IN BORXEAN FORESTS [chap. 



Rajah Brooke had now acquired the power which comes from 

 success, and Ms authority over the natives was complete. Sarawak 

 awoke to new life, and was quietly developing and improving 

 its natural resources with that rapidity of progression which is the 

 outcome of civilised and orderly government. The regenerated 

 State was in this prosperous condition when, in 1857, the Chinese 

 rebellion suddenly broke out, menacing its very existence and 

 nearly destroying the noble work done by Rajah Brooke. The 

 causes of that revolt were in the main doubtless due to the ill- 

 feeling aroused amongst the Chinese by the measures taken to 

 repress opium smuggling. It was, however, a combination of 

 circumstances which led the chiefs of the Kunsi, the Chinese society, 

 working at the gold mines on the Upper Sarawak, to believe that 

 a coup d'etat would be an easy matter. 



It was on the night of February i8th, 1857, that the Chinese 

 rebels, numbering about 600, descended the river, and arriving 

 unexpectedly, proceeded to attack the residence of Rajah Brooke, 

 which was situated on the same hill as that on which the Astana 

 now stands. The Rajah was in bed, and there was only a single 

 European servant with him in the house. Suddenly awakened by 

 the noise, he at once realised what had happened, and knowing 

 that defence there was impossible, was fortunately able to leave 

 the house before it was completely surrounded. Favoured by 

 darkness, he reached the river unperceived, and being an excellent 

 swimmer contrived, in spite of the width of the stream and the 

 strength of its current, to gain the other bank in safety. Meanwhile, 

 the Chinese, believing that the Rajah had perished, attacked and 

 burnt the houses of the European residents, several of whom were 

 killed or wounded. They also got possession of the small fort, 

 which was defended by a single European and a few Malays, who 

 all sold their lives bravely, but having been taken by surprise 

 were soon overcome. 



The rebels were now masters of Kuching, and proceeded to set 

 on fire the houses of the Malays, most of whom, having put their 

 women and children in safety, were preparing to encounter the 

 Chinese insurgents. The Rajah had rallied them and placed 

 himself at their head, but he soon saw that for lack both of men 

 and arms, he could offer no great resistance to the Chinese, much 

 less defeat them. His chance of success was to get to Fort Lingga, 

 where a sufficient force might be collected to vanquish the rebels. 

 A fugitive, and with only a few faithful followers around him, the 

 Rajah had reached the Maratabas mouth of the river, when the 

 Borneo Company's steamer was sighted, entering from the sea, 

 and at the same time the first Dyak reinforcements appeared 

 coming from Fort Lingga and led by the Tuan Muda, Charles 

 Brooke, the present Rajah. The latter, as soon as he had heard 



358 



