Bentley's Miscellany XXV (1849) pp.

71-831

POSITION OF SIR JAMES BROOKE IN THE INDIAN ARCHIPELAGO,

BY JAMES AUGUSTUS ST. JOHN,
AUTHOR OF THE HISTORY OF THE MANNERS AND CUSTOMS OF ANCIENT GREECE, ETC.

WITH A PORTRAIT BY FRANCIS GRANT, A.R,A.2

A great deal has lately been written on the progress of events in the Indian Archipelago, on the position of the English and the Dutch, and on that vast system of piracy which obstructs the movements of commerce. The adversaries of Sir James Brooke are of course interested in underrating the force of the buccaneers, because, should the plan of operations he recommends prove successful, they will be able to disparage his efforts, by maintaining he had no very formidable obstacles to overcome. There is another class of persons deeply interested in extenuating or concealing the dangers incurred by those who navigate the Eastern seas; the projectors, I mean, of trading schemes, who, though they owe all their chances of success to the presence of Sir James Brooke in the Archipelago, would be glad to see his services forgotten, and the objects of his legitimate ambition completely frustrated. Here at home, a majority of people must always look upon the events which take place in the Archipelago rather with curiosity than with any deeper feeling. They love to hear or read of the exploring of new regions, of perilous adventures, of expeditions by sea or land. How the unobtrusive merchant may fare they pause not to inquire. Consequently, if you would arrest their attention and compel them to sympathise with the representatives of British civilisation in that remote and comparatively little known portion of the globe, you must be able to shew that the situation which our countrymen there occupy is encompassed with difficulties and dangers. The amount of these will be estimated differently by different men. Some, enveloped in complete selfishness, can appreciate no peril to which they are not themselves exposed; others have a natural disposition to diminish whatever is distant; while others conceive it to be philosophical to affect indifference in all matters of this kind and to mask their real opinions beneath the language of moderation and reserve. According to a certain class of writers there is not much left for Great Britain to accomplish in that part of Asia. The Dutch and the Spaniards, they say, divide all the islands between them, the latter possessing half, and the former claiming more than the remainder; but Brooke is not of this opinion. He finds, and the authorities here at home would seem to agree with him, that large portions of the Archipelago are still independent, and that an immense field consequently exists for the extension of British commerce and enterprise. But properly to lay open this field is a task far from easy. Doubtless no obstacle impedes the settlement of such matters on paper, when the writer makes what he pleases of facts, distorts everything to suit his own convenience, annihilates millions by a stroke of the pen, converts fertile plains into deserts, mountains into morasses, and envelopes tribes and nations in the close meshes of a diplomacy. Which exists nowhere but in his own fancy. Practically, however, very serious embarrassments are found to exist; and if the Rajah of Sarawak succeed, as I have every reason to believe he will, in completely removing them, the country will owe him a deep debt of gratitude, and history will record with satisfaction his sagacity, his courage and perseverance, and the honours which must inevitably be their reward.

I formerly, with the aid of the Rajah's own early journals, drew a rapid sketch of his career 3 up to his arrival in this country in the autumn of 1847 4. During his short stay what honours were paid him5, what admiration he excited, what hopes and aspirations kindled in the breast of thousands most people will remember. On the 1st of February last, he again quitted England in order once more to establish himself on the scene of his former achievements, and reached Singapore early in May. There he and the other members of the government of Labuan were received with enthusiasm, and treated with the utmost distinction6. Whatever may be the case here in Europe. Sir James Brooke is properly appreciated beyond the Straits of Malacca, where neither envy nor jealousy can deny the wisdom of the projects be has originated for the honour of his country, and the redemption of millions of bis fellow-creatures from cruelty, tyranny, oppression, and the grossest possible slavery both of body and mind. Among naval and military men he has always been held in high admiration. Adventurous themselves, they know how to estimate the spirit of adventure in him, and, very much to their credit, they have always been willing to recognise his merits and to do justice to his distinguished services. While the Rajah remained at Singapore several steps were taken towards converting the island of Labuan into a proper receptacle for civilised men. The jungle was cleared away in the neighbourhood of the site of the projected city; vessels thronged to the port; labourers passed over from the main island, and every thing proceeded with rapidity and success. Some symptoms of sickness were said to have made their appearance, but these were not considered formidable and excited no particular alarm. Meanwhile, signs of extraordinary uneasiness were visible in the Netherland authorities throughout the Archipelago where their paramount influence was evidently about to slip from their hands. Secretly, no doubt, they attribute the disasters which have recently befallen them to our unwelcome presence in their vicinity; and it is more than probable that both the Balinese and people of Sulu have been encouraged to treat them with contempt, by reliance whether ill or well founded, on our countenance and protection. However this may be, it is quite certain that the arms of Holland have lately been unable to make any impression on the people of Bali, who, animated by the spirit of independence, and confiding in the justice of their cause, have boldly met the Dutch in the field and driven them ignominiously from their island. How far it may suit the views of England to interfere in that part of the Archipelago I cannot pretend to determine, but so far as appears at present the Dutch are mere intruders in Bali, on which they have no more genuine claims than on Lucon or Magindanao. But Holland obviously imagines that so far from home there is no necessity for practising justice, or paying any attention to the stipulation of treaties. Every things it conceives, is to be effected by arms. Accordingly it has subjugated the Padris in Sumatra, the Malays and Dyaks in Southern Borneo, and is now engaged in carrying out the same system against the Bugis in Celebes, and the Papuans in New Guinea. The mission, therefore, of the English in the Archipelago is obviously twofold; first, to check the encroachments of the Dutch, who, if suffered to accomplish their designs, would reduce the whole of that part of the world to slavery; and second , to destroy that system of piracy, the strength and widely-spread ramifications of which it requires some intrepidity and more knowledge to credits Pedantic ignorance is apt to be sceptical respecting that which it does not understand; and therefore we often see called in question the very existence of that formidable organisation, to counteract and extirpate which is one of the chief objects of the Rajah of Sarawak. All who had watched the career of this sagacious statesman in the Archipelago regarded with uneasiness the situation of his principality during his absence in Europe. Many persons have, in semi-barbarous countries, acquired power for themselves which, so long as they could exert it personally, they have been enabled to maintain unimpaired; but any attempt at handing over the reins of government to a substitute or successor, has generally proved fatal to the new dynasty, if I may so express myself. It was, therefore, feared by the friends and well-wishers of Brooke that the moment he quitted Sarawak, and left his Raj under the management of others, the natives would rise against the delegated authority and scatter it to the wind. Nor did this apprehension appear altogether unreasonable even to those who were best informed. A handful of Englishmen, stationed on the corner of a vast island, with nothing worthy to be regarded as a military force, and

