I 



XXII GOVERNMENT 277 



base of the people's willing co-operation ; he in turn 

 is for them the symbol of the whole, by the aid of 

 which they are enabled to think of the state as their 

 common country and common object of devotion ; 

 and from him there descends through his officers 

 the spirit which animates the whole, a spirit of re- 

 ciprocal confidence, justice, goodwill, and devotion 

 to duty. The system is in fact the realisation of 

 the ideal of monarchy or personal government ; its 

 successful working depends above all on the char- 

 acter and intellect of the man who stands at the 

 head of the state ; and the steady progress of all 

 better aspects of civilisation in Sarawak, a progress 

 which has evoked the warm praise of many ex- 

 perienced and independent observers,^ has been due 

 to the fact that the resolution, the tact and sympathy, 

 the wisdom and high ideals which enabled the first 

 of its English Rajahs to establish his authority, have 

 been unfailingly displayed in no less degree by his 

 successor throughout his long reign. 



It is obvious that this permeation of the whole 

 system of government by the spirit of its head can 

 only be perpetuated by constant personal intercourse 

 between him and his officers and between the 

 officers of the various grades. This has been a 

 main principle observed by the Rajah. He has 

 frequently visited the district stations, to spend a 

 few days in consultation with his white officers, and 

 to renew his personal acquaintance with the local 

 chiefs, who spontaneously assemble to await his 

 arrival. Such visits to any station have seldom 

 been made at greater intervals than one year ; and 

 these annual meetings at the district stations between 

 the Rajah and his officers of all grades have been 

 of the utmost value in preserving the profound and 

 personal respect with which he is regarded through- 



^ See pp. 417.420 of Messrs. Bampfylde and Baring Gould's Two White 

 Rajahs. 



