Mr. Brooke's memorandum on the piracy of the Malayan
Archipelago.--The measures requisite for its suppression, and for
the consequent extension of British commerce in that important
locality.
I cannot afford my readers a more accurate idea of the present state
of piracy in the Malayan Archipelago, of the best mode of suppressing
it, and of the vast field which the island of Borneo offers for the
extension of British commerce, than by quoting a few of Mr. Brooke's
observations on these important subjects, written before the operations
of the squadron under command of Rear-Admiral Sir Thomas Cochrane
took place, of which an account will be given in Chapter XXII. With
reference to the first topic, piracy, Mr. Brooke remarks:--
"The piracy of the Eastern Archipelago is entirely distinct from
piracy in the Western world; for, from the condition of the various
governments, the facilities offered by natural situation, and the total
absence of all restraint from European nations, the pirate communities
have attained an importance on the coasts and islands most removed from
foreign settlements. Thence they issue forth and commit depredations on
the native trade, enslave the inhabitants at the entrance of rivers,
and attack ill-armed or stranded European vessels; and roving from
place to place, they find markets for their slaves and plunder.
"The old-established Malay governments (such as Borneo and Sooloo),
weak and distracted, are, probably without exception, participators
in or victims to piracy; and in many cases both--purchasing from
one set of pirates, and enslaved and plundered by another; and while
their dependencies are abandoned, the unprotected trade languishes
from the natural dread of the better-disposed natives to undertake
a coasting voyage.
"It is needless to dwell upon the evil effects of piracy; but before
venturing an opinion on the most effectual means of suppression,
I propose briefly to give an account of such pirate communities as
I am acquainted with.
"The pirates on the coast of Borneo may be classed into those who
make long voyages in large heavy-armed prahus, such as the Illanuns,
Balignini, &c., and the lighter Dyak fleets, which make short but
destructive excursions in swift prahus, and seek to surprise rather
than openly to attack their prey. A third, and probably the worst
class, are usually half-bred Arab seriffs, who, possessing themselves
of the territory of some Malay state, form a nucleus for piracy,
a rendezvous and market for all the roving fleets; and although
occasionally sending out their own followers, they more frequently
seek profit by making advances, in food, arms, and gunpowder, to all
who will agree to repay them at an exorbitant rate in slaves.
"The Dyaks of Sarebus and Sakarran were under the influence of two
Arab seriffs, who employed them on piratical excursions, and shared
in equal parts the plunder obtained. I had once the opportunity of
counting ninety-eight boats about to start on a cruise; and reckoning
the crew of each boat at the moderate average of twenty-five men,
it gives a body of 2450 men on a piratical excursion. The piracies
of these Arab seriffs and their Dyaks were so notorious, that it is
needless to detail them here; but one curious feature, which throws
a light on the state of society, I cannot forbear mentioning. On all
occasions of a Dyak fleet being about to make a piratical excursion,
a gong was beat round the town ordering a particular number of Malays
to embark; and in case any one failed to obey, he was fined the sum
of thirty rupees by the seriff of the place.
"The blow struck by Captain Keppel of her majesty's ship Dido on these
two communities was so decisive as to have put an entire end to their
piracies; the leaders Seriff Sahib and Seriff Muller have fled, the
Malay population has been dispersed, and the Dyaks so far humbled,
as to sue for protection; and in future, by substituting local Malay
rulers of good character in lieu of the piratical seriffs, a check
will be placed on the Dyaks, and they may be broken of their piratical
habits, in as far as interferes with the trade of the coast.
"The next pirate horde we meet with is a mixed community of
Illanuns and Badjows (or sea-gipsys) located at Tampasuk, a few
miles up a small river; they are not formidable in number, and their
depredations are chiefly committed on the Spanish territory; their
market, until recently, being Bruni, or Borneo Proper. They might
readily be dispersed and driven back to their own country; and the
Dusuns, or villagers (as the name signifies), might be protected and
encouraged. Seriff Houseman, a half-bred Arab, is located in Malludu
Bay, and has, by account, from fifteen hundred to two thousand men with
him. He is beyond doubt a pirate direct and indirect, and occasionally
commands excursions in person, or employs the Illanuns of Tampasuk,
and others to the eastward, who for their own convenience make common
cause with him. He has no pretension to the territory he occupies;
and the authority he exerts (by means of his piratical force) over
the interior tribes in his vicinity, and on the island of Palawan,
is of the worst and most oppressive description. This seriff has
probably never come in contact with any Europeans, and consequently
openly professes to hold their power in scorn.
