Return of the Royalist from Borneo Proper with intelligence of the
sufferers from the wreck of the Sultana.--Effect of the arrival
of the Diana on the negotiations for their release.--Outrage
and oppression of Macota.--Fate of the Sultana and her
crew.--Mr. Brooke made Rajah of Sarawak.--Liberation of rebel
prisoners.--State of Dyak tribes.--Court of justice opened.--Dyak
burials, and respect for the dead.--Malay cunning and treachery.
While waiting events, Mr. Brooke amused himself by writing down
such accounts of the interior as he was enabled to collect, from
time to time, from the natives visiting Sarawak, as well as a brief
description of the constitution and government, as enacted in Borneo
Proper. But as my object now is to trace the progress of my friend
up to the time when he embarked on board the Dido, I shall refer to
these matters hereafter.
"_Tuesday, August 17th, 1841._--Three weeks the Royalist has now been
absent, and I begin, in spite of my determination to the contrary,
to be somewhat uneasy about her. Suspense is certainly more difficult
to bear than misfortune, for the certainty of an event arouses within
us some of our best feelings to resist it; but suspense lets loose
our imagination, and gives rise to that sickening feeling of 'hope
deferred,' so truly characterized in the Scriptures.
"_18th._--The Royalist arrived near Sarawak, having come into the
river on the 16th, and in one tide from the Morotaba entrance as far as
the Paduman [13] rocks. They reported that they had not effected the
release of the prisoners, were very rudely treated, the boat detained
at a fort near the entrance of the Borneo river, all communication
denied with the Europeans, a letter for them seized from the native
crew, and provisions and water refused. In addition to this, a letter
from the sultan, addressed to me, stated to the effect, that the crew
of the Sultana having entered into a treaty with him, the merchant
and mate (Messrs. de Souza and Gill) had gone to Singapore to fulfill
that agreement. The captain having a wife in the family way, preferred
staying in Borneo, as the vessel was a small one, and therefore the
sultan did not grant my request on this occasion; and further, having
an agreement, he did not wish to be deceived regarding it. This was
a falsehood from beginning to end, as will be clear by comparing it
with Mr. Gill's statement, though I fear the poor men have been rash
enough to enter into some arrangement to ransom themselves."
On the 19th of August the Swift arrived; but the journal was laid by
until the 24th of October, when it thus recommences:
"I may now continue my narrative of events which have happened since I
last used my pen, together with fresh details of my present intentions,
and such additional knowledge as has been acquired. After the arrival
of the Swift, I still adhered to my former resolution of waiting
patiently for a settlement. I made several strong remonstrances,
and urged for an answer to a letter I had addressed to Muda Hassim,
in which was recapitulated our entire negotiation. This letter
was acknowledged to be perfectly true and correct, and the rajah,
in the conference which followed, again pledged himself to give me
the country, saying he always intended to do so, but was involved
in difficulties of the nature of which I could not be aware. Thus
far things went well, and there appeared, indeed, a frankness in his
manner which had formerly pleased me, but had long been in abeyance.
"On the return of the Royalist from Borneo, I had assured them that
a government vessel would be sent to demand the captives; but, taking
this assurance for a mere boast, they paid little attention to it, and
were therefore excessively frightened when, a week after the Swift,
the Diana steamer entered the river. I had the pleasure of calming
their fears, and was too generous to push matters to a settlement
during the two days the steamer remained.
"Muda Hassim now expressed himself desirous of sending some Pangerans
to Borneo, and I wished him likewise to do so on account of the
reflective power of the steamer, which, in that case, would have
shone upon him. With his usual delay, however, he failed to be ready,
and these Pangerans did not quit the river for two days afterward,
when they proceeded in a native prahu. I accompanied the steamer to
the mouth of the river, and wishing them success, pulled back to the
capital of Sarawak.