governing, by the mere influence of a name, a considerable province, must always appear to be a political phenomenon even when all the circumstances of the case have been taken into account. But the spell of Brooke's reputation preserved them. The Dyaks sincerely loved the man from the West; and though he had departed from them for a season, they felt confident he would return to complete their deliverance and to elevate them to that condition towards which the longings of all men, savage or civilised, invariably tend. In considering this fact however, we must not lose sight of one circumstance, that there was all the while an English squadron in the neighbourhood, not often visible indeed to the Malays or Dyaks, but known to be there nevertheless, chiefly by the immunity it insured from the visitations of piracy. The ravages formerly caused by this scourge throughout the sultanate of Borneo, and in most other divisions of Kalamantan, Brooke himself has described. The fleets of the Illanuns and Balanini swept periodically along the coast, landing wherever there was any promise of booty, and carrying off the peaceful inhabitants, men, women, and children, into slavery, after first gratifying their savage propensities by the profuse shedding of blood and the perpetration of all those horrors which the most ignoble of the human race are inclined to commit against weakness and innocence. But they who have watched the growth of the system of slavery on the western coast of Africa, and considered how difficult it is, even by the employment of immense fleets of ships and steamers, to check, and how utterly hopeless to suppress it, by operations wholly carried on at sea, will easily comprehend the impracticability of effecting a similar purpose by similar means in the Archipelago, Ships of war arc necessary there, and steamers are still more necessary. But they will not suffice of themselves to extirpate piracy, which may be regarded as the foundation on which slavery in that part of the world reposes. Yet no great progress is to be made until the entire freedom of the sea has been by some means or other established, It is true that a large native trade is at present carried on, which increases with the increase of safety occasioned by the presence of our ships of war. But neither commerce nor civilization can be properly developed until the evil shall have been entirely rooted out. This is the unalterable conviction of Sir James Brooke, and to accomplish it he is now in the Archipelago. Persons interested in spreading false information have lately been labouring insidiously to throw discredit on him and his plans, and to prove the uselessness of that support which has at length been given him by government. But if the piracy of the Indian Archipelago be not formidable, Captain Keppel's7 services on the rivers and in the interior of Sarawak were of no significance, and Sir Thomas Cochrane8 and the other officers, who razed to the ground the great pirate haunts of Northern Borneo, were equally undeserving of commendation. Indeed I see not upon what pretext England has unfurled her banner in those seas, if it be true that the buccaneers are there little to be dreaded even by traders so timid and inexpert as the Chinese. Experience, however, proves the very reverse to be the fact. It would of course be useless to look into Crawfurd or any other of the older writers for a complete picture of the piratical system. It was not, when they published, thought of sufficient consequence to command the attention of the country. Other ideas occupied their minds; disquisitions on language and literature, on traditions and superstitions, on physiology and imperfect ethnography. It is only now in the midst of the nineteenth century that we are beginning to form a just conception of the long existing impediments to commerce, so widely scattered through the Eastern seas. To calculate our chances of success we ought carefully to observe the effects which have been already produced upon the native tribes with which we have come in contact. This we can best study in Sarawak where the Dyaks, though subjected to the government of an Englishman, are sufficiently conscious of their strength to speak and act as voluntary agents. Let us, therefore, take up Sir James Brooke on his way from Singapore to his principality, and observe the reception that awaited him on his return to his little capital. The narrative is extracted from the journal of one who accompanied him9, and witnessed and shared the pleasure which the Rajah experienced on standing once more in the midst of his Dyak subjects, whom he treats very much like his own children. August 29th., Tuesday. Left Singapore with mingled feelings and a little regret, but more joy to

