 
 Barrisier-at-Law 
 
 Late Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge 
 
 Legal Assistant at the Colonial Office 
 
 DEDICATED BY SPECIAL 
 PERMISSION TO HER 
 MAJESTY THE QUEEN 
 
BUILDERS OF GREATER BRITAIN 
 
 1. SIR WALTER RALEGH ; the British Dominion of 
 
 the West. By Martin A. S. Hume. 
 
 2. SIR THOMAS MAITLAND ; the Mastery of the 
 
 Mediterranean. By Walter Frewen Lord. 
 
 3. JOHN AND SEBASTIAN CABOT; the Discovery of 
 
 North America. By C. Raymond Beazley, M.A. 
 
 4. EDWARD GIBBON WAKEFIELD ; the Coloni- 
 
 zation of South Australia and New Zealand. By 
 R. Garnett, C.B., LL.D. 
 
 5. LORD CLIVE; the Foundation of British Rule in 
 
 India. By Sir A. J. Arbuthnot, K.C.S.L, CLE. 
 
 6. ADMIRAL PHILLIP ; the Founding of New South 
 
 Wales. By Louis Becke and Walter Jeffery. 
 
 7. RAJAH BROOKE ; the EngUshman as Ruler of an 
 
 Eastern State. By Sir Spenser St John, G. C. M. G. 
 
 8. SIR STAMFORD RAFFLES ; England in the Far 
 
 East. By the Editor. 
 
Builders 
 
 of 
 
 Greater Britain 
 
 RAJAH BROOKE 
 
/V-'-Of THE 
 
RAJAH BROOKE 
 
 THE ENGLISHMAN AS RULER OF AN 
 EASTERN STATE 
 
 BY 
 
 Sir SPENSER ST JOHN, G.C.M.G, 
 
 AUTHOR OF 
 
 ' HAYTI ; OR, THE BLACK REPUBLIC,' 
 
 'LIFE IN THE FORESTS OF THE FAR EAST,' 
 
 ETC. 
 
 .;.;:; ^i^ 
 
 V OF / 
 
 LONDON 
 
 T. FISHER UNWIN 
 
 PATERNOSTER SQUARE 
 
 MDCCCXCIX 
 
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 )PY ADDED -N c ^ i-ih 
 
 ^IGMNALTOBE -^ - 9 
 
 ETAtNED J f .^ 
 
 OCT 4 1994 " ^ :57 -^^'" 
 
 1\(\IBHB9 
 
 Copyright by T. Fisher Unwin, 1897, for Great Britain and 
 the United States of America 
 
A'j^t^j'xj.; 
 
 OF 
 
 PREFACE 
 
 I HAVE undertaken to write the life of the old 
 Rajah, Sir James Brooke, my first and only 
 chief, as one of the Builders of Greater Britain. 
 In his case the expression must be used in its 
 widest sense, as, in fact, he added but an in- 
 appreciable fragment to the Empire, whilst at 
 the same time he was the cause of large 
 territories being included within our sphere of 
 influence. And if his advice had been followed, 
 we should not now be troubled with the restless 
 ambition of France in the Hindu - Chinese 
 regions, as his policy was to secure, by well 
 defined treaties, the independence of those 
 Asiatic States, subject, however, to the beneficent 
 influence of England as the Paramount Power, 
 an influence to be used for the good of the 
 governed. Sir James thoroughly understood 
 that Eastern princes and chiefs are at first only 
 
 175440 
 
xii PREFACE 
 
 influenced by fear ; the fear of the consequences 
 which might follow the neglect of the counsels 
 of the protecting State. 
 
 The plan which the Rajah endeavoured to 
 persuade the English Government to adopt 
 was to make treaties with all the independent 
 princes of the Eastern Archipelago, including 
 those States whose shores are washed by the 
 China Sea, as Siam, Cambodia and Annam, by 
 which they could cede no territory to any 
 foreign power without the previous consent of 
 England, and to establish at the capitals of the 
 larger States well-chosen diplomatic agents, to 
 encourage the native rulers not only to improve 
 the internal condition of their countries, but to 
 inculcate justice in their treatment of foreigners, 
 and thus avoid complications with other powers. 
 
 Sir James Brooke first attempted to carry out 
 this enlightened policy by concluding treaties 
 with the Sultans of Borneo and Sulu, to secure 
 these States from extinction ; the latter treaty 
 was not ratified, however, owing to the timidity 
 of a naval officer, foolishly influenced by a 
 clever Spanish Consul in Singapore, who took 
 advantage of the absence of the Rajah. In 
 the forties and fifties the expansion of Great 
 
PREFACE xiii 
 
 Britain, as is well known, was looked upon 
 with genuine alarm by many of our leading 
 statesmen. 
 
 Sir James Brooke, however, was not destined 
 to see the fufilment of his ideas, as a ministry 
 came into power in 1853 which cared nothing 
 for the Further East, and in the hope of con- 
 solidating their majority in Parliament sacrificed 
 their noble officer to appease the clamour raised 
 by Joseph Hume and his followers, who, like 
 other zealots, pursued their objects regardless 
 of all the evidence which could be brought 
 to refute their unfounded accusations. Joseph 
 Hume may be called a libeller by profession, 
 who began his career by making his fortune in 
 the East India Company's service in a very few 
 years — a remarkable achievement ; and who 
 afterwards, when in Parliament, brought himself 
 into notoriety by attacking first Sir Thomas 
 Maitland, secondly Lord Torrington, and 
 ultimately Sir James Brooke, whose shoe 
 latchets he was unworthy to unloose. 
 
 Sir James had thus but a short career as an 
 English official. He was named Confidential 
 Agent in 1845, Commissioner and Consul- 
 General in 1846, Governor of Labuan in 
 
xiv PREFACE 
 
 1847, and his return to England in 1851 
 practically closed his active political connection 
 with England, though he did not resign all his 
 offices until 1854. 
 
 But the Rajah did not thus conclude his own 
 career ; he returned to Sarawak and devoted all 
 his energies to the development of his adopted 
 country, and of the neighbouring districts. I 
 shall have to relate what extraordinary vicissi- 
 tudes of fortune he had to encounter, and 
 how after many years of conflict he emerged 
 triumphant, to leave to his successor, Sir Charles 
 Brooke, a small kingdom, well organised as far 
 as Sarawak was concerned, with strongly estab- 
 lished positions reaching to Bintulu, which have 
 but increased in influence and in power to 
 further the^. well-being of the natives of every 
 race and class ; and to prove to all who care to 
 interest themselves in the subject, what a gain 
 to humanity has resulted from the old Rajah 
 having had the courage and the forethought 
 to found his rule in a wild country, whose 
 inhabitants, with few exceptions, were till then 
 inimical to Europeans, and mostly tainted by 
 piracy. But he argued truly that these people 
 knew very imperfectly what Englishmen were. 
 
PREFACE XV 
 
 and he determined to show them that some, at 
 all events, were worthy of their confidence, and 
 could devote themselves without reserve to their 
 welfare. 
 
 The peculiarity of the Rajah's system was to 
 treat the natives, as far as possible, as equals ; 
 not only equals before the law, but in society. 
 All his followers endeavoured to imitate their 
 chief, and succeeded in a greater or less degree, 
 thus producing a state of good feeling in the 
 country which was probably found nowhere else 
 in the East, except in Perak, one of the Protected 
 States in the Malay Peninsula, into which one 
 of his most able assistants introduced his method 
 of government. I am told that this good feel- 
 ing, if not the old friendly intimacy between 
 native and European, still exists to a consider- 
 able degree throughout the possessions of the 
 present Rajah, which is highly honourable to 
 him and to his officers. 
 
 I have not attempted to re-write my account 
 of the Chinese Insurrection (see Chapter VI.). 
 I wrote it when all the events were fresh 
 in my mind, and no subsequent information 
 has rendered it necessary to make any changes. 
 It was a most interesting and important inci- 
 
xvi PREFACE 
 
 dent in the Rajah's career, and it fixed for 
 ever in the minds of his countrymen how 
 wise and beneficent must have been his rule 
 of the Malays and Dyaks, that they should 
 have stood by him as they did when 
 he appeared before them as a defeated 
 fugitive. 
 
 How far-seeing were the Rajah's views and 
 plans is proved by the fact that his successor 
 has found it unnecessary to change any phase 
 of his policy, whether political or commercial, 
 whether financial, agricultural or judicial ; with 
 the growth of the country in population and 
 wealth all has been of course considerably aug- 
 mented, but the lines on which this great 
 advance has been made were laid by the first 
 Rajah, and that this honour is due to him 
 no one should deny. 
 
 As there was but one Nelson, so there has 
 been but one Sir James Brooke. How admirable 
 was the simplicity of his character ! So kind 
 and gentle was he in manner, that the poorest, 
 most down-trodden native would approach him 
 without fear, confident that his story would be 
 heard with benevolent attention, and that any 
 wrong would, if possible, be righted. And as 
 
PREFACE xvli 
 
 for the purity of his private life, he was a 
 bright example to all those around him. 
 
 It may be thought that I have exaggerated 
 the grandeur of the Rajah's personality, and the 
 great benefits he conferred on the natives, and 
 that I have been influenced in my views by 
 the warm friendship which existed between 
 us. If there be any who hold this opinion, I 
 would refer them to Mr Alfred Wallace's 
 work. The Malay Archipelago, in which, after 
 dwelling in a most appreciative manner on 
 the Rajah's rule in Sarawak, he adds these 
 eloquent words, ' Since these lines were 
 written his noble spirit has passed away. But 
 though by those who knew him not he may 
 be sneered at as an enthusiastic adventurer, or 
 abused as a hard-hearted despot, the universal 
 testimony of everyone who came in contact 
 with him in his adopted country, whether 
 European, Malay or Dyak, will be that Rajah 
 Brooke was a great, a wise and a good ruler, 
 a true and faithful friend, a man to be admired 
 for his talents, respected for his honesty and 
 courage, and loved for his genuine hospitality, 
 his kindness of disposition and his tenderness 
 of heart.' 
 
xviii PREFACE 
 
 The portrait of Rajah Brooke facing the 
 title page, is taken from the picture by Sir 
 Francis Grant, which is one of his best 
 works. It is a most speaking likeness, and 
 I have left it in my will to the Trustees of 
 the National Portrait Gallery, if they will 
 accept it. 
 
 SPENSER ST JOHN. 
 
 4 Chesteh Street, S.W. 
 
 Note.—l would wish to add a few words to explain 
 why, in the course of this Life of Rajah Brooke, I 
 have not dwelt on the controversy which raged for 
 some years about the character of the Seribas and 
 Sakarang Dyaks. The only person who, to a late 
 period, held to his view that these tribes were not 
 piratical was Mr Gladstone ; but after reading my 
 first Life of Rajah Brooke^ in which I defended the 
 policy of my old chief with all the vigour I could 
 command, I received the following note from him, 
 which rendered unnecessary any further discussion 
 of the subject : — 
 
 February 25, 1880. 
 