"To my own knowledge Seriff Houseman seized and sold into slavery
a boat's crew (about twenty men) of the Sultana, a merchant ship,
which was burned in the Palawan passage. Within the last few months he
has plundered and burned a European vessel stranded near the Mangsi
Isles; and to show his entire independence of control, his contempt
for European power, and his determination to continue in his present
course, he has threatened to attack the city of Bruni, in consequence
of the Bruni government having entered into a treaty with her majesty's
government for the discouragement and suppression of piracy. This fact
speaks volumes; an old-established and recognized Malay government is
to be attacked by a lawless adventurer, who has seized on a portion
of its territory, and lives by piracy, for venturing to treat with a
foreign power for the best purposes. If any further proof of piracy
were requisite, it would readily be established by numerous witnesses
(themselves the victims), and by the most solemn declaration of
the Bruni authorities, that peaceful traders on the high seas have
been stopped by the prahus of this seriff and his allies, their
vessel seized, their property plundered, and their persons enslaved;
numerous witnesses could attest their having been reduced to slavery
and detained in the very household of Seriff Houseman! When, however,
the facts of his having sold into slavery the crew of a British vessel
(which has been established before the Singapore authorities) come
to be known, I conceive every other proof of the character of this
person is completely superfluous.
"The indirect piracy of Seriff Houseman is even more mischievous
than what is directly committed; for he supplies the Balagnini
(a restless piratical tribe, hereafter to be mentioned) with food,
powder, arms, salt, &c. under the agreement that they pay him on
their return from the cruise, at the rate of five slaves for every
100 rupees' worth of goods. The Balagnini are in consequence enabled,
through his assistance, to pirate effectively, which otherwise they
would not be able to do; as, from their locality, they would find it
difficult to obtain fire-arms and gunpowder. The most detestable part
of this traffic, however, is Seriff Houseman selling, in cold blood,
such of these slaves as are Borneons, to Pangeran Usop, of Bruni,
for 100 rupees for each slave, and Pangeran Usop re-selling each
for 200 rupees to their relations in Bruni. Thus, this vile seriff
(without taking into account the enormous prices charged for his
goods in the first instance) gains 500 per cent for every slave, and
Pangeran Usop clears 100 per cent on the flesh of his own countrymen,
thereby _de facto_ becoming a party to piracy, though doubtless veiled
under the guise of compassion.
"More might be added on the subject of the piracies committed by this
seriff; and it could easily be shown that the evils accruing from
them affect, not only the peaceful trader, but extend to the peaceful
agriculturist; but, for the sake of brevity, I deem it sufficient to
add, that he exercises the same malign influence on the north coast as
Seriff Sahib exercised on the northwest; and that, having surrounded
himself by a body of pirates, he arrogates the rights of sovereignty,
defies European power, contemns every right principle, and threatens
the recognized and legitimate governments of the Archipelago.
"The Balagnini inhabit a cluster of small islands somewhere in the
vicinity of Sooloo; they are of the Badjow or sea-gipsy tribe, a
wandering race, whose original country has never been ascertained. At
present, as far as I can learn, they are not dependent on Sooloo,
though it is probable they may be encouraged by some of the rajahs
of that place, and that they find a slave market there.
"The Balagnini cruise in large prahus, and to each prahu a fleet
sampan is attached, which, on occasion, can carry from ten to fifteen
men. They seldom carry large guns, like the Illanuns, but in addition
to their other arms, big lelas (brass pieces, carrying from a one
to a three pound ball), spears, swords, &c. They use long poles with
barbed iron points, with which, during an engagement or flight, they
hook their prey. By means of the fleet sampans already mentioned,
they are able to capture all small boats; and it is a favorite device
with them to disguise one or two men, while the rest lie concealed
in the bottom of the boat, and thus to surprise prahus at sea, and
fishermen or others at the mouths of rivers. By being disguised as
Chinese they have carried off numbers of that nation from the Sambas
and Pontiana rivers. The cruising-grounds of these pirates are very
extensive; they frequently make the circuit of Borneo, proceed as far
as the south of Celebes, and in the other direction have been met off
Tringanu, Calantan, and Patani. Gillolo and the Moluccas lie within
easy range, and it is probable that Papua is occasionally visited by
them. It will readily be conceived how harassing to trade must be the
continued depredations of the Balagnini pirates, and more especially
to the trade of Bruni, which seems, from the unwarlike habits of the
natives, the chosen field of their operations. The number of Borneons
yearly taken into slavery is very considerable, as a fleet of six
or eight boats usually hangs about the island of Labuan, to cut off
the trade, and to catch the inhabitants of the city. The Borneons,
from being so harassed by these pirates, call the easterly wind 'the
pirate wind.' The Balagnini commence cruising on the northwest coast
about the middle of March, and return, or remove to the eastern side
of the island, about the end of November.