"_Oct 30th._--The Swift was slowly laden with antimony ore, worked
by the Chinese; and I gradually robbed the Royalist of furniture for
my house on shore. But I had no intention of allowing either vessel
to sail until the time arrived which I had fixed on for the final
adjustment of my affairs. By degrees, however, I learned many of the
difficulties of poor Muda Hassim's situation, and much of the weakness
of his character. The dissensions in Borneo; the intrigues of Macota;
the rapacity of his own people, and their total want of fidelity;
the bribes from the Sultan of Sambas; the false representations of
numerous Borneo Pangerans who asserted the immense profit to be derived
from the country; the dilatory movements of the Chinese; some doubts
of my good faith; and, above all, the natural tenacity of power, all
conspired to involve the rajah in the utmost perplexity, and would,
but for counterbalancing circumstances, have turned the scale against
me. Muda Hassim knew Macota to be false and in league with the Sultan
of Sambas; and he felt that he had no power, and that if he broke with
me, it would be extremely difficult to support himself against the
former rebels. He was fond of me, and trusted me more than he trusted
any one else; and pecuniary considerations had no doubt some weight,
for with all Macota's promises he could not get sufficient ore to
repay one quarter of his debt to me. However, all these conflicting
considerations, instead of inducing Muda Hassim to take one course,
only served to encourage his dilatory temper, and although puzzled,
ashamed, and fearful, he could not decide.
"At this period a robbery was committed up the river by some of
Macota's followers on a Chinese hadji, a converted Mohammedan. They
beat the old man, threw him into the water, and robbed him of a
tael of gold. The beating and attempt at drowning were certain,
for the Chinese hadji was so ill for several days under my care,
that he was in considerable danger. He complained to me loudly of
Macota; and from other sources I gained a pretty accurate account of
that gentleman's proceedings. By threats, by intrigue, by falsehood,
and even by violence, he had prevented or driven all persons from
daring to visit or come near me, whether abroad or ashore. He was
taxing the poor Dyaks, harassing the Siniawans, and leagued with the
Borneo Pangerans to plunder and get all he possibly could. Every Dyak
community was watched by his followers, and a spear raised opposite
the chief's house, to intimate that no person was to trade or barter
except the Pangeran. The mode of plunder is thus perpetrated. Rice,
clothes, gongs, and other articles are sent to a tribe at a fixed
price, which the Dyaks dare not refuse, for it is at the risk of losing
their children! The prices thus demanded by Macota were as follows:
one gantong of rice for thirty birds' nests. Twenty-four gantongs here
is equal to a pecul of rice--a pecul of rice costs one dollar and a
half; whereas thirty birds' nests weigh one catty, and are valued at
two rupees, so that the twenty-fourth part of one and a half dollars
is sold for two rupees. Was it surprising that these people were poor
and wretched? My astonishment was, that they continued to labor, and,
indeed, nothing but their being a surprisingly industrious race can
account for it, and they are only enabled to live at all by secreting
a portion of their food. Yet war and bad government, or, rather, no
government, have had the effect of driving more than half the Dyak
tribes beyond the limits of Sarawak.
"The rapacity of these Malays is as unbounded as it is short-sighted;
for one would think that the slightest degree of common sense
would induce some of the chiefs to allow no one to plunder except
themselves. But this is so far from being the case, that, when their
demand has been enforced, dozens of inferior wretches extort and
plunder in turn, each according to his ability; and though the Dyak
is not wanting in obstinacy, he can seldom withstand these robberies,
for each levy is made in the name of the rajah, or some principal
Pangeran; and the threat of bringing the powerful tribe of Sakarrans
or Sarebus to deprive them of their heads and wives and families,
generally reduces them to obedience. While on this subject, I may as
well mention a fact that came later to my knowledge, when several
of the Dyak chiefs, and one of particular intelligence, Si Meta by
name, assured me that each family paid direct revenue from thirty
to fifty pasus (tubs) of padi, besides all the other produces, which
are extorted at merely nominal prices.
"To return to my relation: the Chinese hadji recovered, and I
determined to punish the aggressors, for which purpose I seized an
Illanun said to be concerned, but who was innocent. In the mean time
the steamer returned from Borneo, and once more put in here for wood
and water. She brought Captain and Mrs. Page, Mr. Young, the second
officer, and all the rest of the crew, save only a few who had landed
at the north part of Borneo, and there been seized and sold as slaves,
and brought afterward as slaves to Borneo Proper. As the history
of the shipwreck and detention is curious, I may here relate it as
nearly as I can.