 My dear Sir, — I thank you very much for sending 
 me your Life of Sir fames Brooke^ which I shall be 
 anxious to examine with care. I have myself written 
 words about Sir James Brooke which may serve to show 
 
PREFACE xix 
 
 that the difference between us is not so wide as might 
 be supposed, and I fully admit that what I have questioned 
 in his acts has been accepted by his legitimate superiors, 
 the Government and the Parliament. — I remain, yours 
 faithfully, W. E. Gladstone. 
 
 His Excellency Spenser St John. 
 
 It is as well that I should publish another letter, 
 to show that Mr Gladstone bore me no ill-will on 
 account of the vigorous way I had attacked him 
 whilst defending the policy of my old chief. I had 
 applied to Lord Granville to be sent out as Special 
 Envoy to renew relations with the Republic of Mexico, 
 and the following is his Lordship's reply : — 
 
 Foreign Office, May 28, 1883. 
 
 My dear Sir Spenser, — Many thanks for your note. 
 I have availed myself of your offer, mentioning if to 
 Gladstone, who highly approved (notwithstanding the hafd 
 blows you once dealt him), and I have submitted your name 
 to the Queen, who, I feel sure, will sanction the step. — 
 Yours sincerely, Granville. 
 
 It is pleasant to place on record this generosity of 
 feeling in one of our greatest statesmen, whose career 
 has now been closed. 
 
CONTENTS 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Preface, ....... xi 
 
 CHAPTER I 
 
 Brooke's Ancestors and Family — His Early Life — Ap- 
 pointed Ensign in the Madras Native Infantry — 
 Campaign in Burmah — Is wounded and leaves the 
 Service — Makes Two Voyages to China — Death of 
 His Father — Cruise in the Yacht * Royalist,' . i 
 
 CHAPTER II 
 
 Expedition to Borneo — First Visit to Sarawak — Voyage 
 TO Celebes — Second Visit to Sarawak — Joins Muda 
 Hassim's Army — Brooke's Account of the Progress of 
 the Civil War — It is ended under the Influence of 
 His active Interference — He Saves the Lives of the 
 Rebel Chiefs, . . . . • .11 
 
 CHAPTER III 
 
 Third Visit to Sarawak — Makota intrigues against 
 Brooke — Visit of the Steamer * Diana' — He is 
 granted the Government of Sarawak — His Palace — 
 Captain Kf.ppel of H.M.S. *Dido' visits Sarawak — 
 Expedition against the Seribas Pirates — Visit of Sir 
 Edward Belcher — Rajah Brooke's Increased Influence 
 — Visit to the Straits Settlements — Is wounded in 
 Sumatra — The 'Dido' returns to Sarawak — Further 
 Operations — Negotiations with British Government 
 — Captain Bethune and Mr Wise arrive in Sarawak, 43 
 xxi 
 
xxii CONTENTS 
 
 CHAPTER IV 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Sir Thomas Cochrane in Brunei — Attack on Sherif 
 
 OSMAN MUDA HaSSIM IN PoWER LiNGIRE's ATTEMPT 
 
 TO TAKE Rajah Brooke's Head — Massacre of Muda 
 Hassim and Budrudin — The Admiral proceeds to 
 Brunei — Treaty with Brunei — Action with Pirate 
 Squadron — Rajah Brooke in England — Is Knighted on 
 His Return to the East — Visits the Sulu Islands — 
 Expedition against Seribas Pirates, . . .71 
 
 CHAPTER V 
 
 Attacks on the Rajah's Policy — Visits to Labuan, Singa- 
 pore AND Penang — Mission to Siam — The Rajah's Return 
 to England — Dinner to Him in London — His Remark- 
 able Speech — Lord Aberdeen's Government appoints a 
 Hostile Commission — The Rajah's Return to Sarawak 
 — Commission at Singapore — Its Findings, . . 103 
 
 CHAPTER VI 
 
 The Chinese surprise the Town of Kuching — The Rajah 
 AND His Officers escape — The Chinese proclaim Them- 
 selves Supreme Rulers — They are attacked by the 
 Malays — Arrival of the * Sir James Brooke' — The 
 Chinese, driven from Kuching, abandon the Interior 
 
 AND retreat to SaMBAS DISARMED BY THE DuTCH, . I4I 
 
 CHAPTER VII 
 
 Events in the Sago Rivers — The Rajah proceeds to England 
 — Cordial Reception — First Paralytic Stroke — Buys 
 BuRRATOR — Troubles in Sarawak — Loyalty of the 
 Population — The Rajah returns to Borneo- — Settles 
 MuKA Affairs with Sultan — Installs Captain Brooke 
 AS Heir Apparent — Again leaves for England — 
 
CONTENTS xxiii 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Sarawak recognised by England — Life at Burrator — 
 Second and Third Attacks of Paralysis — His Death 
 AND Will, . . . . . . .177 
 
 CHAPTER VIII 
 
 Present Condition of Sarawak — Rajah an Irresponsible 
 Ruler — Sarawak Council — General Council — Resi- 
 dents and Tribunals — Employment of Natives — 
 Agriculture — Trade Returns — The Gold Reefs — Coal 
 Deposits — Varied Population — Impolitic Seizure of 
 Limbang — Missions — Extraordinary Panics — Revenui; 
 
 — Administration of Justice — Civil Service — Alli- 
 gators — Satisfactory State of Sarawak, . . 203 
 
 CHAPTER IX 
 
 Present Condition of North Borneo — Lovely Country — 
 Good Harbours on West Coast — Formation of North 
 Borneo Company — Principal Settlements — Tele- 
 graphic Lines — The Railway from Padas — Population 
 — Tobacco Cultivation — Gold — The Public Service — 
 The Police of North Borneo — Methods of Raising 
 Revenue — Receipts and Expenditure — Trade Returns 
 
 — Exports — Interference with Traders — A Great 
 Future for North Borneo, .... 232 
 
 APPENDIX 
 
 Mr Brooke's Memorandum on His proposed Expedition to 
 Borneo, Written in 1838, Reprinted from Vol. I. of 
 *The Private Letters of Sir James Brooke, K.C.B., 
 Rajah of Sarawak.' Edited by J. C.Templer, Barrister- 
 at-Law (Bentley, 1853), . . . .259 
 
 Index, ........ 291 
 
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS 
 
 Portrait of Sir James Brooke, after the Picturf, 
 BY Sir Francis Grant, P.R.A., in the possession 
 of thf. Author, ..... Frontispkce 
 
 Map of Sarawak and its Dependencif.s at the closk 
 
 of Sir James Brooke's Government, . . To face page 49 
 
 Map of Borneo and part of the Eastern Archi- 
 pelago, shewing British Territories, British 
 Protectorates and Federated Malay States, . To face page 96 
 
OF THE 
 
 : UNIVERSITY 1 
 
 V OF / 
 
 Rajah Brooke 
 
 CHAPTER I 
 
 Brooke's ancestors and family — his early life 
 
 ^APPOINTED ensign IN THE MADRAS NATIVE 
 
 INFANTRY CAMPAIGN IN BURMAH IS WOUNDED 
 
 AND LEAVES THE SERVICE MAKES TWO VOYAGES 
 
 TO CHINA DEATH OF HIS FATHER CRUISE IN 
 
 THE YACHT ^ ROYALIST ' 
 
 James Brooke was the second son of Mr Thomas 
 Brooke of the Honourable East India Company's 
 Bengal Civil Service, and of Anna Maria Stuart, 
 his wife. Their family consisted of two sons and 
 four daughters. One of the latter, Emma, married 
 the Rev. E. C. Johnson, Vicar of White Lacking- 
 ton ; another, Margaret, married the Rev. Anthony 
 Savage ; the eldest son, Henry, died unmarried after 
 a short career in the Indian army. 
 
 Mr Thomas Brooke was the seventh in descent 
 from Sir Thomas Vyner, who, as Lord Mayor of 
 London, entertained Oliver Cromwell in the Guild- 
 hall in 1654 ; whilst his only son, Sir Robert Vyner, 
 
2 BUILDERS OF GREATER BRITAIN 
 
 who had taken the opposite side in those civil con- 
 tests, received Charles II. in the city six years 
 later. On the death of Sir Robert's only son 
 George the baronetcy became exthict, and the 
 family estate of Eastbury, in Essex, reverted to 
 the two daughters of Sir Thomas Vyner, from one 
 of whom, Edith, the Brooke family is derived, as 
 one of her descendants married a Captain Brooke, 
 who was Rajah Brooke's great-grandfather.^ 
 
 Mr Thomas Brooke, though not distinguished 
 by remarkable talent, was a straightforward, honest 
 civilian, and his wife was a most lovable woman, 
 who gained the affections of all those with whom 
 she was brought into contact. She always enjoyed 
 the most perfect confidence of her distinguished 
 son. To her are addressed some of his finest 
 letters, in which he pours forth his generous ideas 
 for the promotion of the welfare of the people 
 whom he had been called upon to govern. 
 
 James Brooke was born on the 29th of April 
 1803 at Secrore, the European suburb of Benares, 
 and he remained in India until he was twelve 
 years old, when he was sent to England to the 
 care of Mrs Brooke, his paternal grandmother, who 
 had established herself in Reigate. He shortly after- 
 wards went to Norwich Grammar School, at that 
 time under Dr Valpy, but he remained there only 
 
 * These details are taken from Miss Jacob's Life of the Rajah of 
 Sarawak, Vol. I., page i. 
 
RAJAH BROOKE 3 
 
 a couple of years, as, after the freedom of his life 
 in India, discipline was irksome to him, and he ran 
 away home to his grandmother. I never heard him 
 say much about the master, but he loved and was 
 beloved by many of his schoolfellows, and showed 
 even then, by his influence over the boys, that he 
 was a born leader of men. 
 
 About this time his parents returned from India 
 and settled at Combe Grove, near Bath, where 
 they collected their children around them. A 
 private tutor was engaged to educate young Brooke, 
 but it could have been only for a comparatively 
 short time, as in 18 19 he received his ensign's 
 commission in the 6th Madras Native Infantry, and 
 soon started for India. He was promoted to his 
 lieutenancy in 1821, and in the following year 
 was made a Sub-Assistant Commissary-General, a 
 post for which, as he used to say, he was emin- 
 ently unfitted. 
 
