xxiv] CONCLUSIONS 



to investment of European capital in Sarawak, in undertakings of 

 a rational kind, as has been wrongly asserted. But he has legitimate 

 reason to decline to protect mere adventurers who swarm in new 

 countries solely to fill their empty purses without the least considera- 

 tion for the consequences which may accrue to others and to the 

 country through the effects of their speculations. Any honest 

 trader, and better still any able agriculturist, who earnestly wishes 

 to deal well with the natives, may always be sure of a hearty welcome 

 in the dominions of Rajah Brooke. 



At present, with the exception of the Borneo Company, which 

 holds several important mineral and commercial trusts, the entire 

 trade of Sarawak is in the hands of Chinese, under the direct control 

 of the Rajah's Government. As is well known, Europeans cannot 

 possibly compete with Chinamen in small trades and industries. 

 The latter easily penetrate the interior, living amongst Dyaks and 

 Kayans, and grow rich by exchanging articles of scant value, but 

 appreciated by the natives, for valuable forest produce. 



The Rajah's Government is eminently impartial towards the 

 many and varied races it has to rule. In Sarawak all religions are 

 tolerated and equally protected. There are at present in the 

 country several Protestant missionary stations, which are dependent 

 on the Bishop of Singapore and Sarawak. There is besides a 

 Vicar Apostolic who resides at Kuching, with several Roman 

 Catholic priests. The Mohammedans have various mosques, and 

 the Chinese joss-houses and temples at their many settlements. 

 A certain number of Dyaks have been converted to Christianity 

 by the missionaries, but perhaps a still larger number are becoming 

 assimilated by the Malays, adopting the Mohammedan religion, 

 which, when free from fanaticism, as it usually is when practised 

 by Malays, is perhaps more consonant with the manners and customs 

 of the peoples of the tropical portion of the Far East, and with the 

 climate of those countries. 



Most of the territory of Sarawak is still in a wild and primitive 

 condition, and immense forests will continue to cover it for centuries 

 to come, but the natives of the greater portion of Rajah Brooke's 

 dominions can no longer be termed mere savages, for peaceful 

 trade between the different districts is now fully and perfectly 

 established. Head-hunting has entirely ceased, and slavery is 

 abolished eve^^where. It should also be stated that most of the 

 customs of the Dyaks, and even of the Kayans, although in many 

 cases opposed to our ideas of morality and civilisation, are not such 

 as to present an insurmountable obstacle to the material progress 

 of the native populations, nor are they thus contrary to the pros- 

 perity of the State. 



And on his part, the second European Rajah of Sarawak, 

 devoted to the sole task of increasing the welfare of his native 



377 



