Sir James Brooke, Rajah of Sarawak, has proved himself to be, not
only a benefactor to his country, but also to a large number of the
human race. He went out as a cadet to India, where he distinguished
himself in the Burmese war, and being wounded there, he returned
home. A warm admirer of Sir Stamford Raffles, by whose enlightened
efforts the flourishing city of Singapore was established, and
British commerce much increased in the Eastern Archipelago, he took a
voyage there to form a personal acquaintance with those interesting
islands. He found the people groaning under oppression, piracy
unchecked, and commerce undeveloped. He here secretly resolved to
devote his life to remedying these evils. On his return, home he
purchased a yacht, the 'Royalist,' of 142 tons, and with care and
kindness, for three years, he trained a crew zealously ready to
follow his fortunes.
She was armed with six six-pounders, a number of swivels, and small
arms of all sorts. She anchored off Borneo, on the 1st of August,
1839, and on the 15th reached Sarawak. Here Mr. Brooke visited the
Rajah Muda Hassim, who was engaged in a war with some rebellious
subjects in the interior. The Rajah asked his aid to put down the
rebellion, but he refused, and devoted his time to making himself
acquainted with the character of the natives, and the productions of
the country,--after which, he went back to Singapore. Borneo is a
vast island lying under the equator. The interior is but little
known, nor were even the coasts at that time. The aboriginal
inhabitants are called Dyaks, but large numbers of Malays are settled
on the coast and along the banks of the rivers. The Emperor of
Borneo, as he is called, is merely a chief, claiming power over the
northern portion of the island. On Mr. Brooke's return, he found the
rebellion still going on, and, in the hopes of bringing about a
cessation of hostilities, he acceded to Muda Hassim's request, and
joining the Rajah's army with some of his crew, and a gun from the
'Royalist,' the rebels were soon compelled to sue for pardon. In
return for this assistance, the government of Sarawak was conferred
on Mr. Brooke. His first step was to proceed to Singapore, where he
purchased the 'Swift,' schooner of 90 tons, and loading her with a
suitable cargo, he returned to Sarawak with his two vessels, in
April, 1851. In consequence, however, of the intrigues of a chief
called Macota, it was some time before he became completely invested
with the powers of government. The moment he became governor, 24th
September, 1841, he set himself actively to work to reform abuses, to
improve the cultivation of the country, and to secure peace and
happiness to the people. A great variety of tribes inhabit the
country, who were constantly making predatory attacks on each other
for the purpose of taking the heads of their enemies, while the
shores were infested with piratical fleets, who robbed and murdered
wherever they roved. Numbers of British and other merchant vessels
had fallen into their power. Having arranged the internal affairs of
his government, Mr. Brooke turned all his efforts to put a stop to
these nefarious practices. Having secured the approval of the Sultan
of Borneo-Proper to his holding Sarawak, and at the same time
obtained the release of the Hindostan crews of two English ships, he
went back to Singapore, for the purpose of asking the aid of some
ship-of-war to put down piracy. The 'Dido,' the Hon. Captain Keppel,
was accordingly sent to assist him in carrying out his object. The
Dyaks of Saribas and Sakarran, were the first pointed out, by Rajah
Muda Hassini, as determined pirates, living entirely by plunder, more
especially of vessels trading between Borneo and Singapore. Before,
however, we give an account of the expedition against them, we have
to mention some of the exploits of the 'Dido' and her boats.
CAPTURE OF PIRATICAL PRAHUS BY BOATS OF 'DIDO,'
UNDER LIEUT. HORTON,
May 13th, 1842.
As soon as the 'Dido' arrived off Sarawak, Mr. Brooke went on board
one of his boats, and proceeded with a few others, all under the
command of Lieut. (now Captain) Horton, in search of a fleet of
Illanun pirates whom he had heard of as being in the neighbourhood.
They soon came on a fleet of prahus, which made off at their
approach. The next morning, however, the pinnace having grounded,
Lieut. Horton and Mr. Brooke proceeded in one of the cutters to
reconnoitre. As they neared the south-west point, they were met by
six prahus, beating their tom-toms as they advanced. Lieut. Horton
judiciously turned to rejoin the other boats; and the pinnace having
floated, he formed his little squadron into line abreast, cleared for
action, and prepared to meet his formidable-looking antagonists. Mr.
Brooke, however, believing them not to be Illanuns, raised a
flag-of-truce on his spy-glass, but a discharge of small arms was the
only reply he received.
The pirates then detached their three smallest vessels in shore to
command a cross-fire, and to cut off the retreat of the 'Dido's'
boats, and the rest advanced, their shot cutting through the rigging,
and splashing in the water all around. It was an anxious moment for
the 'Dido's' little party. Not a word was spoken. The only gun of
the pinnace was loaded with grape and canister, and kept pointed at
the largest prahu. The men waited with their muskets in hand for
permission to fire, but it was not until within pistol-range, that
Lieut. Horton poured into the enemy his well-prepared dose. After
exchanging shots for a few minutes longer, the largest cried for
quarter, but the other five keeping up a fire to the last, made for
the shore chased by the two cutters. The prize proved to be a prahu
mounting three brass guns, with a crew of thirty-six men. Ten of
them were killed, and eleven (four of them mortally) wounded. The
crews of the three smaller prahus escaped on shore with those only
slightly hurt. Captain Keppel gave orders that the wounds of the
rest should be dressed by Mr. Simpson, the assistant-surgeon, and the
prisoners were afterwards set at liberty. Lieut. Wilmot Horton and
Mr. W. L. Partridge, mate, who commanded the pinnace, were promoted
for their gallantry on this occasion.