"Of Magindano, or Mindanao, we are at the present time very ignorant;
but we know that the inhabitants are warlike and numerous, and that
that part of the island called Illanun Bay sends forth the most daring
pirates of the Archipelago. The first step requisite is to gain more
information concerning them, to form an acquaintance with some of
their better-disposed chiefs, and subsequently we might act against
them with a suitable force; but it would be rash and premature, in
the present state of our knowledge, to come in contact with them in
their own country. On one occasion I met eighteen Illanun boats on
neutral ground, and learned from their two chiefs that they had been
two years absent from home; and from the Papuan negro-slaves on board
it was evident that their cruise had extended from the most eastern
islands of the Archipelago to the north-western coast of Borneo.
"Having now enumerated the pirates I have become acquainted with
since my residence in Sarawak, I shall proceed to offer an opinion
of the best mode for the suppression of piracy in these seas.
"In the first place, a blow should be struck at the piratical
communities with which we are already acquainted, and struck with
a force which should convince all other pirates of the hopelessness
of resistance; subsequently the recognized Malay governments may be
detached from all communication with pirates; and, joining conciliation
with punishment, laying down the broad distinction of piracy and no
piracy, we may foster those who abandon their evil habits, and punish
those who adhere to them.
"A system of supervision will, however, be necessary to carry out these
measures: our knowledge of the native states must be improved; and as
we become able to discriminate between the good and the bad, our sphere
of action may be enlarged, and we may act with decision against all
descriptions of pirates; against the indirect as well as the direct
pirate; against the receiver of stolen goods as well as the thief;
and against the promoter as well as the actual perpetrator of piracy.
"I would especially urge that, to eradicate the evil, the pirate-haunts
must be burned and destroyed, and the communities dispersed; for merely
to cruise against pirate-prahus, and to forbear attacking them until we
see them commit a piracy, is a hopeless and an endless task, harassing
to our men, and can be attended with but very partial and occasional
success; whereas, on the contrary principle, what pirate would venture
to pursue his vocation if his home be endangered--if he be made to
feel in his own person the very ills he inflicts upon others?
"A question may arise as to what constitutes piracy; and whether,
in our efforts to suppress it, we may not be interfering with the
right of native states to war one upon another. On the first point,
it appears clear to me, that the plunder or seizure of a peaceful
and lawful trader on the high seas constitutes an act of piracy,
without any reference to the nation or color of the injured party;
for if we limit our construction of piracy, we shall, in most cases,
be in want of sufficient evidence to convict, and the whole native
trade of the Archipelago will be left at the mercy of pirates, much
to the injury of our own commerce and of our settlement of Singapore.
"On the second point, we can only concede the right of war to
recognized states; and even then we must carefully avoid introducing
the refinements of European international law among a rude and
semi-civilized people, who will make our delicacy a cloak for
crime, and declare war merely for the sake of committing piracy with
impunity. On the contrary, all chiefs who have seized on territory and
arrogate independence (making this independence a plea for piracy)
can never be allowed the right of declaring war, or entering on
hostilities with their neighbors; for, as I have before remarked,
all native trade must in that case be at an end, as the piratical
chiefs, no longer in dread of punishment from European powers, would
doubtless declare war against every unwarlike native state which they
did not need as a market for the sale of their slaves and plunder.
"Practically acting, however, on the broad principle, that the seizure
of any lawful trader constitutes piracy, I consider no injustice could
be done to the native states, and no interference occur with their
acknowledged rights; for in practice it would be easy to discriminate
a war between native nations from the piracies of lawless hordes of
men; and without some such general principle, no executive officer
could act with the requisite decision and promptitude to insure the
eradication of this great evil.