 When the war with Burmah broke out in 1824 
 Brooke found himself thoroughly in his element. 
 As the English army advanced into Assam the 
 general in command found himself much hampered 
 in his movements by the want of cavalry. Brooke 
 partly relieved him of this difficulty ; his offer to 
 raise a body of horsemen was accepted. By the 
 orders of the general he called for recruits, who could 
 ride, from the different regiments, and soon had 
 under him an efficient body of men, who under- 
 
4 BUILDERS OF GREATER BRITAIN 
 
 took scouting duties. He found it difficult to keep 
 them in hand, for the moment they saw an enemy 
 they would charge, and then scatter in every 
 direction where they thought a Burmese might be 
 concealed. 
 
 During an action in January 1825 he performed 
 very efficient service with his irregular cavalry, 
 charging wherever any body of Burmese collected. 
 He received the thanks of the general, and his 
 conduct was mentioned in despatches as 'most 
 conspicuous.' Two days later occurred an instance 
 of what is almost unknown in our army. A com- 
 pany of native troops had been ordered to attack a 
 stockade manned by Burmese ; the English officer 
 in command advanced until, on turning a clump of 
 trees, he came well under firei; then, losing his 
 nerve, he bolted into the jungle. Brooke arrived 
 at that moment, saw the infantry wavering, threw 
 himself from his horse, assumed the command, and 
 thus encouraged they charged the stockade, but 
 Brooke literally ' foremost, fighting fell.' Seeing their 
 leader fall, the men were again about to retreat, 
 when Colonel Richards, advancing with reinforce- 
 ments, restored the fight, and in a few minutes 
 the place was taken, though with heavy loss. No 
 attempts were ever made to turn these strong 
 stockades, and thus the army suffered severely and 
 to no purpose. 
 
 I have often heard Sir James Brooke tell the 
 
RAJAH BROOKE 5 
 
 story. He had been sent out to reconnoitre ; 
 found the enemy strongly posted, and suspecting 
 an ambuscade, galloped back to warn his superior 
 officer, but too late, as firing had already com- 
 menced, and the infantry, without a leader, were 
 confused. He placed himself at their head, but as 
 he charged he felt a thud, and fell, losing all con- 
 sciousness. After the action was over, his colonel, 
 who had seen him fall, inquired about young 
 Brooke, and was told that he was dead ; but 
 examining the fallen officer himself, found him 
 still alive and had him removed to hospital. A 
 slug had lodged in his lungs, and for months he 
 lay between life and death. It was not, in fact, 
 until August that he was strong enough to be 
 removed, and then only in a canoe. He was 
 paddled down a branch of the Bramapootra, rarely 
 suffering from pain, but gazing pensively at the 
 fast-running stream and the fine jungle that lined 
 its banks ; in after life it seemed to him as a dream. 
 On the Medical Board at Calcutta reporting that 
 a change of climate was necessary, he was given a 
 long furlough. He returned to England and joined 
 his family at Bath. The voyage did him some good, 
 but the wound continued very troublesome, and 
 at times it appeared as if he could not recover. 
 After the slug had been extracted, however, he 
 gradually got better, so that in July 1829 ^^ was 
 enabled to embark on board the Company's ship 
 
6 BUILDERS OF GREATER BRITAIN 
 
 Cam Brae; but fate was against his again joining 
 the Indian army. This vessel was wrecked, and 
 when, in the following March, he sailed for the 
 East on board the Huntley Castle^ she was so 
 delayed by bad weather, that when she called in 
 at Madras Brooke found that he could not join 
 his regiment before the legal expiration of his 
 leave. He consequently resigned the service and 
 proceeded in the Huntley Castle to China. 
 
 Brooke never cared much for the East India 
 Company's service, and as he had formed friendships 
 on board the Huntley Castle he preferred continuing in 
 her to remaining idle in India awaiting the Directors' 
 decision, which, even if favourable, could scarely arrive 
 before twelve months had expired. The decision was 
 favourable ; but as young Brooke had in the meantime 
 left Madras the matter dropped. The Indiaman first 
 touched at the Island of Penang, one of the Straits 
 Settlements, and here Brooke had an opportunity of 
 seeing what lovely islands there were in the Further 
 East. It is not necessary to dwell on this voyage, as 
 nothing of importance occurred during it ; but his stay 
 in China made a deep impression on Brooke's mind. 
 He saw how the Chinese ill-treated and bullied our 
 countrymen, and how the East India Company sub- 
 mitted to every insult in order not to imperil their trade. 
 
 After the usual stay in the Canton River, the 
 Huntley Castle returned to England, and Brooke 
 found himself at home with no employment whatever. 
 
RAJAH BROOKE 7 
 
 He formed many projects ; the favourite one, which 
 he had discussed with the officers of the Huntley Castle^ 
 was to purchase a ship, load her with suitable goods, 
 and sail for China or the adjacent markets. But as 
 none of the friends had any capital, Brooke confided 
 their views to his father, and naturally met with the 
 objection that his son was not a trader and never 
 could become one. However, in the end, the young 
 fellow prevailed. The brig Findlay was bought, laden 
 with goods, and with his partner, Kennedy, formerly of 
 the Huntley Castle^ and his friend, Harry Wright, also of 
 the same vessel, he set sail for the Further East. This 
 voyage was not destined to be a success. Brooke 
 wished to introduce on board the easy discipline of a 
 yacht, whilst Kennedy, who was captain, went to 
 the other extreme and would insist upon the severe 
 discipline of the navy, without its safeguards. Differ- 
 ences soon arose, and as they found trade by interlopers 
 was not encouraged, Brooke went to see Mr Jardine, of 
 the firm of Messrs Jardine, Matheson & Company, and 
 laid the case before him. The shrewd man of business 
 could not but smile at the idea of this elegant yovmg 
 soldier managing a trading speculation. He, however, 
 agreed to buy vessel and cargo, and told the partners 
 they had better leave the matter in his hands. No 
 objection was raised, and Mr Jardine so judiciously 
 invested in silks the amount he had arranged to pay, 
 that in the end comparatively little loss accrued, none 
 of which was allowed by Brooke to fall on Kennedy. 
 
8 BUILDERS OF GREATER BRITAIN 
 
 On his return to England Brooke wearied of 
 continued leisure, and although he yachted about the 
 Southern Coast and the Channel Islands, he longed 
 for some sphere of action which could bring his great 
 abilities into play. The death of his father, in 
 December 1835, gave him complete independence. 
 The fortune left was sufficient to provide for his 
 wife, and to give to each of his children ^^30,000. 
 Brooke now decided to carry out the plan he had 
 formed since his first voyage to China, which was to 
 buy a small vessel and start on a voyage of discovery. 
 But this time there were to be no partners and no 
 trade ; he intended to be complete master in his own 
 ship. He ultimately fixed his choice on the Royalist^ 
 a schooner yacht of about 142 tons burden. He was 
 delighted with his purchase, and soon tried her 
 qualifications by starting in the autumn of 1836 for 
 a cruise in the Mediterranean. There he visited 
 most of the principal cities, including Constantinople, 
 which in after years afforded him a constant subject of 
 conversation with the Malays, who interested them- 
 selves in every detail of his visit. ' Roum ' to them is 
 still the great city where dwells the head of the 
 Mohammedan religion.^ Among those who accom- 
 panied him on this cruise was his nephew, John Brooke 
 
 ^ When I first went to live in Brunei, the Sultan of Borneo's capital, 
 there was living there an old haji who was visiting Egypt at the time 
 of Buonaparte's invasion, and who remembered well the Battle of the 
 Nile and the subsequent expulsion of the French by the English. 
 
RAJAH BROOKE 9 
 
 Johnson, afterwards known as Captain Brooke, and also 
 John Templer, who was then and for many years after- 
 wards one of his warm friends and enthusiastic admirers. 
 
 Though determined to make a voyage of discovery 
 in the Eastern Archipelago, Brooke was not able to 
 leave England till December 1838. He employed all 
 his spare time in studying the subject, finding out 
 what was already known, and drawing attention to 
 his plans by a memoir he wrote on Borneo and 
 the neighbouring islands, summaries of which were 
 published in the Atherneum and in the journal o'i the 
 Geographical Society. He felt a great admiration for 
 Sir Stamford Raffles, and ardently desired to carry out his 
 views in dealing with the peoples of the Further East. 
 
 How well Brooke sums up the feelings which 
 prompted him to undertake what was in every respect 
 a perilous enterprise ! * Could I carry my vessel to 
 places where the keel of European ship never before 
 ploughed the waters ; could I plant my foot where 
 white man's foot had never before been ; could I gaze 
 upon scenes which educated eyes had never looked on, 
 see man in the rudest state of nature, I should be 
 content without looking to further rewards.' 
 
 It is difficult, even under the most favourable 
 circumstances, to convey to the mind of a reader an 
 exact portrait of the man whose deeds you desire to 
 chronicle ; but as I lived for nearly twenty years with 
 James Brooke, I feel I know him well in all his 
 strength and his weakness. Let me try to describe 
 
lo BUILDERS OF GREATER BRITAIN 
 
 him. He stood about five feet ten inches in height ; 
 he had an open, handsome countenance ; an active, 
 supple frame ; a daring courage that no danger could 
 daunt ; a sweet, affectionate disposition v^^hich endeared 
 him to all who knew him well. Those whom he 
 attended in sickness could never forget his almost 
 womanly tenderness, and those who attended him, his 
 courageous endurance. His power of attaching both 
 friends and followers was unrivalled, and this extended 
 to nearly every native with whom he came in contact. 
 His few failings were his too great frankness, his 
 readiness to believe that men were what they professed 
 to be, or should have been, and (for a short time in 
 latter years) that the unsophisticated lower classes 
 were more to be trusted and relied on than those 
 above them in birth and education. His only weak- 
 nesses were, in truth, such as arose from his great 
 goodness of heart and his confiding nature. 
 
 No painter ever succeeded better in conveying a 
 man's self into a portrait than Sir Francis Grant in 
 his picture of Sir James Brooke. I have it now before 
 me, and all I have said of his appearance may be seen 
 at a glance. Although thirty years have passed since 
 we lost him, he remains as much enshrined as ever in 
 the hearts of his few surviving friends. 
 
 This brief preliminary chapter ended, I will now 
 describe Brooke's voyage to Borneo, and the events 
 which succeeded that remarkable undertaking. 
 