"The Sultana, a fine ship of 700 tons, the day previous to her being
struck by lightning, found the French frigate Magicienne aground and
deserted on the Bombay shoal; Captain Page boarded her, and discovered
every thing as it had been left by the crew--provisions, water,
&c., in abundance. The day after, the Sultana met with a worse fate,
being struck, and the cotton in the hold, fore and aft, fired by the
electric fluid. They had scarcely time to hoist out the boat when the
flames burst forth, and they quitted her very short of provisions, and
saving only some money and jewels. Captain Page bore up for the wreck
of the French frigate, intending to refit his long-boat aboard her,
and take provisions and arms to last them to Singapore; but, on making
her, there was so great a wash of the sea on the lee part of the reef,
that it was totally impossible to reach the Magicienne. Under these
unfortunate circumstances they bore up once more, still intending to
prosecute the voyage to Singapore, and made the land to the southward
of Palawan; and, being then short of water and provisions, landed
on a small islet off Balabac, or Balambangan. Here they procured a
few shell-fish and some very bad water; but seeing some natives in
prahus on a neighboring islet, and being-unarmed and apprehensive,
they lighted large fires in the evening to mislead these people, and,
as night advanced, silently put to sea, and made the best of their way
along the coast. With a heavy sea, and often high wind, they reached as
far as Labuan, off the entrance of the Borneo river; and here, being
in the utmost want, and reduced to an allowance of half a biscuit and
a cup of water per day, they were forced to put into Borneo Proper,
not without hopes of being well used, and enabled to buy provisions
and stores sufficient to carry them to Singapore or Sambas. I have
omitted to mention that, on making the land the first time, they parted
from the cutter, in consequence of the tow-rope breaking in the night;
but as they were then within sight of Borneo, and the wind fair, there
was no doubt of its making the land somewhere. This, indeed, it did
at Malludu Bay, where the native crew were seized and sold as slaves.
"The arrival of Captain Page in his long-boat caused, as may well be
imagined, considerable sensation in the campong; and they reached
the sultan's house, thinking it the best place to seek shelter and
protection. In this, however, they were soon undeceived; for neither
the one nor the other was granted, but a message sent that they must
deliver up all their property into the sultan's hands, as otherwise
he was afraid they would be plundered by his people. Accordingly,
having possessed himself of their money, some jewels, their boat,
&c., he gave them a miserable shed to live in. Here they passed the
time, and were gradually robbed of every thing they had in the world,
even to the baby-linen which Mrs. Page had prepared for an expected
infant. Sometimes, indeed, when Captain Page refused to yield to the
sultan's demands, their provisions were stopped till they could no
longer hold out; and in this way they were compelled to sign bonds
for considerable sums, with the understanding that, till these were
procured and paid, they should be detained.
"In this sad situation Mrs. Page was confined of a daughter, on
the 31st of March; and this miserable life continued from the 4th
of January, 1841, to August of the same year. Their first ray of
hope was the Royalist coming to fetch them: the steamer followed,
and they were released.
"After a stay of two or three days, the steamer once more sailed;
though I would fain have persuaded Captain Congleton to search for
the piratical fleet, of which I had excellent information; but he
considered himself not authorized, or, in other words, he declined
the responsibility.
"As there was a chance that Mr. Gill and the De Souzas were either
at Sirhassan or Tambelan, the steamer decided to touch at the latter
place, and a native chuliah brig was directed to call at the former. I
afterward learned that the pirates were then at Sirhassan; but as
the brig knew nothing about Sirhassan, it is probable she never went
there. In the evening the Diana sailed, and I reached Sarawak about
two o'clock in the morning.