overbalance it. Wednesday. A party landed on Banu island and shot birds. On Thursday signalled Borneo, our long wished-for destination. I felt pleased, but experienced no wild enthusiasm. I regarded the scene with a calm delight. The wind died away, and here on Sunday, the 3rd, we are lying off the mouth of the Sarawak river. Our progress is too slow. The scenery along the coast is beautiful. Before stretches a fine prospect of hill and dale clothed to the summit with dark rich jungle, A boat left yesterday to row up to Sarawak to give notice of our arrival. After dinner we went on shore pulling to a pretty creek between the two entrances of the Sarawak river. It is a deep nook. At the end just above the sand are the graves of several Englishmen. It is melancholy to die so far from home, but it is our lot. It is a quiet resting place. The men now tried to catch some fish, but were not very successful, while we amused ourselves on the sand searching for fresh water at the edges of the jungle, and jumping and stepping over a natural rope, a species of ivy. The Rajah joined us in the fun, and getting tired we waded through the water to where our clothes were left. Then lying down on the sand, we conversed about the scenery of the country, and truly that before us was very beautiful. 'Sept, 4th. About ten o'clock in the morning native war-boats commenced issuing from the Morotabas entrance and sailed towards us. These were the Sarawak people come to welcome back their Rajah to the country of his adoption. They were long light prahus with tapering masts and 'butterfly' sails ornamented with flags and streamers, and all on board were dressed in gala costume. The pangerans and datus came on board and greeted their chief with heartfelt gladness, while outside they kept up a continual beating of tomtoms and gongs. Some of our visitors were rather fine men, but on the whole their outward appearance was somewhat insignificant. Their jackets, however, were beautifully ornamented with gold lace, and clustered together they looked quite picturesque. About one, we left the Maeander 10 under a royal salute, the sailors manning the yards. It was well done of Keppel to treat the Rajah as a sovereign prince, a compliment to which he is justly entitled, and some day I feel convinced he will be in a far higher and prouder position. Manning the yards has a singular effect, the whole of the spars covered with men, in their clean white dresses, standing, apparently, hand in hand, and all of a height. When the last echoes of the salute had died away, the blue jackets gave three hearty cheers and then swarmed like bees down the rigging. The war-prahus around, particularly the 'Black Eagle' kept up a constant firing of guns, much to our own and their amusement. I was gratified, highly gratified; I hope the Rajah was so too. The pull up the river was a long one, but the appearance of the country compensated for the little ennui, for though near us the scene was ever the same, in the distance the fine outline of the mountains afforded a striking contrast to the low jungle around us; occasionally we passed fishinghuts and boats, and once a small Chinese junk fired a royal salute en passant. This pleased me as much as anything. As we drew near the town the shades of evening came over us, not however before a most brilliant sunset. The prahus sailing up irregularly behind us, and two Dyak boats near us, kept up a continual firing of guns and beating of tomtoms. The whole scene was wild and picturesque. On rounding the last bend of the river we were astonished to find the whole town illuminated; along either bank the houses presented a mass of light, resembling [to my ? association the Thames] at night. We were welcomed at the ? by the European inhabitants, and soon found ourselves at home. We were very tired; a dinner, however, set us to rights, and the native chiefs came swarming into the room, while every window presented a crowd of anxious gazers. There is a genuine feeling for the Rajah, and I could perceive a glow of satisfaction ?ing over his face gradually settling down into a look of perfect happiness, and this observation proved his condition, I feel more happy here S--, than anywhere else in the world; this is my home. Sept 5th. The natives swarming as usual. The datus and pangerans examining the Rajah's sword and wardrobe. We went across the river to visit the missionaries, and heard the news they had to communicate. They appear to be progressing; patience and they will succeed. We went to the fort, a clean, well ordered building with six guns and several small pivots with twenty-five disciplined men and plenty of arms. I had the young son of Muda Hassim with me, a nice little boy about