CHAPTER II 
 
 EXPEDITION TO BORNEO FIRST VISIT TO SARAWAK 
 
 VOYAGE TO CELEBES SECOND VISIT TO SARAWAK 
 
 JOINS MUDA HASSIm's ARMY BROOKE's AC- 
 COUNT OF THE PROGRESS OF THE CIVIL WAR 
 
 IT IS ENDED UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF HIS 
 
 ACTIVE INTERFERENCE HE SAVES THE LIVES OF 
 
 THE REBEL CHIEFS 
 
 Brooke sailed from Devonport on December i6, 
 1838, in the Royalist^ belonging to the Royal Yacht 
 Squadron, which, in foreign ports, admitted her to the 
 same privileges as a ship of war, and enabled her to carry 
 a white ensign. As the Royalist is still an historic 
 character in the Eastern Archipelago, I must let the 
 owner describe her as she was in 1838. 'She sails 
 fast ; is conveniently fitted up ; is armed with six 
 six-pounders, and a number of swords and small arms 
 of all sorts; carries four boats and provisions for four 
 months. Her principal defect is being too sharp in 
 the floor. She is a good sea boat, and as well calculated 
 for the service as could be desired. Most of the 
 hands have been with me for three years, and the 
 rest are highly recommended.' 
 
12 BUILDERS OF GREATER BRITAIN 
 
 Whilst the Royalist is speeding on prosperously 
 towards Singapore, and calling at Rio Janeiro and 
 the Cape, let me sum up in a few words the object 
 of the voyage. 
 
 The memorandum ^ which Brooke drew up on the 
 then state of the Indian Archipelago (1838), shows 
 how carefully he had studied the whole subject. He 
 first expounds the policy which England should 
 follow if she wished to recover the position which 
 she wantonly threw away after the peace of 1815 ; 
 he then explains what he proposed to do for the 
 furtherance of our knowledge of Borneo and the 
 other great islands to the East. Circumstances, 
 however, as he anticipated might be the case, made 
 him change the direction of his first local voyage. 
 
 The Royalist arrived in Singapore in May 1839, 
 and remained at that port till the end of July, refitting 
 and preparing for future work. There Brooke re- 
 ceived news which induced him to give up for the 
 present the proposed voyage to Marudu Bay, the 
 northernmost district of Borneo, and visit Sarawak 
 instead. Rajah Muda Hassim, uncle to the Sultan 
 of Brunei, was then residing there, and being of a 
 kindly disposition, had taken care of the crew of a 
 shipwrecked English vessel, and sent the men in 
 safety to Singapore. This unlooked-for conduct on 
 the part of a Malay chief roused the interest of the 
 Singapore merchants, and Brooke was requested to 
 
 ^ See Appendix. 
 
RAJAH BROOKE 13 
 
 call in at Sarawak and deliver to the Malay prince a 
 letter and presents from the Chamber of Commerce. 
 
 This was a fortunate diversion of his voyage, as 
 at that time Marudu was governed by a notorious 
 pirate chief. The bay was a rendezvous for some of 
 the most daring marauders in the Archipelago, and 
 nothing could have been done there to further our 
 knowledge of the interior. 
 
 All being ready, and the crew strengthened by 
 eight Singapore Malay seamen,^ athletic fellows, capital 
 at the oar, and to save the white men the work of 
 wooding and watering, the Royalist sailed for Borneo 
 on the 27th of July, and in five days was anchored 
 off* the coast of Sambas. All the charts were found 
 to be wrong, so that every care had to be taken 
 whilst working up the coast. A running survey 
 was made, and on the nth August Brooke found 
 himself at the mouth of the Sarawak river. 
 
 When Brooke first arrived in Borneo, the Sultan 
 Omar Ali claimed all the coast from the capital to 
 Tanjong Datu, whilst further south was Sambas, 
 under the influence of the Dutch ; but the rule of 
 Omar Ali was little more than nominal, as each chief 
 in the different districts exercised almost unlimited 
 power, and paid little or no tribute to the central 
 Government. 
 
 At the time of Brooke's first visit to Saraw^ak the 
 
 ' I knew one of them, Subu, the favourite of every foreigner in 
 Sarawak. 
 
14 BUILDERS OF GREATER BRITAIN 
 
 Malays of the country had broken out into revolt against 
 the oppressive rule of Pangeran Makota, Governor of 
 the district, and fearing that they might call in the aid of 
 the Sambas Malays, and thus place the country under 
 the control of the Dutch, the Sultan sent down 
 Rajah Muda Hassim, his uncle and heir-presumptive, 
 to endeavour to stifle the rebellion ; but three years 
 had passed, and he had done nothing. He could 
 prevent the rebels from communicating with the sea, 
 but he was powerless in the interior. 
 
 On hearing of the arrival of the Royalist at the 
 mouth of the river, Muda Hassim despatched a deputa- 
 tion to welcome the stranger and invite him to the 
 capital — rather a grand name for a small village. 
 Brooke soon got his vessel under weigh, and proceeded 
 up the Sarawak, and after one slight mishap, anchored 
 the next day opposite the rajah's house, and saluted 
 his flag with twenty-one guns. 
 
 Muda Hassim received Brooke in state, and the 
 interview is thus described : ' The rajah was seated 
 in his hall of audience, which, outside, is nothing but 
 a large shed, erected on piles, but within decorated 
 with taste. Chairs were arranged on either side of 
 the ruler, who occupied the head seat. Our party 
 were placed on one hand, and on the other sat his 
 brother Mahommed, and Makota and some other of 
 the principal chiefs, whilst immediately behind him 
 his twelve younger brothers were seated. The dress 
 of Muda Hassim was simple, but of rich material, and 
 
RAJAH BROOKE 15 
 
 most of the principal men were well, and even superbly 
 dressed. His countenance is plain, but intelligent and 
 highly pleasing, and his manners perfectly easy. His 
 reception was kind, and, I am given to understand, 
 highly flattering. We sat, however, trammelled by 
 the formalities of state, and our conversation did not 
 extend beyond kind inquiries and professions of friend- 
 ship.' Brooke's next interview was more informal, 
 and closer relations were established, which encouraged 
 him to send his interpreter, Mr Williamson, to ask 
 permission to visit the Dyaks. This was readily 
 granted, but before commencing his explorations, 
 he received a private visit from Pangeran Makota. 
 He was probably the most intelligent Malay whom 
 we ever met in Borneo, frank and open in manner, 
 but looked upon as the most cunning of the rajah's 
 advisers. He was much puzzled, as were indeed all 
 the nobles, as to the true object of Brooke's visit to 
 Borneo, and confident in his power, determined to 
 find it out. And though Brooke had in reality no 
 object but geographical discovery, he could not con- 
 vince his guest of that fact, who scented some deep 
 intrigue under the guise of a harmless visit. 
 
 Brooke now took advantage of the rajah's permission 
 to explore some of the neighbouring rivers, and he was 
 shown first the fine agricultural district of Samarahan, 
 but only met Malays. His next visit was to the 
 Dyak tribe of Sibuyows, who lived on the river 
 Lundu, which discharged its waters not many miles 
 
i6 BUILDERS OF GREATER BRITAIN 
 
 from Cape Datu, the southern boundary of Borneo 
 proper. 
 
 From Tanjong Datu, as far as the river Rejang, 
 the interior populations are called Dyaks — Land or 
 Sea Dyaks — the former, a quiet, agricultural people, 
 living in the far interior, plundered and oppressed by 
 the Malays ; they are to be found in Saravs^ak, Sama- 
 rahan and Sadong. The Sea Dyaks vv^ere much more 
 numerous, and though under the influence of the 
 Malays and Arab adventurers, were too powerful ever 
 to be ill-treated. They occupied the districts of Seribas 
 and Batang Lupar, and those on the left bank of the 
 Rejang, with a few scattered villages in other parts, 
 such as this Sibuyow tribe on the Lundu. 
 
 The chief of this branch of the Sea Dyaks, the 
 Orang Kaya Tumangong, was always a great 
 favourite of the English officers in Sarawak. His 
 was the first tribe that Brooke visited, and he then 
 formed a high opinion of the brave man and his 
 gallant sons, who were faithful unto death, and who 
 were always the foremost when any fighting was on 
 hand. 
 
 The village they occupied was, in fact, but one huge 
 house, nearly six hundred feet in length, and the inner 
 half divided into fifty separate residences for the fifty 
 families that constituted the tribe. The front half of 
 this long building was an open space, whicli was used 
 by the inhabitants during the day for every species of 
 work, and at night was occupied by the widowers, 
 
RAJAH BROOKE 17 
 
 bachelors and boys as their bedroom. The Sea 
 Dyaks are much cleaner than the Land Dyaks, and 
 the girls of Sakarang, for instance, looked as well 
 washed as any of their sisters in May Fair. 
 
 The distinction of Land and Sea Dyaks was due 
 to the fact that the former never ventured near the 
 salt water, whilst the latter boldly pushed out to sea 
 in their light bangkongs or war boats, and cruised 
 along at least two thousand miles of coast. When the 
 Royalist first arrived in Sarawak the majority of the 
 Sea Dyaks were piratically inclined. This practice 
 arose in all probability from their inter-tribal wars — 
 the Seribas against the Lingas and Sibuyows — and from 
 their custom of seeking heads — almost a religious 
 observance. When a party of young men went out to 
 search for the means of marrying, and had failed to 
 secure the heads of enemies, we can easily imagine 
 their not being too particular about killing any weaker 
 party they might meet, even if they were not enemies, 
 and, finding it met with no retaliation, continuing the 
 practice. In this they were encouraged by the Malay 
 chiefs who lived among them, and who obtained, on 
 easy terms, the women and children captives who fell 
 into the hands of the Dyak raiders. Although the 
 Linga and Sibuyow branches of the Sea Dyaks hunted 
 for heads, they were the heads of their enemies, whilst 
 the Seribas, and, in a lesser degree, the Sea Dyaks of 
 the Sakarang and the Rejang spared no one they 
 
 could overcome. 
 
 B 
 
1 8 BUILDERS OF GREATER BRITAIN 
 
 Brooke's next visit was to the river Sadong, to the 
 north-east of Sarav^^ak, and there he met Sherif Sahib, 
 a great encourager of piracy of every kind. Some- 
 times he received the Lanuns,^ the boldest marauders 
 who ever invested the Far Eastern seas, bought their 
 captives and supplied them with food, whilst at others 
 he would aid the Seribas and Sakarangs in their forays 
 on the almost defenceless tribes of the interior, or 
 share their plunder acquired on the coasts of the 
 Dutch possessions. 
 
 Finding that the rebellion in the interior of the 
 Sarawak would prevent him from visiting it, 
 Brooke decided to return to Singapore. After a 
 friendly parting with Muda Hassim, whose last 
 words were, 'Do not forget me,' the Royalist fell 
 down the river. The night before Brooke had 
 settled to sail he was joined by a small Sarawak 
 boat with a dozen men, who were to pilot him out ; 
 but about midnight shouts were heard from the shore 
 of ' Dyak ! Dyak ' ! In an instant a blue light was 
 burnt on board the yacht and a gun fired, and then 
 there came a dead silence. Brooke sprang into a 
 boat and pushed oiF to the Malay prahu, to find 
 half the crew wounded. It seemed that a cruising 
 party of Seribas Dyaks had no doubt seen the fire 
 lighted on the shore, and had noiselessly floated up 
 with the flood tide and attacked the Malays, not 
 
 ' The Lanuns came from the great island of Mindanau, in the Southern 
 Philippines, which was a nominal possession of Spain, and cruised in 
 well-armed vessels. 
 