"I now return to my concerns. The Chinese hadji, whom I had
protected, continued to reside with my servants, till one evening
we were alarmed at an attempt to poison my interpreter, a native
of the name of Mia. Arsenic had certainly been put into his rice;
but as the servants endeavored to point suspicion on this hadji,
and as I learned, at the same time, that they did not agree with
the old man, I cleared him in my own mind, and rather leaned to the
opinion of Mia having placed the arsenic in the plate himself, for the
express purpose of accusing the hadji. Connecting this event with all
Macota's former intrigues, I determined to bring matters to a crisis,
and test at once the strength of the respective parties. Accordingly,
after complaining of the matter previously mentioned to the rajah,
I landed a party of men, fully armed, and loaded the ship's guns
with grape and canister; after which I once more proceeded to Muda
Hassim, and, while I protested my kindness toward him, exposed Macota's
machinations and crimes, his oppression and his deceit, and threatened
him with an attack, as neither Muda Hassim nor myself were safe while
he continued practicing these arts. Muda Hassim was frightened; but
how Macota felt I can not say, as he never moved out of his house,
and it was long afterward before he was seen. From my knowledge,
however, of his temperament, I can well conceive that he was reduced
to a pitiable state of terror. The Siniawans took my part directly;
and their chiefs came to me to say that 200 men were all ready
whenever I pleased to call for them. The Chinese and the rest of the
inhabitants took no side; and Macota did not get a single follower
besides his immediate slaves, perhaps about twenty in number. After
this demonstration affairs proceeded cheerily to a conclusion. The
rajah was active in settling; the agreement was drawn out, sealed,
and signed; guns fired, flags waved; and on the 24th of September,
1841, I became the Governor of Sarawak, with the fullest powers."
Being now regularly established in his government, Mr. Brooke, with his
usual activity and circumspection, applied himself to the discharge
of the onerous duties it imposed upon him; and his first acts were
such as equally displayed his wisdom, firmness, and humanity. His
journal runs thus:
"_Nov. 3d._--I have a country; but, oh! how beset with difficulties,
how ravaged by war, torn by dissensions, and ruined by duplicity,
weakness, and intrigue! Macota's underhand dealings, after the
conclusion of my agreement with Muda Hassim had been ratified,
soon brought letters from his Sambas friends, _i. e._, one from the
sultan, one from the Tumangong, and one from another Pangeran--an
immense effort of conspiracy and correspondence! Of these letters the
sultan's alone was curious; for the rest only dealt in professions of
devoted attachment to the person and interests of Muda Hassim. But
the sultan, for want of some better plea, made use of the following
singular specimen of reasoning, viz., that the Chinese Kunsi were
indebted to him a sum of money, which they had agreed to pay him in
antimony ore; the agreement was not to pay him in gold, or money, or
other commodity--only in antimony ore; therefore he wanted antimony
ore. To this it was properly replied, that an arrangement had been
made with me, and that the Chinese could not agree to give antimony
ore without his (Muda Hassim's) consent.
"My first object, on holding the reins of government, was to release
the unfortunate women confined for a whole year by the rajah. This,
indeed, was not only necessary to inspire confidence in my just
intentions, but was dictated by humanity. I found Muda Hassim not
averse to take the measure, _now_ that he had really resolved to
adhere to my advice, and consequently I had the sincere satisfaction,
within a few days, of liberating upward of a hundred females and young
children, and of restoring them to their husbands and fathers; this
act being somewhat alloyed by Muda Hassim detaining twelve females,
and among them _two wives_. I urged as strongly as I could, but without
success, the advisability of releasing the whole; and I was obliged,
at last, to content myself with the mass, and yield the few whom I
could only have got _by force_ or the utter abrogation of our infant
treaty. When I pressed the affair, it was answered that, except for
me, _none_ would have regained their liberty; and that the release
was an act of great kindness and unexampled confidence toward me;
that what had been done was perfectly accordant with their customs;
and that the women detained were for the rajah's brothers--so far,
indeed, from being intended as an injury to the women, it was a great
honor and advantage. I explained the circumstances to the Patingi
and Tumangong, and they acquiesced in the decision--allowing the
custom--and said they had gained so much more than they had ever
hoped for, that they could submit to the rest.
