MR. BROOKE'S POSSESSIONS. Ill 



oppression to which it gave rise, the rebellion in 

 consequence, its continuance and suppression, are all 

 related in the above work in the words of the 

 Rajah of Sarawak. His principality, which is situated 

 in the north-west corner of the island, extends from 

 the Tanjong Dattu on the west, to the river Samarhand 

 on the east, comprising an extent of coast in a straight 

 line of about seventy geographical miles in length : 

 it varies, but the average depth is between seventy and 

 eighty miles, being bounded on the west by Sambas, on 

 the south by Sangau, and on the east by Sadong and 

 Samarhand ; but though this country is the actual prin- 

 cipality and property of the rajah, his influence and 

 government extend over a much greater space, but 

 weaker, of course, in proportion to the distance at which 

 the respective countries are situated from his residence. 

 Samarhand, Sadong, and Lin gah have equal or nearly 

 equal reason with Sarawak to rejoice in his govern- 

 ment ; for, by the authority granted to him by the 

 rajahs of Borneo, and at the prayer of the natives 

 themselves, he has been enabled to correct many 

 abuses, and in particular to stop the kidnapping of the 

 Dyaks for slaves in the Sadong territory, which 

 formerly prevailed to as great an extent as in the 

 immediate territory of Sarawak. This province, not 

 being cursed by an indigent nobility, as is the capital, 

 where princes, nobles, and their slaves and followers, 

 form a large proportion of the population but the 

 people being in a more inartificial state, and of more 

 simple and less intriguing natures has been brought 



