Chapter XI: Sarawak and Its Dependencies

First Visit--Appearance of the Country--Scenery--Lovely
Isles--Turtle--Method of securing their Eggs--Their
Enemies--Fish--The Dugong--Method of capturing them--Graves
of Englishmen at Po Point--First Evening in Borneo--A Welcome
to the Rajah--Boats--Salute and Manning Yards--The Muaratabas
Entrance--The River--The Town of Kuching--Sunset--Arrival--A
noisy Procession--Extent of Sarawak--A well-watered Country--The
Rejang--Extent of fertile Soil adapted to Sugar--Its
Inhabitants--Different Races and Tribes--Population--Kuching,
the Capital--Increase--Trade--Sago Districts--Cotton--Seed sent
by the Cotton Supply Association--Imported Labour
required--Increased Production--Inferior Cultivation--Soil
adapted to most Tropical Productions--Water
Communication--Minerals--Coal, Antimony, and Gold--Indications
of other Minerals--Former Condition of the Country--Difficulties
of Management--Forced Trade--Comfortable Position of the
Dayaks--Influence of New System on the Malays--Distant
Voyages--Remarkable Honesty--Anecdote--System of
Government--An unteachable Chief--Sons of Patinggi Ali--Their
good Conduct--Effect of associating the Natives in the
Government--The System introduced into all the
Dependencies--Effect of Sir James Brooke’s
Government--Anecdote of an old Chief--Gradual
Developments--Necessity for Support--The Chinese an Industrious
and Saving Nation--Soundness in the System of
Government--England with a Chinese Colony--Future of
Borneo--Chinese amalgamate with Native Population--Female
Emigration from China--Administration of Justice--The Sarawak
Courts--Character of the Malays 280