"The next step was to assemble the Siniawans, who, since the close
of the war, would run away, and whom it was found impossible to keep
here. Some had retired to Sambas; some (among them Patingi Ali) had
gone to Sariki; and others had built a village on the borders of the
Sambas territory. The whole aim and object of Macota's government
was to get these people back; and those who were already here were
constantly plying backward and forward to recall their companions;
but as soon as they succeeded in getting one family, another
absconded. Confidence alone could restore them; and I therefore
intimated to the Patingi and Tumangong that there was no occasion for
their seeking them; that I by no means desired their return; and that
any of their people who wished to leave the country were at liberty
to do so whenever they felt inclined. This had the desired effect,
in a short time, of bringing back the fugitives from Pankalon Nibong;
and they continued daily to arrive from Sambas.
"My next measure was to inquire into the state of the Dyaks, to gain
their confidence, and, as much as it was within my power, prevent
the oppressions of the Malays. It was necessary, likewise, to fix a
rate of tax to be levied yearly; and the prospect seemed fair, as the
chief people of the following tribes had come in, and agreed that such
a tax on rice, amounting to sixteen gantongs, would be required from
each man, and that for the rest they would be obliged to labor; that
they could trade at pleasure; that no man could demand any thing from
them; that their wives and children were safe; and that, in case any
trouble arose, they were to let me know, and I would myself come to
their assistance. The tribes were, Lundu, Sarambo, Bombak, Paninjow,
and Sow. The only other tribe on the right-hand river were the Singe,
a powerful and stiff-necked people, with good reason to be shy; but
when once they are treated justly, their strength will be advantageous,
and give them confidence to resist oppression.
"The story told me by the three heads of the Sow Dyaks brought tears
into my eyes, as they each in turn related their grievances. One
of them, a remarkably intelligent person, addressed me nearly in
the following terms: 'From former times we have been the subjects
of the Patek of Borneo. The Borneons are the elder brothers, we
the younger; and the custom of old was, that we should pay revenue
and find protection. But they forgot what was right, and departed
from the custom, and robbed the Dyaks, and oppressed them. We have
done no wrong: we listened to the commands of the Patingi who was
put over us by the Patek. If he did wrong, he should be punished;
but we have suffered because we obeyed the commands of the officer
legally appointed. You might, sir, a few years ago, have sought in this
river, and not have found a happier tribe than ours. Our children were
collected around us; we had rice in plenty, and fruit-trees; our hogs
and fowls were in abundance; we could afford to give what was demanded
of us, and yet live happily. Now we have nothing left. The Sadong
people and the Sakarran Dyaks attacked us: they burned our houses,
destroyed our property, cut down our fruit-trees, killed many of our
people, and led away our wives and young children into slavery. We
could build another house; we could plant fruit-trees and cultivate
rice; but where can we find wives? Can we forget our young children? We
have asked the Patek to restore them; we have asked Pangeran Macota
to restore them: they have told us they would, but have not; we can
not trust them; their words are fair, but in their hearts they do not
mean to help us. We have now no one to trust but you--will you help
us? Will you restore our wives and children? If we get our families,
you will never repent it: you will find us true.'
"What could I answer? I could not deceive them, as I knew not how to
obtain their object; I therefore told them I feared it was impossible;
but I would try, and they themselves should go and try at the same
time. Poor, unhappy people, who suffer for the crimes of others! God
knows, I will aid you to the utmost of my power.
"_Nov. 5th._--To-day the greatest, and I hope the final, struggle
of the opposing faction was developed by the arrival of a brig from
Sambas, with two of the sultan's sons on board; Macota in high spirits,
and my party looking rather desponding; and, in fact, I can not trust
them against Sambas. For good or for bad, for success or for failure,
for life or for death, I will act justly, and preserve the high hand
over Macota.
"After the steps I have mentioned, I determined to open a court for
the administration of justice, wherein I should preside, together with
such of the rajah's brothers as liked to assist me. As for a jury,
or any machinery of form or law, it was rejected, because it must
be inefficient, if not corrupt; and the only object I aimed at was,
keeping witnesses out of ear-shot of each other, hearing the evidence,
deciding as appeared best, and in future punishing. This simple plan
insured substantial redress; and it gave all the people confidence
in me, and a notion of what was right.
