1846.] INTRODUCTION OF'CHINESE. 173 



by any bond of civil society, we ought not to be surprised 

 if they are of a cruel and vindictive disposition." 



With respect to the policy of discouraging the resort 

 of the Chinese to Brune, I am much inclined to differ 

 from this writer. The number of Chinese supposed to 

 reside at one period in the city of Brune exceeded several 

 thousands ; at that period trade prospered, there was an 

 interchange of commodities, and the useful arts were 

 pursued. Upon their departure the Malays fell back into 

 their idle sluggish condition, and instead of advancing 

 as a civilized community, retrograded into their original 

 character of Rover or Pirate. 



We are now anxious to introduce the Chinese, for with- 

 out their aid in the working of the mines, and interior 

 traffic, commerce will progress but tardily; British consti- 

 tutions are not calculated to undergo the severe labour of 

 the Chinese Cooly in such a climate as Borneo. Another 

 prospect is dawning, and with it the chance of seeing 

 stationary depots established amongst the mountain tribes. 



The following introduction to extracts from the Colo- 

 nial Church Chronicle relative to the " Borneo Mission " 

 so fully agrees with my formerly recorded opinions upon 

 these matters, that I cannot forbear inserting it. 



" Though we have never concealed our antipathy to the 

 system commonly pursued by missionaries in the South Seas 

 and on the coast of Africa, a system which, beginning 

 by overthrowing all old beliefs, and rudely teaching new 

 truths utterly incomprehensible to the untutored heathen, 

 has ended, almost without exception, by lowering instead 

 of elevating his moral state we have always been ready 

 to admit that a real Christian mission, conducted in a 