seven. We managed to understand each other by means of our imperfect Malay and signs. We visited the Kling bazaar, flourishing, and several other parts of the town, which run irregularly along the river. The Rajah gave me a seat in his boat; we pulled up; it is rapidly increasing, and must contain at least ten thousand inhabitants, the rest of the country some twenty or thirty thousand more. Sept 6th. Went to visit the datu's wife; we started about one. People were collected at nearly every door, and stopped to gaze on the Rajah as the boat rapidly paddled up the river. There was every preparation for receiving us in state. Men were assembled with matches near the guns, and as we approached the place of debarcation, a continued salute was kept up. From the landing place to the house a white cloth was spread for us to walk on, and as we moved in we were greeted with a shower of rice. Passing through the outer room we entered the hall of audience, as I may call it, a large apartment without any ornament on its bare plaster-walls, except an old pistol. The floor was covered with mats, and on one side was arranged a double file of chairs facing each other for the various European guests. At the end was another chair with a piece of cloth of gold thown over it for the Rajah; at his feet was similar brocade, while all around were spread the finest mats. On the Rajah's right hand sat Numa, who welcomed us with much native elegance and, with some others, threw yellow rice over us. She then slight1y rubbed a golden ring on a peculiar kind of rasp, and gently pressed it on our foreheads. Gold dust having been brought in, our hair was sprinkled with it by the assembled dames. These greetings being over, I had leisure to look around the room, and examine the crowd. Behind me sat the women and girls, many of the younger tolerably goodlooking, and some, for native, handsome; but in general they are neither one nor the other. The rest of the room was crowded with men and boys, some of the latter naked, others half-dressed, while a few of the men had tolerable clothes; but here, as elsewhere, we must not judge of rank by habiliments, Numa sat, as I before said, on the right hand of the Rajah, and entered into conversation with him. One of her remarks is well worth preserving. The Rajah paid a compliment to her neat house, when she answered, 'Ah, Tuan,were it not for you I should not have had this house. It is yours, for we never could build such places as this before you came among us. Her voice is occasionally very sweet. She is pleasant in her manners, and rather agreeable in her appearance, with mild dark eyes, and is extremely quiet. She is about twenty-eight, but looks older. She was dressed in black, with heavy gold buttons to her native robe. The other women were but slightly dressed. Presently a white cloth was spread between a pile of chairs, and covered with sweetmeats and cakes. Some sat a la Turque, others reclined with pillows under their arms. I tasted a few of the dainties, one not unlike sponge-cake in appearance, but made of sugar, others tolerable, but not very tasty. After a little conversation we withdrew, shaking hands with the ladies. There was one nice-looking child, a daughter of the datu by his other wife, adopted by Numa as she is childless. The datu lives with his wives alternate quarters. Englishmen all the world over employ the intervals of business or study in the sports of the field, to which the Rajah of Sarawak is strongly addicted. The larger kinds of game, however, are unknown in Kalamantan, if we except, perhaps, the rhinoceros, which is supposed to exist in the recesses of the forests, and in certain districts on the eastern coast. But the chase of the Mias pappan11, common in Sarawak, is extremely exciting, though the resemblance of the animal to man in appearance and habits infuses into it a painful interest, something like that which would be experienced in hunting down a savage, or a ferocious buccaneer. Of this latter kind of chase an example lately occurred on a small island in the sea which bounds the Archipelago towards the north. Most persons have heard of the massacre on board the General Wood. 12 The Chinese convicts, after they had perpetrated the crime, dispersed themselves in various directions; some making towards the Celestial empire itself, while others sought other places of shelter, and among these sixty took refuge on Pulo Oby, a small island at the entrance to the Gulf of Siam, This island, of granitic formation, rises in jagged peaks, and is thickly covered with jungle. It contains one small village, consisting of a few mat-huts and a joss-house, or temple of Buddha, with another similar structure on the opposite side. The original inhabitants were few in number, and harmless; and