RAJAH BROOKE 19 
 
 observing in the dark night the Royalist at anchor. 
 This occurrence showed how necessary it was to be 
 on one's guard at all times. 
 
 The news brought by Brooke was well received in 
 Singapore, as it opened up a new country to British 
 commerce, and prevented the Dutch gaining a foot- 
 ing there, with their vexatious trade regulations, 
 which practically debarred native vessels from visit- 
 ing British ports. 
 
 As the Rajah Muda Hassim had assured his English 
 visitor that the rebellion in the interior of Sarawak 
 would collapse before the next fine season, he decided 
 to pass the interval in visiting Celebes, a most attrac- 
 tive island, then but imperfectly known. 
 
 No part of Brooke's journals is more interesting 
 than the account of his experiences in Bugis land. 
 They are, however, simple travels, without many 
 personal incidents to be noted ; but here, as elsewhere, 
 he acquired the same ascendency over the natives, 
 and the memory of his visit remained impressed on 
 the minds of the Bugis rulers, who followed his 
 advice in regulating their kingdoms, and especially 
 listened to his counsels when he pointed out the 
 danger of entering into armed conflict with their 
 Dutch neighbours. 
 
 The following observations extracted from Brooke's 
 journals are remarkable : ' I must mention the 
 effect of European domination in the Archi- 
 pelago. The first voyagers from the West found 
 
20 BUILDERS OF GREATER BRITAIN 
 
 the natives rich and powerful, with strong estab- 
 lished governments and a thriving trade. The 
 rapacious European has reduced them to their 
 present position. Their governments have been 
 broken up, the old states decomposed by treachery, 
 bribery and intrigue, their possessions snatched from 
 them under flimsy pretences, their trade restricted, 
 their vices encouraged, their virtues repressed, and 
 their energies paralysed or rendered desperate, till 
 there is every reason to fear the gradual extinction 
 of the Malay. Let these considerations, fairly re- 
 flected on and enlarged, be presented to the candid 
 and liberal mind, and I think that, however strong 
 the present prepossessions, they will shake the belief 
 in the advantages to be gained by European ascend- 
 ency, as it has heretofore been conducted, and will 
 convince the most sceptical of the miseries immedi- 
 ately and prospectively flowing from European rule 
 as generally constituted.' 
 
 The above observations naturally apply to the 
 Dutch and Spanish systems, which at that time 
 alone had sway in the Archipelago, as England, 
 with its small trading depots, did not actively inter- 
 fere with the native princes. Yet it must be con- 
 fessed that Borneo proper, which had generally escaped 
 interference from their European neighbours, fell from 
 a position fairly important to the most degraded state, 
 entirely owing to the incapacity of its native rulers 
 and not to outside influences. 
 
RAJAH BROOKE 21 
 
 The visits to Sarawak and Celebes tended to con- 
 firm Brooke's convictions that, if England w^ould 
 but act on a settled plan and on a sufficient scale, 
 she could still save and develop the independent 
 native states, w^ithout any necessity of occupying 
 them. 
 
 In the year 1776 the Sultan of Sulu ceded to 
 England all his possessions in the north of Borneo, 
 and the East India Company formed a small settle- 
 ment on the Island of Balambangan ; this being 
 on a very inefficient scale, w^as easily surprised by 
 pirates and destroyed. Later on another attempt w^as 
 made by the Company to establish themselves on 
 the island, but it was soon abandoned. 
 
 Brooke, after carefully studying the subject, came to 
 the same conclusion as Sir Stamford Raffles and Colonel 
 Farquhar had done before him, that it was a mistake 
 to take small islands ; but that, on the contrary, this 
 country should establish a settlement on the mainland 
 of Borneo. As all the independent states of the Archi- 
 pelago are filled with a maritime population, islands 
 are not so safe from attack as the mainland, where 
 the interior population is rarely warlike. He recom- 
 mended that England should take possession of 
 Marudu Bay, establish herself strongly there, be 
 constantly supported by the navy, and from thence 
 the Governor, with diplomatic powers, could visit 
 all the independent chiefs and make such treaties 
 with them as would prevent their being absorbed by 
 
22 BUILDERS OF GREATER BRITAIN 
 
 other European States. His policy was of the most 
 liberal kind ; he would have sought no exclusive trade 
 privileges, but he would have preserved their political 
 independence. He would have established in the 
 more important states carefully - selected English 
 agents, to encourage the chiefs in useful reforms 
 and to prevent restrictions on commerce. On the 
 mainland he would not have instantly established 
 English rule, except in a well-chosen, central spot, 
 and there he would have awaited the invitation of 
 the chiefs to send an English officer to aid them in 
 governing. 
 
 Had this great plan been executed on a suitable 
 scale Brooke's name would have been enshrined 
 among the greatest builders of the British Empire. 
 It is not too late even now ; but where shall we 
 find another Brooke to carry it out ? North Borneo 
 is at present under the protection of Great Britain, 
 but it is owned and administered by a Chartered 
 Company, and in these days cannot, under such 
 conditions, hold the same position as a Crown 
 colony. 
 
 The time seems propitious. The Spaniards have 
 lost their hold over the Philippines, and Sulu and the 
 great island of Mindanau will soon be free from their 
 depressing influence ; even the Dutch are acting on 
 a more enlightened system, which would be en- 
 couraged, if England took an active interest in the 
 Archipelago. The North Borneo Company would 
 
RAJAH BROOKE 23 
 
 scarcely refuse a proposal to place the country under 
 our direct rule, and with another Sir Hugh Low 
 it might be made a valuable possession, and would 
 gradually dominate the whole of the Archipelago. 
 
 The Philippines will now be governed by one of 
 the most progressive nations in the world, and the 
 effect of their rule will be far-reaching. It would 
 appear to be advisable that Great Britain should 
 simultaneously take over North Borneo, as the condi- 
 tions heretofore existing have so completely changed. 
 
 From Celebes Brooke returned to Singapore to 
 refit. His plans were to visit Borneo again, then 
 proceed to Manila, and so home by Cape Horn. He 
 arrived at our settlement in May, left it again in 
 August, and reached Sarawak on the 29th, to find 
 himself cordially received by Muda Hassim. The 
 war was not over, nor was the end of it in sight. 
 A few half-starved Dyaks had deserted the Sarawak 
 Malays, and come into the Bornean camp to be fed ; 
 but the route to Sambas was still open, and it was 
 suspected that supplies were furnished by the Sultan 
 of Sambas, who coveted the territory. 
 
 After considerable discussion and consideration, 
 Brooke thought he would visit the headquarters of 
 the army which was supposed to be besieging the 
 enemy ; but he found it seven miles below the 
 principal hostile fort. The spot was called Ledah 
 Tanah, or the tongue of land, where the two 
 branches of the river meet. It was the site of the 
 
24 BUILDERS OF GREATER BRITAIN 
 
 old capital, and even when I was there some ten 
 years later the iron-wood posts of the houses still 
 existed, untouched by time, though over sixty years 
 in use. As Brooke expected, Makota, at the head 
 of the army, was doing nothing, and as he rejected 
 the advice of his white visitor, and seemed determined 
 not to advance nearer to the enemy, Brooke returned 
 to Sarawak, and even announced his departure, as 
 the North-East monsoon was coming on, and he did 
 not wish to face it on his voyage to Manila. How- 
 ever, Muda Hassim appeared to feel his departure so 
 acutely, that his heart smote him, and he agreed to 
 visit the army once more, particularly as the Land 
 Dyaks were now really leaving the rebels and joining 
 the Bornean forces. He therefore returned to the 
 camp, and by his energy compelled Makota to act. 
 The stockade at Ledah Tanah was pulled down and 
 moved to within a mile of the enemy's chief fort, 
 Balidah, and gradually stockade after stockade was 
 built, until the most commanding one was erected 
 within three hundred yards of the hostile fort. Brooke 
 sent to the yacht for two six-pounders and a sufficient 
 supply of ammunition, and, with the aid of his men, 
 soon battered down the weak defences of the enemy, 
 and then proposed an assault. But this bold advice 
 was looked upon as insanity, and though promises to 
 advance were freely given, when it came to action 
 they all hung back. At length, wearied with this pro- 
 crastination, Brooke, in spite of the entreaties of all 
 
RAJAH BROOKE 25 
 
 the native chiefs, embarked his guns and returned to 
 the Royalist^ and sent word to the rajah that his 
 stay was utterly useless ; but when Muda Hassim 
 heard the decision, ' his deep regret was so visible 
 that even all the self-command of the native could 
 not disguise it. He begged, he entreated me to 
 stay, and offered me the country, its government 
 and its trade, if I would only stop and not desert 
 him.' 
 
 Though Brooke could not accept the grant then, 
 as it would have been extracted from the rajah's deep 
 distress, he agreed to return to the army ; and once 
 more the guns were embarked in the boats, and every 
 man who could be spared from the Royalist accompanied 
 Brooke to the front. There he met Budrudin, Muda 
 Hassim's favourite brother, with whom he soon con- 
 tracted a friendship which ended only with the Malay 
 prince's life. He was brave, frank and intelligent ; 
 he quickly appreciated the noble character of the 
 white leader of men, and ever after he fully trusted 
 him. 
 
 The episodes of the closing campaign of this civil 
 war were so amusing, that although the story has been 
 published several times, I cannot refrain from repeat- 
 ing it again in the words of the English chief. ^ 
 
 'On the lOth December we reached the fleet and 
 disembarked our guns, taking up our residence in 
 a house, or rather shed, close to the water. The 
 
 ' Voyage of the Dido, Vol. I., page 172, et icq. 
 
