344 TWO YEARS IN THE JUNGLE, 



were reduced from 330 families to 50 ; one of 100 families had lost 

 all its women and cliildren ; another had been reduced from 120 

 famiHes to 2 ; and two tribes had been utterly exterminated, or 

 driven from the territory. 



Such was the condition of the people when, on September 24> 

 1841, the Territory of Sarawak proper was formally ceded to James 

 Brooke, and he became its "rajah" with the fullest powers. He 

 was the man for the hour. His first official act was the release and 

 restoration to their families of over a hundred married women and 

 girls who had been confined at the capital for a whole year by the 

 former I'ajah. Just previous to this formal cession of the territory, 

 there arrived at the capital, Kuching, a hundred war-boats manned 

 by two thousand five hundred blood-thirsty Dyaks, who came to ask 

 permission of Muda Hassim to attack a weaker tribe on the Sambas I 

 But James Brooke was there, and the petition was urged in vain. 



For once it reaUy seems that Pi'ovidence directly espoused the 

 cause of suffering humanity in sending a philanthropic statesman 

 to distressed Sarawak. The diplomatic difficulties he encountered 

 would have hopelessly entangled a smaller mind or crushed a 

 weaker character. It is surprising that he was not assassinated by 

 Makota's followers during his first year of office. But out of re- 

 bellion and chaos he brought tranquillity and order. He ruled a 

 superior and an inferior race, masters and slaves, to the complete 

 satisfaction of both. With a judicial wisdom unparalleled in the 

 history of nations, he formulated a code of laws and a system of 

 government which actually disj)ensed equal justice to all, in practice 

 as well as theory, and which was entirely satisfactory to Moham- 

 medan Malays, and heathen Dyaks. 



The present Territory of Sarawak is the fruit of Rajah Brooke's 

 poHcy, as inaugurated by him and perpetuated by his successor. 

 From a territory of at first only 3,000 square miles, Sarawak has 

 been increased by concessions until its area is now 25,000 square 

 miles. The population of the capital has risen from 1,500 to 21,000, 

 while that of the whole territory is 225,000, of which there are of 

 Hill and Sea Dyaks 125,000 ; Kyans, of all clans, 30,000 ; Malays 60,- 

 000, and Cliinese 8,000. The government " is able and willing to 

 maintain order and to offer security to life and property." The Dyaks 

 are peaceful, prosperous and happy ; head-hunting has been en- 

 tirely suppressed, and pii'acy, on the north coast of Boi-neo at least, 

 is a thing of the past. Even-handed and speedy justice is meted 

 out to every subject so fairly that none can complain. 