these, when the convict pirates landed, took to the woods. By degrees, however, they were induced to return to their dwellings, while their ferocious visitors, who at first, as we have said, amounted to sixty, took up their residence among them. The object of the buccaneers in seizing on this position was to escape the pursuit of the English; to remain until they had fed and lived so well that, to use their own expression, none save God should know them, no, not even their own mothers and sisters, and then retire, with all the booty they could collect, to their homes; or else take once more to piracy, and enjoy the pleasure of committing all kinds of excesses, and shedding abundance of blood. On this remote outskirt of the buccaneering system it may possibly be supposed the prizes would be rare, and the victims few. Not so, however. According to the testimony of the natives of Pulo Oby not less than seventy trading- vessels were captured during the year 1847, within sight of the island; while the wretched inhabitants themselves, whose poverty would seem to constitute a sufficient protection are habitually compelled to hide whatever they possess under the earth, that it may not be taken from them by the maurauders. Granting that in the round number seventy there may have been some exaggeration, we may still infer, from the account of these people, that the destruction of property throughout the Archipelago by piracy is very great. Indeed, the large hordes of those who live by plunder prove at once the value of the trade, and the necessity of extending adequate protection to it. For some time the pirates remained undisturbed on Pulo Oby, eating, drinking, and carousing. It had been agreed on landing that the whole body should keep together for self-protection, and that when the time came for separating, they should effect this operation in the manner best calculated to promote the welfare of all. But there is no honour among thieves. As soon as an opportunity presented itself, twelve of their number, forgetting the oath they had taken, made off in the large boat which contained their common treasure; and of the remainder several effected their escape by different means. The smaller boat, in which they had arrived at Oby, was still in their possession; but, on the appearance in the offing of the English ship, Celerity, they sunk it, in the hope of thus avoiding discovery. The fact, however, that the pirates were on the island transpired, in spite of all their precautions, and on the arrival of the Celerity at Singapore, it was determined to dispatch the Phlegethon13 steamer, well manned and armed, and furnished with a month's provisions, for the chase and capture of these reckless desperadoes. The Phlegethon whilst steaming towards Pulo Oby enjoyed magnificent weather; but as soon as it neared the island heavy rain came on. All felt they were engaged in an exciting adventure, and were impatient to enter on the chase of the pirates. The mate of the Celerity had undertaken to act as their guide; but, as afterwards appeared, possessed a very slight acquaintance with the localities, No one precisely knew the number of the enemy; whether or not they had been joined by fresh allies since their arrival on the island; in what fastnesses they might have taken up their retreat, or what means of defence were in their power. This uncertainty considerably added to the excitement experienced by the crew of the Phlegethon who, while rowing along the shore in rain and darkness, for it had been judged expedient to precede the steamer in boats, pictured to themselves, each according to the liveliness of his fancy, the novel kind of contest they anticipated. Early the following morning they with much difficulty effected a landing over rocks rendered slippery by the rain, and making a rush upon the village, succeeded in capturing there a number of the pirates. The rest, slipping out between the mats of which the huts were constructed, escaped to the jungle. Then took place a series of manoeuvres and pursuits, on the one hand, and of dexterous stratagems and escapes on the other, which greatly protracted the operations of this curious little campaign. Oby, as has been said, is thickly clothed with woods and thickets, abounds with precipices and caverns, and opposes numerous other obstructions to an exploring party. It consequently appeared almost hopeless to capture the miscreants after whom search was now made, They dispersed themselves; they hid in caves; they plunged into the depths of the jungle; but the necessity of obtaining food compelled them from time to time to issue forth in quest of it. Besides, the various articles of property which had been carried off from the General Wood ships-

carriages, bayonets, time-pieces, English boat's rudder, masts, and sails, ladjes' work-boxes, cardcases, &c,, which were from time to time discovered, put the pursuers on the track of the fugitives, who were gradually captured in detail. Nevertheless, the process was so slow, that the commander of the Phlegethon became impatient. Both officers and men, moreover, were suffering greatly from fatigue; many had caught the jungle fever, while the clothes of all were nearly torn from their bodies by the thorny shrubs abounding in the thickets. The idea now suggested itself of departing with the steamer for Cambodia for provisions, which were beginning to run low, leaving strong parties concealed in the village, which, upon the appearance of any of the malefactors, might turn out and secure them. The incidents of the Phlegethon's visit to the river Kamoo may serve to illustrate the position we now occupy in those seas. A certain degree of respect was paid to the British flag, and the Cochin-Chinese governor exhibited unequivocal tokens of uneasiness when, on his shewing reluctance to comply with the wishes of our countrymen. he was told that his conduct would be represented to the Queen of England. Still, it is obvious that the impression we have made on the minds of those people is not yet sufficiently deep; for, though his excellency made many promises, he fulfilled none of them. The commander of the Phlegethon, therefore, who had claimed the assistance of a body of natives, was constrained, in proceeding with the chase, to rely entirely upon his own resources. His success, however, wag almost complete, for out of thirty- five pirates he captured thirty; with whom he departed for Singapore. Even now the prisoners were far from relinquishing hope. They were overheard plotting the seizure of the steamer; and when they saw their design frustrated, several of them attempted self-destruction, and of these one succeeded; for, leaping overboard, he was struck dead by the paddle-wheel. Were I to repeat the narratives of the native traders, and describe minutely the sufferings to which they are exposed, I should fill volumes. No part of the Archipelago, or of the continental countries, which lie to the north or north-west of it, is exempt from periodical ravages. It might, no doubt, be supposed, and the supposition would be perfectly natural, that at least those islands which are ruled by European authority, and protected by European arms, must escape such visitations. But this is very far from being the case. The pirates constantly make descents even on the Island of Penang, and carry off the inhabitants into slavery. i No surprise can therefore be felt that similar disasters should befall the Dutch settlements, which it may be presumed, from the apathetic character of the Hollanders, are less vigilantly guarded. At any rate numbers of Javanese, are often found among the persons reduced to slavery by the buccaneers, and sometimes, though rarely, a stray Dutchman compelled to taste of those hardships from which his government will not be at the pains to protect its native subjects. A touching story is told of a Dutch officer, who, after the capture of his ship, was taken prisoner and sold into slavery, in which condition he endured all the hardships to which men so circumstanced .are habitually exposed. Compelled to perform the meanest and most degrading drudgery, he was passed from owner to owner, everywhere treated with hardships and severity, and
i The islands less favoured by nature, or under the influence of particular historical circumstances, have become the seats of great piratical communities, which periodically send forth large fleets to sweep the seas, and lurk along the shores of the Archipelago; despoiling the seafaring trader of the fruits of his industry and his personal liberty, and carrying off from their very homes the wives and children of the villagers. From the creeks and rivers of Borneo and Johore, from the numerous islands between Singapore and Banka, and from other parts of the Archipelago, piratical expeditions, less formidable than those of the Camens of Sulu, are, year after year, fitted out. No coast is so thickly peopled, and no harbour so well protected, as to be secure from all molestation, for where open force would be useless, recourse is had to stealth and stratagem. Men had been kidnapped in broad day in the harbour of Penang and Singapore. Several inhabitants of Province Wellesley, who had been carried away from their houses through the harbour of Penang, and down the Straits of Malacca to the southward, were recently discovered by the Dutch authorities and restored to their homes. But the ordinary abodes of the pirates themselves are not always at a distance from the European settlements. As the Thug of Bengal is only known in his own village as a peaceful peasant, so the pirate, when not abroad on an expedition, appears in the river and and along the shores of Singapore as an honest boatman or fisherman. Journal of the Indian Archipelago,i.15.