26 BUILDERS OF GREATER BRITAIN 
 
 rajah's brother, Pangeran Budrudin, was with the 
 army, and I found him ready and willing to urge 
 upon the other indolent pangerans the proposals I 
 made for vigorous hostilities. We found the grand 
 army in a state of torpor, eating, drinking and walking 
 up to the forts and back again daily ; but having built 
 these imposing structures, and their appearance not 
 driving the enemy away, they were at a loss what 
 to do next, or how to proceed. On my arrival, I 
 once more insisted on mounting the guns in our 
 old forts, and assaulting Balidah under their fire. 
 Makota's timidity and vacillation were too apparent ; 
 but in consequence of Budrudin's overawing presence 
 he was obliged, from shame, to yield his assent. The 
 order for the attack was fixed as follows : our party 
 of ten (leaving six to serve the guns) were to be 
 headed by myself. Budrudin, Makota, Subtu and 
 all the lesser chiefs were to lead their followers, 
 from sixty to eighty in number, by the same route, 
 whilst fifty or more Chinese, under their captain, were 
 to assault by another path to their left. Makota was 
 to make the paths as near as possible to Balidah, with 
 his Dyaks, who were to extract the sudas and fill up 
 the holes. The guns having been mounted, and their 
 range ascertained the previous evening, wc ascended 
 to the fort about eight a.m., and at ten opened our fire 
 and kept it up for an hour. The effect was severe. 
 Every shot told upon their thin defences of wood, 
 which fell in many places so as to leave storming 
 
RAJAH BROOKE 27 
 
 breaches. Part of the roof was cut away and tumbled 
 down, and the shower of grape and canister rattled so 
 as to prevent their returning our fire, except from 
 a stray rifle. At mid-day the forces reached the 
 fort, and it was then discovered that Makota had 
 neglected to make any road because it rained the 
 night before ! It was evident that the rebels had 
 gained information of our intentions as they had 
 erected a fringe of bamboo along their defences on 
 the very spot we had agreed to mount. Makota 
 fancied the want of a road would delay the attack ; 
 but I well knew that delay was equivalent to failure, 
 and so it was at once agreed that we should advance 
 without any path. The poor man's cunning and 
 resources were now nearly at an end. He could not 
 refuse to accompany us, but his courage could not 
 be brought to the point, and pale and embarrassed 
 he retired. Everything was ready — Budrudin, the 
 Capitan China and myself, at the head of our men — 
 when he once more appeared, and raised a subtle 
 point of etiquette, which answered his purpose. He 
 represented to Budrudin that the Malays were unani- 
 mously of opinion that the rajah's brother could 
 not expose himself in an assault ; that the dread of 
 the rajah's indignation far exceeded their dread of 
 death ; and in case any accident happened to him, 
 his brother's fury would fall on them. Budrudin 
 was angry, I was angry too, and the doctor most 
 angry of all ; but anger was unavailing. It was clear 
 
28 BUILDERS OF GREATER BRITAIN 
 
 they did not intend to do anything in earnest ; and 
 after much discussion, in which Budrudin insisted if 
 I went he should likewise go, and the Malays insisted 
 that if he went they would not go, it was resolved 
 that we should serve the guns, whilst Abong Mia 
 and the Chinese, not under the captain, should 
 proceed to the assault. But its fate was sealed, and 
 Makota had gained his object ; for neither he nor 
 Subtu thought of exposing themselves to a single 
 shot. Our artillery opened and was beautifully 
 served. The hostile forces attempted to advance, but 
 our fire completely subdued them, as only three rifles 
 answered us, by one of which a seaman was wounded 
 in the hand, but not seriously. Two-thirds of the way 
 the storming party proceeded without the hostile army 
 being aware of their advance, and they might have 
 reached the very foot of the hill without being dis- 
 covered, had not Abong Mia, from excess of piety 
 and rashness, began most loudly to say his prayers. 
 The three rifles began then to play on them. One 
 Chinaman was killed, the whole halted, the prayers 
 were more vehement than ever, and after squatting 
 under cover of the jungle for some time they all 
 returned. It was only what I expected, but I was 
 greatly annoyed by their cowardice and treachery — 
 treachery to their own cause. One lesson, however, 
 I learnt, and that was, that had I assaulted with our 
 small party, we should assuredly have been victimised. 
 The very evening of the failure the rajah came 
 
RAJAH BROOKE 29 
 
 up the river. I would not see him, and only heard 
 that the chiefs got severely reprimanded ; but the 
 effects of reprimand are lost where cowardice is 
 stronger than shame. Inactivity followed, two or 
 three useless forts were built, and Budrudin, much 
 to my regret and to the detriment of the cause, 
 was recalled. 
 
 ' Amongst the straggling arrivals I may mention 
 Pangeran Dallam, with a number of men, consisting 
 of the Orang Bintulu, Meri, Muka and Kayan Dyaks 
 from the interior. Our house, or, as it originally stood, 
 our shed, deserves a brief record. It was about twenty 
 feet long, with a loose floor of reeds and an attap or 
 palm-leaf roof. It served us for some time, but the 
 attempts at theft obliged us to fence it in and 
 divide it into apartments — one at the end served for 
 Middleton, Williamson and myself. Adjoining it was 
 the storeroom and hospital, and the other extreme 
 belonged to the seamen. Our improvements kept 
 pace with our necessities. Theft induced us to shut 
 in our house at the sides, and the unevenness of the 
 reeds suggested the advantage of laying a floor of the 
 bark of trees over them, which, with mats over all, 
 rendered our domicile far from uncomfortable. Our 
 forts gradually extended to the back of the enemy's 
 town, on a ridge of swelling ground, whilst they 
 kept pace with us on the same side of the river on 
 the low ground. The inactivity of our troops had 
 long become a by-word amongst us. It was, indeed. 
 
30 BUILDERS OF GREATER BRITAIN 
 
 truly vexatious, but it was in vain to urge them 
 on, in vain to offer assistance, in vain to propose 
 a joint attack, or even to seek support at their hands ; 
 promises v^ere to be had in plenty, but performances 
 never. 
 
 * At length our leaders resolved on building a fort 
 at Sekundis, thus outflanking the enemy and gain- 
 ing the command of the upper course of the river. 
 The post was certainly an important one, and in 
 consequence they set about it with the happy in- 
 diff^erence which characterises their proceedings. 
 Pangeran Illudin (the most active amongst them) 
 had the building of the fort, assisted by the Orang 
 Kaya Tumangong of Lundu. Makota, Subtu and 
 others w^ere at the next fort, and by chance I was 
 there likewise ; for it seemed to be little apprehended 
 that any interruption would take place, as the Chinese 
 and the greater part of the Malays had been left in 
 the boats. When the fort commenced, however, the 
 enemy crossed the river and divided into two bodies, 
 the one keeping in check the party at Pangeran 
 Gapoor's fort, whilst the other made an attack on 
 the works. The ground was not unfavourable for 
 their purpose, for Pangeran Gapoor's fort was 
 separated from Sekundis by a belt of thick wood 
 which reached down to the river's edge. Sekundis 
 itself, however, stood on clear ground, as did Gapoor's 
 fort. I was with Makota at the latter when the 
 enemy approached through the jungle. The two 
 
RAJAH BROOKE 31 
 
 parties were within easy speaking distance, challeng- 
 ing and threatening each other, but the thickness of 
 the jungle prevented our seeing or penetrating to 
 them. When this body had advanced, the real 
 attack commenced on Sekundis with a fire of 
 musketry, and I was about to proceed to the scene, 
 but was detained by Makota, who assured me there 
 were plenty of men, and that it was nothing at all. 
 As the musketry became thicker, I had my doubts 
 when a Dyak came running through the jungle, and 
 with gestures of impatience and anxiety begged me 
 to assist the party attacked. He had been sent by 
 my old friend the Tumangong of Lundu, to say 
 they could not hold the post unless supported. In 
 spite of Makota*s remonstrances, I struck into the 
 jungle, winded through the narrow path, and, after 
 crossing an ugly stream, emerged on the clear ground. 
 The sight was a pretty one. To the right was the un- 
 finished stockade, defended by the Tumangong ; to the 
 left, at the edge of the forest, about twelve or fifteen 
 of our party, commanded by Illudin, whilst the 
 enemy were stretched along between the points, and 
 kept up a sharp-shooting from the hollow ground on 
 the bank of the river. They fired and loaded and 
 fired, and had gradually advanced on the stockade, 
 as the ammunition of our party failed ; and as we 
 emerged from the jungle, they were within twenty 
 or five-and-twenty yards of the defence. A glance 
 immediately showed me the advantage of our position. 
 
32 BUILDERS OF GREATER BRITAIN 
 
 and I charged with my Englishmen across the padi 
 field, and the instant we appeared on the ridge above 
 the river, in the hollows of which the rebels were 
 seeking protection, their rout was complete. They 
 scampered off in every direction, whilst the Dyaks 
 and Malays pushed them into the river. Our victory 
 was decisive and bloodless ; the scene was changed in 
 an instant, and the defeated foe lost arms and ammuni- 
 tion either on the field of battle or in the river, and our 
 exulting conquerors set no bounds to their triumph. 
 
 ' I cannot omit to mention the name of Si Tundu, 
 a Lanun, the only native who charged with us. 
 His appearance and dress were most striking, the 
 latter being entirely of red, bound round the waist, 
 arms, forehead, etc., with gold ornaments, and in 
 his hand his formidable Bajuk sword. He danced, 
 or rather galloped, across the field close to me, and, 
 mixing with the enemy, was about to despatch a 
 haji, or priest, who was prostrate before him, when 
 one of our people interposed, and saved him by 
 stating that he was a companion of our own. The 
 Lundu Dyaks were very thankful for our support, 
 our praises were loudly sung, and the stockade was 
 concluded. After the rout, Makota, Subtu and Abong 
 Mia arrived on the field ; the last, with forty followers, 
 had ventured half way before the firing ceased, but 
 the detachment, under a paltry subterfuge, halted so 
 as not to be in time. The enemy might have had 
 fifty men at the attack. The defending party con- 
 
RAJAH BROOKE 33 
 
 sisted of about the same number, but the Dyaks 
 had very few muskets. I had a dozen Englishmen, 
 Subu, one of our Singapore boatmen, and Si Tundu. 
 Sekundis was a great point gained, as it hindered the 
 enemy from ascending the river and seeking supplies. 
 
 'Makota, Subtu and the whole tribe arrived as 
 soon as their safety from danger allowed, and none 
 were louder in their own praise, but, nevertheless, 
 their countenances evinced some sense of shame, 
 which they endeavoured to disguise by the use of 
 their tongues. The Chinese came really to afford 
 assistance, but too late. We remained until the 
 stockade of Sekundis was finished, while the enemy 
 kept up a wasteful fire from the opposite side of the 
 river, which did no harm. 
 
 ' The next great object was to follow up the advan- 
 tage by crossing the stream, but day after day some 
 fresh excuse brought on fresh delay, and Makota 
 built a new fort and made a new road within a 
 hundred yards of our old position. I cannot detail 
 further our proceedings for many days, which con- 
 sisted, on my part, in efforts to get something done, 
 and on the others, a close adherence to the old system 
 of promising everything and doing nothing. The 
 Chinese, like the Malays, refused to act ; but on their 
 part it was not fear, but disinclination. By degrees, 
 however, the preparations for the new fort were com- 
 plete, and I had gradually gained over a party of the 
 natives to my views ; and, indeed, amongst the Malays, 
 
34 BUILDERS OF GREATER BRITAIN 
 
 the bravest of them had joined themselves to us, and 
 what was better, we had Datu Pangerang and 
 thirteen Illanuns, and the Capitan China allowed 
 me to take his men whenever I wanted them. 
 My weight and consequence was increased, and 
 I rarely moved now without a long train of 
 followers. The next step, whilst crossing the river 
 was uncertain, was to take my guns up to Gapoor's 
 fort, which was about six or seven hundred yards 
 from the town, and half the distance from a rebel 
 fort on the river's bank. 
 
