264 PAGAN TRIBES OF BORNEO chap. 



in the head waters of the rivers. The system of 

 administration now practised by the Dutch closely 

 resembles in most essential respects that obtain- 

 ing in Sarawak, and it has brought to the natives of 

 the greater part of Dutch Borneo the same great 

 benefits, peace, freedom, justice, and trade. 



The northern extremity of Borneo, an area com- 

 prising some 31,000 square miles and 200,000 in- 

 habitants, is now administered by the British North 

 Borneo Company (chartered by the British Govern- 

 ment in 1892), which acquired it by purchase in 

 successive instalments from the Sultans of Bruni 

 and Sulu. The Company has followed in the main an 

 administrative policy similar to that of Sarawak, and 

 has appointed as governors officers of large East 

 Indian experience placed at their disposal by the 

 British Government. The Company has attempted 

 to achieve in a brief period a degree of commercial 

 development which in Sarawak and Dutch Borneo 

 has been reached only gradually in the course of 

 several generations ; and to this circumstance must 

 be attributed many of the difficulties which for a 

 time caused it "to get into the newspapers." But 

 these difficulties have now been overcome, and the 

 whole territory placed in a condition of prosperity 

 and orderly progress. 



It has been widely recognised that Sarawak 

 provides a most notable example of beneficent 

 administration of the affairs of a population in a 

 lowly state of culture by representatives of our 

 Western civilisation. Among all such administrative 

 systems that of Sarawak has been distinguished not 

 only by the rapid establishment of peace, order, 

 and a modest prosperity, with a minimum output 

 of armed force, but especially by reason of the 

 careful way in which the interests of the native 

 population have constantly been made the prime 