constantly sinking from bad to worse. At length he got into the hands of the Sultan of Linga, where his story became known to a Chinese merchant trading to Java, The worthy celestial having some faith in regal generosity, entreated the suhan to release Mynheer Stokbrow, partly for the pleasure of performing a good action, and partly a1so with the view of ingratiating himself with the authorities of Java; but the disciple of Buddha made his appeal in vain; with the Sultan of Linga nothing but good hard dollars would produce conviction. Tan Leansing therefore, resolved to perfect his good work, paid down the ransom of Stokbrow, and talking him on board his ship treated him with the greatest hospitality, and conveyed him safe and sound to Samarang. Nor does the romance of the story end here. The friends of Mynheer Stokbrow and the governor of the place, Monsieur Nikolaus Engelhard, immediately offered to reimburse the Chinese merchant the sum he had expended for the deliverance of their countryman; but he refused to accept anything, saying, he was satisfied with the consciousness of having performed a good action. M. Stokbrow was a man of property, and having been restored to his family, experienced all the emotions of a grateful heart, and entreated the Chinese, if he would not accept repayment of the ransom, at least to make his house his home dunng his annual visit to Samarang. This invitation Tan Leansing readily accepted, and every year on his arrival at Samarang, M, Stokbrow drove down to the beach in his carriage, conveyed the Chinese merchant back to his house, and during the fortnight he usually remained, every day was a holiday. The whole family, with all its numerous friends, vied with each other as to who should shew most respect to Tan Leansing, who at length almost became transformd into a Dutchman. This agreeable intercourse continued till about four years ago, when M, Stokbrow died, though I believe the honest Buddhist still survives and is probably made as welcome as ever at Samarang by the relatives of his deceased friend. The readers of Sir James Brooke's Journals will no doubt remember that the crews of two English ships wrecked off the coast of Borneo, were taken prisoners and reduced to slavery by the natives; and that after having endured many hardships, they were ransomed and restored to their friends by the white Rajah. The Bugis and Malays, when the same calamity befalls them, seldom find any one generous enough to pay their ransom; and, accordingly, unless fortunate enough to effect their own deliverance by craft or courage, usually wear away their lives in the service of cruel task- masters. The depositions made before the magistrates at Singapore supply very striking illustrations of the wide-spread disastrous influence of the piratical system which embraces within the circle of its operation the whole extent of the Archipelago, from Acheen and Penang, to the Ladrones and New Guinea. No advantage would possibly accrue from entering into further details, because 1 think it must be obvious from what has already been said, that the commerce of Insular Asia can never be properly developed till piracy shall have been suppressed. They who think lightly of its evils can have been at little pains to inform themselves of the facts. The trade of Singapore and Penang suffers severely from the operations of this cause, and Labuan will languish under the same influence, unless decisive measures be at once adopted for entirely emancipating those seas. What Sir James Brooke's plans may be, further than he has developed them in his published journals, it is not for me to explain, but he will probably be of opinion that possession as soon as possible should be taken of the principal Sulu Islands, and of such other parts of the Archipelago as are adapted for commercial emporiums, coal stations, or settlements. It is mere absurdity to pretend that all the islands are already occupied by other European Powers. We know the exact limits of the Spanish possessions in that part of the world, and if the claims of the Dutch be more indefinite, they are not all-engrossing. On the contrary, it is acknowledged by the Netherlands that an extremely large field still remains open to English enterprise, and our neighbours affect at least to think we should be doing good service to civilisation by hoisting our flag in several groups, to which they do not even pretend to the shadow of a right. It may be hoped, moreover, that circumstances will shortly lead us to undertake a mission to Japan on a suitable scale of magnificence. The government of that country only awaits the application of a gentle pressure from without to terminate that exclusive system which has already lasted much too long for the honour of the civilized world,