"With a post such as is proposed to be established, our measures for
the suppression of piracy (after the punishment of Seriff Houseman
and the Balagnini) would advance step by step, as our knowledge
increased, and with alternate conciliation and severity, as the
case might require. By detaching the recognised governments from the
practice, and gradually forming among the chief men a friendly and
English party opposed to piracy, we should, I doubt not, speedily
obtain our principal object of clearing the sea of marauders, and
ultimately correct the natural propensity of the natives for piracy.
"In order to extend our commerce in these seas generally, and more
particularly on the N.W. coast of Borneo, it is requisite, 1st, that
piracy be suppressed; 2dly, that the native governments be settled,
so as to afford protection to the poorer and producing classes; and,
3dly, that our knowledge of the interior should be extended, and our
intercourse with the various tribes more frequent.
"That our commerce may be largely extended is so clear that I shall
not stop to detail the productions of the island of Borneo, as it
will suffice here to state generally that all authorities agree in
representing it as one of the richest portions of the globe, and in
climate, soil, and mineral and vegetable productions, inferior to no
portion of the same extent.
"If these opinions be true--and from my experience I believe them to be
so--it follows that the materials for an extensive and extended trade
exist, and only require development, while a numerous and industrious,
though wild population, which inhabits the interior, is debarred from
all intercourse with Europeans from the badness of Malay government.
"On the first requisite for the development of commerce I need add
nothing further, as it is a duty incumbent on all governments to
eradicate piracy at any cost; and in the present case it would not
be found a difficult or tedious task.
"A post like Labuan or Balambangan would, beyond doubt, give an
impetus to trade, merely from the freedom from all restrictions,
and the absence of all exactions, which the natives would enjoy;
and (piracy being checked) countries which now lie fallow would,
from their proximity, be induced to bring their produce into market.
"This limited extension is, however, of little moment when compared
with the results which must attend our exerting a beneficial influence
over the native governments for the purposes of affording protection
to the poorer classes, insuring safety to the trader, and opening a
field for the planter or the miner.
"The slightest acquaintance with the northwest coast of Borneo would
convince any observer of the ease with which these objects might be
effected; for the native government, being in a state of decadence,
requires protection, and would willingly act justly toward traders and
capitalists, and encourage their enterprises, in order to continue on
friendly terms with any European power located in their vicinity. The
numerous rivers on the coast, with their local rulers, are harassed
by the demands of every petty Pangeran; and while the sovereign is
defrauded of his revenue, which the people would cheerfully pay, and
his territory ruined, this host of useless retainers (acting always
in his name) gain but very slight personal profits to counterbalance
all the mischief they do.
"The principal feature is the weakness of the governments, both of the
capital and its dependencies; and in consequence of this weakness there
is a strong desire for European protection, for European enterprise,
and for any change effected by Europeans. Supposing Labuan to be
taken as a naval post, I consider that European capital might with
safety be employed in Bruni.
"In the rivers contiguous to Sarawak the presence of Europeans would
be hailed with joy, not only by the Dyaks, but by the Malays; and
subsequently it would depend on their own conduct to what degree they
retained the good-will of the natives; but with ordinary conciliation,
and a decent moral restraint on their actions, I feel assured that
their persons and property would be safe, and no obstruction offered
to fair trade or to mining operations.
"Supposing, as I have before said, the occupation of Labuan by the
English, our influence over the government of Bruni would be complete;
and one of our principal objects would be to maintain this ascendency,
as a means of extending our trade.
"Our position at Labuan would, it must be borne in mind, differ
from the position we occupied in relation to the native princes
in Singapore. In the latter case, the native princes were without
means, without followers, and with a paltry and useless territory,
and became our pensioners. In the case of Labuan, we shall have an
acknowledged independent state in our vicinity; and for the prosperity
of our settlement we must retain our ascendency by the support of
the government of Muda Hassim. Let our influence be of the mildest
kind; let us, by supporting the legitimate government, ameliorate the
condition of the people by this influence; let us pay every honor to
the native princes; let us convince them of our entire freedom from all
selfish views of territorial aggrandizement on the mainland of Borneo,
and we shall enjoy so entire a confidence that virtually the coast
will become our own without the trouble or expense of possession. I
have impressed it on the Rajah Muda Hassim and Pangeran Budrudeen,
that the readiest and most direct way of obtaining revenues from their
various possessions will be by commuting all their demands for a stated
yearly sum of money from each; and by this direct taxation, to which
Muda Hassim and his brother seem ready to accede, the system of fraud
and exaction would be abolished, the native mind tranquillized, and
the legitimate government would become the protector rather than the
oppressor of its dependencies. By this measure, likewise, a tone might
be imparted to the native chiefs and rulers of rivers, and the people
at large taught to feel that, after the payment of a specified sum,
a right existed to resist all extra demands. Beside this, these rajahs
are convinced that a certain yearly revenue is what they require,
and is the only means by which they can retain their independence;
and I have impressed it on their minds that, to gain a revenue,
they must foster trade and protect Europeans in their dealings.