"The first case was a follower of the rajah's, of the name of Sunudeen;
and a greater villain could not exist either in this or any other
land. It was as follows: A man from Samarahan, named Bujong, had
undertaken to marry his daughter to a Sarawak man called Abdullah; but
Abdullah proving a dissolute character, and greatly in debt, Bujong
broke off the engagement before the proper authorities, and returned
the presents which Abdullah, according to custom, had made. Abdullah,
it appeared, was indebted a small sum to Matassim (Mohammed Orsin),
and, between Sunudeen and Matassim, they resolved to lay the debt
on Bujong's shoulders; in other words, to plunder Bujong under false
pretenses. Accordingly, Sunudeen, with his comrade, went to Samarahan;
and, in his capacity of follower of the rajah, demanded the debt due
by Abdullah to Matassim. Bujong having no money, Sunudeen proceeded
and seized his nephew, a boy, and a slave-man belonging to him,
as _his slaves_. Poor Bujong resisted, and recovered his nephew, but
yielded his slave; he appealed, however, to the Orang Kaya de Gadong's
sons, and they failing, a Nakodah stated the case secretly to me. I
investigated it, and ordered the return of the slave in my presence,
which was obeyed. This may give an idea of the state of the country,
and the power of every petty scoundrel hanging about the rajah to
rob and plunder at pleasure.
"_7th._--I have before mentioned that the Dyaks of Sibnow bury their
dead; but I always found a reluctance on their part to show me their
place of sepulture. Once, indeed, chance led me to the burial-ground
of part of that tribe settled at Simunjang; but, as they seemed
restless to get away, I only took a hasty survey. The reason, I
have lately learned, for this is, that in their graves they deposit
the golden ornaments and other property of the person deceased,
amounting frequently to a considerable value in the precious metals,
brass swivels, gongs, &c.
"The tribe now at Lundu were formerly settled on the Samarahan river
for many years; and their burial-place there contained the ashes of the
parents and grandparents of the present chief, who, with his followers,
were not long ago driven to Lundu; and their former settlement being
deserted, it has been the employment of some of the rascals here to
rob these graves of their contents, and to desecrate the repose of the
dead. The Orang Kaya of Lundu complained to me sadly, but mournfully,
on this account, and said that if he could not find redress from the
rajah, he must obtain it himself by taking the heads of those who had
disinterred the bones of his ancestors. His whole manner convinced me
that they hold the burying-places in great respect; and my advice,
to remove the wealth and bones to a place of security at Lundu,
was rejected on the ground that they could not disturb the remains
of those whom they had once deposited in the earth.
"While there is so much of right feeling and manly principle in the
actions of these Dyaks, the miserable race who pretend to be their
superiors have no single virtue or good intention. I do not, however,
mean to confound the inhabitants of Sarawak, or the other rivers,
with those of Borneo Proper. The latter are thoroughly corrupt and
profligate. The former are Malays, but have their good qualities, and
certainly are not possessed with the spirit of intrigue which seems
the life, the only moving principle of the Borneons. It may truly be
said of the latter, that they would tell a lie when the truth would
serve them better. They will employ duplicity and treachery on every
slight occasion; defeat their own purpose by their meanness, and yet
continue in the same crooked paths. They will conspire without any
object, or one too mysterious to arrive at; and, while they raise a
cloud of doubts in the mind of the poor, their own equals look on and
detect the game. Yet, after all, they gain but little individually;
because so many are practicing the same arts at the same time with
equal skill; and the country is so exhausted by their oppressions
and rapacity, that in the end there is nothing to be got by their
tricks and manoeuvers. It is a strange state of society, and it is
only wonderful how it can exist; but they have their reward in being
poor and ill-provided, though living in the midst of a marvelously
fertile and luxurious country.
"_December 31st._--The last day of the year, in which I must bring
up the arrears of my account.
"The Sambas brig left only yesterday, after exhausting every effort
of intrigue, and every artifice which Malays can invent, to compass
their ends.
"With the Sambas brig came Seriff Hussein, a relation of the Sultan
of Pontiana, and half Arab half Bugis by descent. He came with the
avowed purpose of entering into the most friendly communication with
me, and residing here, provided I gave him any encouragement. His
real motive (if he has one) not being obvious, I, in the mean time,
treated him with all kindness; and he is an intelligent and pleasing
person, and, moreover, connected with the Siniawans, who have a good
opinion of him."