 ' Panglima Rajah, the day after our guns were in 
 battery, took it into his head to build a fort on the 
 river's side, close to the town in front, and between 
 two of the enemy's forts. It was a bold undertaking 
 for the old man after six weeks of uninterrupted 
 repose. At night, the wood being prepared, the 
 party moved down, and worked so silently that they 
 were not discovered till their defence was nearly 
 finished, when the enemy commenced a general firing 
 from all their forts, returned by a similar firing from 
 all ours, none of the parties being quite clear what 
 they were firing at or about, and the hottest from 
 either party being equally harmless. We were at the 
 time about going to bed in our habitation, but ex- 
 pecting some reverse I set off to the stockade where 
 our guns were placed, and opened a fire upon the 
 town and the stockade near us, till the enemy's fire 
 gradually slackened and died away. We then re- 
 
RAJAH BROOKE 35 
 
 turned, and in the morning were greeted with the 
 pleasing news that they had burned and deserted five 
 of their forts, and left us sole occupants of the left 
 bank of the river. The same day, going through the 
 jungle to see one of these deserted forts, we came 
 upon a party of the enemy, and had a brief skirmish 
 with them before they took to flight. Nothing can 
 be more unpleasant to a European than this bush- 
 fighting, where he scarce sees a foe, whilst he is well 
 aware that their eyesight is far superior to his own. 
 To proceed with this narrative, I may say that four 
 or five forts were built on the edge of the river 
 opposite the enemy's town, and distant not above 
 fifty or sixty yards. Here our guns were removed, and 
 a fresh battery formed ready for a bombardment, and 
 fire-balls essayed to ignite the houses. 
 
 ' At this time Sherif JafFer, from Linga, arrived with 
 about seventy men, Malays and Dyaks of Balow. 
 The river Linga, being situated close to Seribas, and 
 incessant hostilities being waged between the two 
 places, he and his followers were both more active 
 and warlike than the Borneans ; but their warfare 
 consists of closing hand to hand with spear and 
 sword. They scarcely understood the proper use 
 of firearms, and were of little use in attacking 
 stockades. As a negotiator, however, the Sherif bore 
 a distinguished part ; and on his arrival a parley 
 ensued, much against Makota's will, and some 
 meetings took place between Jaffer and a brother 
 
36 BUILDERS OF GREATER BRITAIN 
 
 Sherif at Siniawan, named Moksain. After ten days' 
 delay nothing came of it, though the enemy betrayed 
 great desire to yield. This negotiation being at an 
 end, we had a day's bombardment, and a fresh treaty 
 brought about thus : Makota being absent in Sarawak, 
 I received a message from Sherif JaiFer and Pangeran 
 Subtu to say that they wished to meet me ; and on 
 my consenting they stated that Sherif JafFer felt 
 confident the war might be brought to an end, 
 though alone he dared not treat with the rebels ; but, 
 in case I felt inclined to join him, we could bring it 
 to a favourable conclusion. I replied that our habits 
 of treating were very unlike their own, as we allowed 
 no delays to interpose ; but that I would unite with 
 him for one interview, and if that interview was 
 favourable we might meet the chiefs at once and 
 settle it, or put an end to all further treating. 
 Pangeran Subtu was delighted with the proposition, 
 urged its great advantages, and the meeting, by my 
 desire, was fixed for that very night, the place 
 Pangeran Illudin's fort at Sekundis. The evening 
 arrived, and at dark we were at the appointed place 
 and a message was despatched for Sherif Moksain. 
 In the meantime, however, came a man from Pange- 
 ran Subtu to beg us to hold no intercourse ; that the 
 rebels were false, meant to deceive us, and if they 
 did come we had better make them prisoners. Sherif 
 JafFer, after arguing the point some time, rose to 
 depart, remarking that with such proceedings he 
 
RAJAH BROOKE 37 
 
 would not consent to treat. I urged him to stay, 
 but finding him bent on going I ordered my gig 
 (which had some time before been brought overland) 
 to be put into the water — my intention being to 
 proceed to the enemy's kampong and hear what they 
 had to say. I added that it was folly to leave undone 
 what we had agreed to do in the morning because 
 Pangeran Subtu changed his mind ; that I had come 
 to treat, and treat I would. I would not go away 
 now without giving the enemy a fair hearing. For 
 the good of all parties I would do it — and if the 
 Sherif liked to join me, as we proposed before, and 
 wait for Sherif Moksain, good ; if not, I would go in 
 the boat to the kampong. My Europeans, on being 
 ordered, jumped up, ran out and brought the boat 
 to the water's edge and in a few minutes oars, rudder 
 and rowlocks were in her. My companions, seeing 
 this, came to terms, and we waited for Sherif Moksain, 
 during which, however, I overheard a whispering 
 conversation from Subtu's messenger, proposing to 
 seize him, and my temper was ruffled to such a 
 degree, that I drew out a pistol, and told him I would 
 shoot him dead if he dared to seize, or talk of seizing, 
 any man who trusted himself from the enemy to meet 
 me. The scoundrel slunk off, and we were no more 
 troubled with him. This past, Sherif Moksain arrived, 
 and was introduced into our fortress alone — alone 
 and unarmed in an enemy's stockade, manned with 
 two hundred men. His bearing was firm ; he ad- 
 
38 BUILDERS OF GREATER BRITAIN 
 
 vanced with ease and took his seat, and during the 
 interview the only sign of uneasiness was the quick 
 glance of his eye from side to side. The object he 
 aimed at was to gain my guarantee that the lives of 
 all the rebels should be spared, but this I had not in 
 my power to grant. He returned to his kampong, 
 and came again towards morning, when it was agreed 
 that Sherif JafFer and myself should meet the Patingis 
 and the Tumangong, and arrange terms with them. 
 By the time our conference was over the day broke, 
 and we descended to our boats to have a little rest. 
 
 *- On the 20th December we met the chiefs on the 
 river, and they expressed themselves ready to yield, 
 without conditions, to the rajah, if I would promise 
 that they should not be put to death. My reply 
 was that I could give no such promise ; but if they 
 surrendered, it must be for life or death, according to 
 the rajah's pleasure, and all I could do was to use 
 my influence to save their lives. To this they 
 assented after a while ; but then there arose the more 
 difficult question, how they were to be protected 
 until the rajah's orders arrived. They dreaded both 
 Chinese and Malays, especially the former, who had 
 just cause for angry feelings, and who, it was feared, 
 would make an attack on them directly their sur- 
 render had taken from them their means of defence. 
 The Malays would not assail them in a body, but 
 would individually plunder them, and give occasion 
 for disputes and bloodshed. Their apprehensions were 
 
RAJAH BROOKE 39 
 
 almost sufficient to break ofF the hitherto favourable 
 negotiations, had I not proposed to them myself to 
 undertake their defence, and to become responsible 
 for their safety until the orders of their sovereign 
 arrived. On my pledging myself to this they yielded 
 up their strong fort of Balidah, the key of their 
 position. I immediately made it known to our own 
 party that no boats were to ascend or descend the 
 river, and that any person attacking or pillaging the 
 rebels were my enemies, and that I should fire upon 
 them without hesitation. 
 
 ' Both Chinese and Malays agreed to the propriety of 
 the measure, and gave me the strongest assurances of 
 restraining their respective followers ; the former with 
 good faith, the latter with the intention of involving 
 matters, if possible, to the destruction of the rebels. 
 By the evening we were in possession of Balidah, and 
 certainly found it a formidable fortress, situated on a 
 steep mound, with dense defences of wood, triple deep, 
 and surrounded by two enclosures, thickly studded on 
 the outside with ranjaus. The effect of our fire had 
 shaken it completely, now much to our discomfort, 
 for the walls were tottering and the roof as leaky as a 
 sieve. On the 20th December, then, the war closed. 
 The very next day, contrary to stipulation, the Malay 
 pangerans tried to ascend the river, and when stopped 
 began to expostulate. After preventing many, the 
 attempt was made by Subtu and Pangeran Hassim 
 in three large boats, boldly pulling towards us. 
 
40 BUILDERS OF GREATER BRITAIN 
 
 Three hails did not check them, and they came on, 
 in spite of a blank cartridge and a wide ball to turn 
 them back. But I was resolved, and when a dozen 
 musket balls whistled over and fell close around them, 
 they took to an ignominious flight. I subsequently 
 upbraided them for this breach of promise, and Makota 
 loudly declared they had been greatly to blame, but I 
 discovered that he himself had set them on. 
 
 * I may now briefly conclude these details. I ordered 
 the rebels to burn all their stockades, which they did 
 at once, and deliver up the greater part of their arms, 
 and I proceeded to the rajah to request from him their 
 lives. Those who know the Malay character will 
 appreciate the difficulty of the attempt to stand be- 
 tween the monarch and his victims. I only succeeded 
 when, at the end of a long debate — I soliciting, he 
 denying — I rose to bid him farewell, as it was my 
 intention to sail directly, since, after all my exertions 
 in his cause he would not grant me the lives of the 
 people, I could only consider that his friendship for 
 me was at an end. On this he yielded. I must own 
 that during the discussion he had much the best of it ; 
 for he urged that they had forfeited their lives by the 
 law, as a necessary sacrifice to the future peace of the 
 country ; and argued that in a similar case in my own 
 native land no leniency would be shown. On the 
 contrary, my reasoning, though personal, was, on the 
 whole, the best for the rajah and the people. I 
 explained my extreme reluctance to have the blood 
 
RAJAH BROOKE 41 
 
 of conquered foes shed ; the shame I should experience 
 in being a party, however involuntarily, to their exe- 
 cution, and the general advantage of a merciful line of 
 policy. At the same time I told him that their lives 
 were forfeited, their crimes had been of a heinous 
 and unpardonable nature, and that it was only from so 
 humane a man as himself, one with so kind a heart, 
 that I could ask for their pardon ; but, I added, he 
 well knew that it was only my previous knowledge of 
 his benevolent disposition, and the great friendship I 
 felt for him, which had induced me to take any part 
 in the struggle. Other stronger reasons might have 
 been brought forward, which I forbore to employ, 
 as being repugnant to his princely pride, viz., that 
 severity in this case would arm many against him, 
 raise powerful enemies in Borneo proper, as well as 
 here, and greatly impede the future right government 
 of the country. However, having gained my point, I 
 was satisfied. 
 