"If Labuan were English, and if the sea were clear of pirates, I
see no obstacle to bringing these and other measures into immediate
operation; and I am assured we should have the sincere and hearty
cooperation of the Borneon government.
"Since the advent of Europeans in the Archipelago, the tendency of
the Polynesian governments generally has been to decay; here the
experiment may be fairly tried on the smallest scale of expense,
whether a beneficial European influence may not reanimate a falling
state, and at the same time extend our own commerce. We are here devoid
of the stimulus which has urged us on to conquest in India. We incur
no risk of the collision of the two races: we occupy a small station
in the vicinity of a friendly and unwarlike people; and we aim at
the development of native countries through native agency.
"If this tendency to decay and extinction be inevitable; if this
adaptation of European policy to a native state be found unable to
arrest the fall of the Borneon government, yet we shall retain a people
already habituated to European manners, industrious interior races,
and at a future period, if deemed necessary, settlements gradually
developed in a rich and fertile country. We shall have a post in time
of war highly advantageous as commanding a favorable position relative
to China, we shall extend our commerce, suppress piracy, and prevent
the present and prospective advantages from falling into other hands;
and we shall do this at small expense.
"I own the native development through their own exertions is but a
favorite theory; but whatever may be the fate of the government of
Borneo, the people will still remain; and if they be protected and
enabled to live in quiet security, I cannot entertain a doubt of the
country's becoming a highly productive one, eminently calculated as
a field for British enterprise and capital.
"If the development of the resources of the country can be effected by
its native rulers it will be a noble task performed; but if it fail,
the people of the coast will still advance and form governments for
themselves under British influence.
"In concluding this hasty and general view of the subject, I may remark
that commerce might be extended and capital laid out on the northwest
coast of Borneo, to an amount to which it is difficult to fix limits,
as the country is capable of producing most articles of commerce
in demand from this quarter of the world, and the natives (who, as
far as we know them, are an unwarlike, mild, and industrious race)
would receive our manufactures, from which they are now in a great
measure debarred. I have not alluded to any other countries of the
Archipelago: for we must first become acquainted with them; we must
become intimate, cultivate an English party, and accustom them to our
manners; and probably the same conciliatory policy, the same freedom
from design, which has succeeded in Borneo, will succeed elsewhere,
if pushed with temper and patience.
"The general principle ought to be--to encourage established
governments, such as those of Borneo and Sooloo, provided they will
with all sincerity abandon piracy, and assist in its suppression;
but at the same time, by supervision to convince ourselves of the
fact, and keep them in the right path; for all treaties with these
native states (and we have had several) are but so much waste paper,
unless we see them carried into execution.
"I have now only to mention the third means for the extension of
commerce. Our intercourse with the natives of the interior should be
frequent and intimate: these people (beyond where I am acquainted with
them) are represented as very numerous, hospitable, and industrious;
and a friendly intercourse would develop the resources of their
country, draw its produce to our markets, and give the natives a taste
for British manufactures. This intercourse, however, must be prudently
introduced and carefully advanced; for to bring these wild people into
contact with ignorant and arrogant Europeans would produce bloodshed
and confusion in a month. In Borneo, it is an advantage that the two
races can not come in collision; for from its climate it precludes
all idea of colonization; and that which is next to an impossibility,
the maintaining a good understanding between ignorant civilized
men and ignorant savages. It is a field for commerce and capital,
but no violent change of native customs should be attempted; and in
this way alone, by gradual means, can we really benefit the natives
and ourselves. When we consider the amount of produce obtained from
the countries of the Archipelago, and their consumption of British
manufactures, under the worst forms of government, living in a state
of distraction and insecurity, and exposed to the depredations of
pirates at sea, we may form some idea how vast may be the increase,
should peace and security be introduced among them; and judging of
the future by the past--by the limited experiment made at Sarawak--we
may hope that the task is neither so difficult nor so uncertain as
was formerly supposed."