Holland, which appears to profit by the continuance of this exclusive system, is in reality as much concerned as we are to put an end to it. Her miserable settlement on Dessima, in the harbour of Nangdsaki, is perpetually exposed to a series of contumelies and insults, which no other nation in Europe would endure; and after all, the advantages she reaps from this contemptible sacrifice of national honour, are scarcely deserving to be enumerated among the gains of a great commercial people. Even the English themselves are often treated by mistake or otherwise with much less respect than we are elsewhere apt to claim for our flag. This may sometimes be attributed to us as a fault, sometimes may be regarded as a misfortune. Numerous are our ships, extensive as is our trade on the whole, there are yet many countries in the world whose natives are unable to distinguish between an Englishmen and a Frenchman, and who scarcely perceive any difference between the flags of Great Britain and France. Occasionally it seems probable that the insolence of the barbarians induces them to exaggerate their own ignorance, that it may, in case of necessity, help to screen them from punishment. An example of this seems to have occurred recently on the coast of Cochin China 14. Victor Howes, one of those adventurous Englishmen who appear, according to the Arab proverb, to carry their lives in their hands, undertook to navigate a junk, with a Chinese crew, from Singapore to Hong Kong. On his way, however, across the Gulf of Tonquin, he encountered the north-east monsoon, and was driven back before the tempest, many degrees towards the west. He now experienced more difficulty in combating with the Celestials than with the elements. They drove him from the helm, they steered the junk themselves, and, deaf to all his warnings, madly persisted in driving her upon a lee-shore. Here she soon found herself among the breakers, the mast went by the board, and in the course of an hour she went to pieces, and her scattered fragments were seen floating upon the waves. Some few seamen were drowned, but Howes, with the rest, made his way safe to land, where our countryman, suspected of being a Frenchman, was made prisoner, threatened with death, and treated with extraordinary harshness and severity during upwards of five months. At the end of that period, Commander Gordon arrived at Turon harbour in the "Royalist," formerly Sir James Brooke's yacht15, and demanded and obtained the release of Howes, whom he conveyed to Singapore. This outline of a story, which Howes himself tells with the most ingenuous simplicity, may be thought to possess little interest, but it at least serves to shew the necessity of our appearing more frequently on those shores, that we may familiarize the natives with our flag, and teach them to dread the consequences of setting it at defiance. In a trading pomt of view, the possession of Singapore is highly important and our new settlement on Labuan will in all likelihood prove equally valuable. But we must not pause there, since nothing short of our studding the archipelago with settlements will effect the purposes we have in view. Against this scheme some have objected, on account of what they consider its enormous expense. But expense is relative. If we reckon what Singapore costs us, for example, we must set against it our commercial gains, and it will then be found that in reality it costs us nothing. The same thing will prove true of every other settlement in the Archipelago judiciously made. It is the height of absurdity, therefore, to found any objection against such settlements on the expenditure of the occasion, provided the profit derived from them in commercial returns exceed the outlay. It may appear premature to speculate on the establishment of new commercial emporiums, before the settlement of Labuan has been completed. But the wants of commerce have now become pressing, and so long as we persist in our false notions of economy, and restrict ourselves to one or two points on that wide area, the system of piracy will continue to flourish, and the cost of the naval armaments necessary to keep it in check, will greatly exceed that of all the new stations and emporiums which circumstances require us to establish. These observations I have made in anticipation of the plan which I suspect Sir James Brooke will recommend, because it may be useful to enlist public opinion as far as possible on the side of his comprehensive views. Besides, there are some writers who seek to alarm the country by false representations, pretending we have no right to fix ourselves in any part of the Archipelago, which,

according to them, belongs exclusively to other European States, and that we should derive very little advantage from such settlements as are contemplated, if we had really made them. These representations, however, are deserving of no respect, being either made in complete jgnorance of the actual slate of the Archipelago, or in wilful defiance of the knowledge and judgment of the writers. No expense can be more wisely incurred than that which we enter into for the advancement of commerce. We require new outlets for our manufactures; the inhabitants of the Archipelago are ready to become our customers, and, besides, possess the means of paying handsomely for what they require. It only remains for us to establish a sufficient number of marts in their vicinity, which, by discovering to them their wants, and awakening their desires, could not fail to impel them into the career of civilization.