 ' Having fulfilled this engagement, and being, more- 
 over, with many of my Europeans, attacked with ague, 
 I left the scene with all the dignity of complete suc- 
 cess. Subsequently the rebels were ordered to deliver 
 up all their arms, ammunition and property ; and last, 
 the wives and children of the principal people were 
 demanded as hostages and obtained. The women and 
 children were treated with kindness and preserved 
 from injury or wrong. Siniawan thus dwindled 
 away. The poorer men stole off in canoes, and were 
 
42 BUILDERS OF GREATER BRITAIN 
 
 scattered about, most of them coming to Kuching. 
 The better class pulled down the houses, abandoned 
 the town and lived in boats for a month when, 
 alarmed by the delay in settling terms and impelled 
 by hunger, they also fled — Patingi Gapoor, it was said, 
 to Sambas, and Patingi Ali and the Tumangong 
 amongst the Dyaks. After a time it was supposed 
 they would return and receive their wives and 
 children. The army gradually dispersed to seek 
 food, and the Chinese were left in possession of the 
 once renowned Siniawan, the ruin of which they 
 completed by burning all that remained and erecting 
 a village for themselves in the immediate neighbour- 
 hood. Sherif Jaffer and many others departed to their 
 respective homes, and the pinching of famine succeeded 
 to the horrors of war. Fruit, being in season, helped 
 to support the wretched people, and the near approach 
 of the rice harvest kept up their spirits.' 
 
 Thus ended the great civil war, which is so re- 
 nowned in local history. The three chiefs mentioned 
 — Patingi Gapoor, Patingi Ali and the Tumangong — 
 with their sons and relatives, will appear again as some 
 of the principal actors in the history of Sarawak. All 
 except Patingi Gapoor remained faithful to the end, 
 or are still among the main supports of the present 
 Government. I knew them all, with the exception of 
 Patingi Ali, who was killed whilst gallantly heading 
 an attack on the Sakarang pirates during Captain 
 Keppel's expedition in 1844. 
 
CHAPTER III 
 
 THIRD VISIT TO SARAWAK MAKOTA INTRIGUES 
 
 AGAINST BROOKE VISIT OF THE STEAMER 
 
 ' DIANA ' HE IS GRANTED THE GOVERNMENT 
 
 OF SARAWAK HIS PALACE CAPTAIN KEPPEL 
 
 OF H.M.S. ' DIDO ' VISITS SARAWAK EXPEDI- 
 TION AGAINST THE SERIBAS PIRATES VISIT OF 
 
 SIR EDWARD BELCHER RAJAH BROOKE's IN- 
 CREASED INFLUENCE VISIT TO THE STRAITS 
 
 SETTLEMENTS IS WOUNDED IN SUMATRA THE 
 
 ' DIDO ' RETURNS TO SARAWAK FURTHER OPER- 
 ATIONS — NEGOTIATIONS WITH BRITISH GOVERN- 
 MENT CAPTAIN BETHUNE AND MR WISE ARRIVE 
 
 IN SARAWAK 
 
 Peace being again restored to the country, Brooke 
 was enabled to study the position. Muda Hassim 
 occasionally mentioned his intention of rewarding his 
 English ally for his great services by giving him the 
 government of Sarawak ; but nothing came of it, as 
 when the document for submission to the Sultan was 
 duly prepared it proved to be nothing but ' permission 
 to trade.' However unsatisfactory this might be, 
 
 43 
 
44 BUILDERS OF GREATER BRITAIN 
 
 Brooke accepted it for the moment, and it was agreed 
 that he should proceed to Singapore, load a schooner 
 with merchandise, and return to open up the resources 
 of the place. In the meantime the rajah was to 
 build a house for his friend, and prepare a shipload of 
 antimony ore as a return cargo for the schooner. 
 
 While in Singapore Brooke wrote to his mother 
 
 f concerning his plans, and he now added, * I really 
 
 / have excellent hopes that this eflPort of mine will suc- 
 
 J^ cced ; and while it ameliorates the condition of the 
 
 i unhappy natives, and tends to the promotion of the 
 
 / highest philanthropy, it will secure to me some better 
 
 \ means of carrying through these grand objects. I call 
 
 i them grand objects, for they are so, when we reflect 
 
 / that civilisation, commerce and religion may through 
 
 f them be spread over so vast an island as Borneo. 
 
 ] They are so grand, that self is quite lost when I con- 
 
 f sider them ; and even the failure would be so much 
 
 / better than the non-attempt, that I could willingly 
 
 j sacrifice myself as nearly as the barest prudence will 
 
 \ permit.' 
 
 Many, perhaps, could write such words, but Brooke 
 really felt them, and fully intended to carry out his 
 views, whatever obstacles might stand in his way ; 
 and they were many, for on his return to Sarawak in 
 the Royalist^ with the schooner Swift laden with goods 
 for the market, he found no house built and no cargo 
 of antimony ready. A house in Sarawak could be 
 built in ten days or a fortnight, as the materials are all 
 
RAJAH BROOKE 45 
 
 found in the jungle and the natives are expert at the 
 work. 
 
 The antimony was procurable, but, as Brooke after- 
 wards found, it was the product of forced labour, 
 almost always unpaid. One cannot but smile at 
 Brooke's first attempt at trade. Without sending up 
 to see whether the antimony was ready, he accepted 
 Muda Hassim's word, and then handed over to him the 
 whole of the cargo of the Swift. What might have 
 been expected followed. No sooner had the Malay 
 rajah secured the goods than the most profound 
 apathy was shown as to the return cargo. The same 
 system was followed with regard to the government 
 of the country ; every attempt to discuss it was evaded, 
 and I believe that Makota did his best to persuade 
 Muda Hassim that the Englishman was but a bird of 
 passage, who would soon get tired of waiting, and 
 would sail away without the return cargo, and drop 
 all thoughts of governing the country. 
 
 Pangeran Makota, who had been Brooke's enemy 
 throughout all these proceedings, was now ready to 
 act. He knew that the Land Dyaks in the interior, as 
 well as the Malays of Siniawan whom the Englishman 
 had aided to subdue, now looked to him as their pro- 
 tector ; he therefore determined to destroy his prestige. 
 He invited the Seribas Sea Dyaks and Malays to come 
 to Sarawak ; they came in a hundred bangkongs, or 
 long war boats, with at least three thousand men, with 
 the ostensible object of attacking a tribe living near 
 
46 BUILDERS OF GREATER BRITAIN 
 
 the Sambas frontier, who had not been submissive 
 enough to Bornean exactions ; but every violent act 
 they committed w^ould have been overlooked if they 
 only gave a sufficient percentage of their captives to 
 the nobles. Already these w^ild devils had received 
 the rajah's permission to proceed up the river ; the 
 Land Dyaks, the Malays, the Chinese w^ere full of fear, 
 as all are treated as enemies by the Seribas w^hen out 
 on the w^arpath. As soon as Brooke received notice 
 of w^hat Muda Hassim, instigated by Makota, had 
 done, he retired to the Royalist and prepared both his 
 vessels for action. The Malay rulers, hearing hovi^ 
 angry he w^as, and uncertain w^hat steps he might 
 take, recalled the expedition, w^hich returned, furious 
 at being baulked of their prey, and would have liked 
 to have tried conclusions with the English ships, but 
 found them too well on their guard. 
 
 This very act which Makota expected would lower 
 the Englishman's prestige, naturally greatly enhanced 
 it, as it was soon known, even into the far interior, that 
 the white stranger had but to say the word and this 
 fearful scourge had been stayed. 
 
 Another event soon followed which greatly raised 
 Brooke's influence among the natives. He received 
 notice that an English vessel had been wrecked on 
 the north coast of Borneo, and that the crew were 
 detained as hostages by the Sultan of Borneo for the 
 payment of a ransom. He now sent the Royalist to 
 try and release them, whilst he despatched the Swift 
 
RAJAH BROOKE 47 
 
 to Singapore for provisions, and remained with three 
 companions in his new house in Sarawak. Could 
 anything better prove his cool courage ? The Royalist 
 failed in its mission, but almost immediately after its 
 return, an East India Company's steamer came up the 
 river to inquire as to its success, and finding the captive 
 crew still at Brunei, proceeded there and quickly 
 effected their release. The appearance of the Diana 
 twice in the river had its effect on the population, 
 as it was probably the first steamer they had ever 
 seen, 
 
 Makota had been greatly disappointed that his 
 intrigues had failed to force the white strangers to quit 
 the country, but his fertile invention now thought of 
 more sure and criminal means. 'Why not poison 
 them ? ' He tried, but failed ; his confederates con- 
 fessed, and then Brooke resolved to act. Either 
 Makota or himself must fall. By a judicious display 
 of force, quite justified under the circumstances, he 
 freed the rajah from the baneful influence of Makota, 
 who from that time forward ceased to act as chief 
 adviser, and regained his former ascendency. Muda 
 Hassim immediately carried out his original promise, 
 and in a formal document handed over the govern- 
 ment of the district of Sarawak to Brooke. The news 
 was received with rejoicing by the Land Dyaks, the 
 Sarawak Malays and the Chinese, but with some 
 misgivings by the rascally followers of the Bornean 
 rajahs. This event took place in September 1841. 
 
48 BUILDERS OF GREATER BRITAIN 
 
 Brooke's first act was to request Muda Hassim to 
 return to their families the women and children who 
 had been given as hostages after the close of the 
 civil war. He succeeded in most cases, but as the 
 younger brothers of Muda Hassim had honoured with 
 their notice some of the unmarried girls, he was 
 forced to leave ten of them in the harems of the 
 rajahs. 
 
 Being now Governor of Sarawak, he determined to 
 effect some reforms. One of the greatest difficulties 
 he encountered was the introduction of impartial 
 justice ; to teach the various classes that all were 
 equal before the law. He opened a court, at which 
 he himself provided, aided moreover, by some of the 
 rajah's brothers and the chiefs of the Siniawan 
 Malays, and dispensed justice according to the native 
 laws, which in most cases are milder than those 
 of European countries. When absent himself his 
 chief officer acted for him. As long as these laws 
 were only applied to Dyaks, Chinese or inferior 
 Malays, there was no resistance, but when the 
 privileged class and their unscrupulous followers were 
 touched, there arose some murmurings. 
 
 Brooke saw at once that to ensure stability to his 
 rule he must govern the people through, and with the 
 aid of, the chiefs to whom they were accustomed. 
 He therefore proposed to Muda Hassim to restore to 
 their former positions the men who had been at the 
 head of the late rebellion, and who certainly had been