Chapter XIV

THE MISSIONS: ROMAN CATHOLIC AND PROTESTANT.

Arrival of the Roman Catholic Mission in Labuan--Signor
Cuarteron its Head--Curious Reports--His real History--Finding
the Treasure--Turns Priest--Ostensible Object of the
Mission--Not attempted--Ease with which Captives could
escape--No Inclination to do so--Turned Mahomedans--Return of
Signor Cuarteron--Courtesy of the Brunei Government--Intentions
of the Italian Priest--Model Village--The Italian Priests--The
Churches--Old Battery--Regret at the Withdrawal of the Roman
Catholic Mission--Protestant Mission at Sarawak--Present
Condition--Comparative Failure--Partial Success at Lingga
and Lundu--Mr. Chalmers and the Land Dayaks--Causes of his
Influence--Mistake in establishing the Mission at Kuching--The
Reasons--Objectionable Position for Schools--Proper Position
for the Mission--Suitable Spots--Waste of Funds in Boats and
Plantations--Deplorable Secession of Missionaries--Reasons to
account for it--Present Management faulty--Mr. Gomez in
Lundu--Christian Dayaks warn the Government--Missionaries
always welcome in Sarawak--Important political effect--The
Church should be among the Dayaks--Suitable Men for
Missionaries--What the Head of a Mission should be--What he
too often is, and should not be--Five Recommendations to
increase Efficiency--Unoccupied Room for a great Increase of
the Number of Missionaries--Method of distributing
them--Personal Character--Dayaks an interesting Race--A Tribe
half Mahomedans half Pagans--Use of eating Pork--Districts
unoccupied--Position of the Missionary in Sarawak--The
Bornean Mission an important one 365

APPENDICES.