1 Transcribed and annotated by Martin Laverty, Dec.2011. 2 The autographed portrait is identical with that used as the frontispiece to Mundy's 1848 book, Borneo and the Celebes 3 Bentley's Miscellany Vol XXII (1847) pp.580-599 4 Brooke arrived back at Southampton on 1st October 1847. 5 An honorary degree at Oxford ... 6 It was in Singapore that Brooke was made a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (K.C.B). 7 Henry Keppel (1809-1904) had been involved with ...destruction of Paku in 1843.when commanding H.M.S.Dido.. 8 Thomas John Cochrane (1789-1872) had been involved in the action at Maloodoo Bay in 184... 9 The author of this account must surely have been Spenser St.John, writing home to his father. 10 H.M.S.Maeander, under Captain Keppel, had brought Brooke and his retinue to Singapore to start the government of Labuan. It was pictured in the Illustrated London News, together with an account of its departure from Portsmouth

11 12 13 14

Mias Pappan local, Sarawak, name for the orangutan The General Wood was a ship which sailed from Penang on 2nd. January 1848 carrying a cargo of convicts ... H.E.I.C. war steamer Phlegethon Pp.280-281 of Allen's Indian Mail of 2nd .May, 1848, carried this account: An English Captive in Cochin China In the beginning of October last a vessel, formerly known as the Little Catherine, but which had been bought by a Chinaman and converted into a lugger, sailed from this bound to Hong Kong, with a large cargo of timber, rice, &c, valued at 5,000 dollars. She was under the command of Mr. Victor Howes, an Englishman who was the only European on board, the crew consisting of a Nakhoda and 34 Cochin Chinese sailors; there were besides 15 Chinese passengers. Nothing was heard of the lugger after she left Singapore, and it was supposed that she had perished, with all on board, in a typhoon. It appears, however, that although the vessel has been lost, all the persons on board of her have been saved. Last week one of the Chinese passengers, named Ah-Tin, made his appearance here, having come from Yan-Tong in Cochin China, which he left on the 19th ult, in a Cochin Chinese junk, from whom information has been obtained of the fate of the lugger and her crew. The following is the substance of the statement which this person has made to the authorities. After being about twenty-two days out from Singapore, they experienced very violent weather, and a difference arose between Mr Howes and the Nakhoda about the most eligible course for the vessel to steer. An attempt was made to cut away the masts, which was unsuccessful, the vessel became unmanageable, and she drifted on a rock in the Gulf of Tonquin within a short distance of the coast. The vessel became a total wreck, and such of the cargo as floated ashore was seized upon by the inhabitants. The persons on board made a raft, on which they reached the land on the 2tith October, when they were all immediately taken into custody, and kept in confinement until the 2nd December. The mandarin of the place accused them of being pirates, and they understood that the matter was referred by him to higher authority, from whom orders were received for the release of the whole party except Mr Howes, and directing them to be sent to China by the first opportunity. Ah-Tin then made his way to Yan-Tong, which he reached in a month and seven days after leaving the place where they had

been wrecked. Before leaving, Mr Howes, who was confined in a fort and allowed nothing for his subsistence but coarse rice, gave him two papers addressed to Mr Bateman of this place, and which he delivered immediately on his arrival here. Ah-Tin understood that it was intended to send Mr Howes to China. We subjoin copies of the notes written by Mr Howes upon two small pieces of thin China paper, apparently with a Chinese hair-pencil and ink. My dear Bateman The crew of the vessel took the command from me and run the vessel on shore in the Gulf of Tonquin, in lat. 16 north, in Cochin China, on the 24th October. I am kept a close prisoner, fed on the coarsest food, and if I remonstrate, I am flogged most cruelly. In the name of goodness, do what you can for me Yours Victor Howes. PS My father's residence is Mr John Howes, Pier Head, Yarmouth, Norfolk. Let him know if I am not released soon. Yours in sorrow VH Should I ever get free, I will write to you. Show these to the authorities. Why am I incarcerated in this cruel manner? I have lost all but what I had on. I am covered with vermin fed on a scanty portion of the coarsest rice, and am closely watched. Victor Howes It will be seen that Mr Howes states positively that the command of the vessel was taken from hirn by the Chinese, and that she was run ashore. Ah-Tin denies this, although he admits that a difference took place. It is unfortunate that at the present moment there should be no steamers or other vessels here, either of her Majesty's or the Company's services, which could be despatched to procure Mr Howes release, but we trust that if he does not speedily make his appearance in one of the Cochin-China ships which annually visit Singapore, means will be taken for that purpose of despatching a steamer from Hong Kong Free Press p.431, on July 26th., carried this under the title SINGAPORE: H.M.Brig Royalist, Lieut Gordon commanding, arrived here on Monday, from China, having visited Cochin China in her course down for the purpose of rescuing Mr Victor Howes from the hands of the Cochin Chinese. We are glad to learn that this object was successfully accomplished, and that Mr. Howes has been delivered from the disagreeable, if not dangerous situation in which he was placed. 15 St.John is wrong here: Brooke's Royalist, apparently sold in 1844, was a schooner, not a brig. Gordon's ship was a Royal Navy surveying vessel, bought in China in 1841.