Oh. XI.] CESSION OF LABUAN. 163 



each section of the city together, and unites family connec- 

 tions especially, by a strong esprit de corps. 



The terrible prevalence of piracy upon these coasts at- 

 tracted the attention of philanthropists no less than of 

 merchants, from the destruction of life and property, and 

 the insecurity of ships trading in those seas ; and although 

 the Sultan of Borneo had no doubt a direct interest in the 

 success of piratical operations, he was forced by cogent 

 arguments to listen to reason, and to enter into a treaty with 

 the British Government, the basis of which was the sup- 

 pression of this scourge. In 1849 a similar treaty was 

 concluded with the Sultan of Sooloo ; and these treaties, 

 backed by some severe practical lessons, in which fleets of 

 piratical prahus were dispersed or destroyed, have by degrees 

 very considerably mitigated this terrible and lawless trade, 

 for which benefit the world is in the first instance indebted 

 to Sir James Brooke, Bajah of Sarawak. 



It seemed desirable that a British colony should be es- 

 tablished somewhere upon these coasts, which might be used 

 as a naval station such as might hold some check upon these 

 lawless proceedings, and keep a wholesome fear before the 

 minds of an island population in whose eyes piracy and 

 murder were profitable trades, and no crime ; while at the 

 same time an advantageous result would ensue in the open- 

 ing up and development of the commerce of a vast country 

 whose resources were very imperfectly known, but must of 

 necessity, from its magnitude and geographical position, be 

 enormous. Added to this, the existence of coal in unknown 

 quantities upon the island of Labuan pointed out that spot 

 as most suitable for the proposed settlement, and a treaty 

 was accordingly made, by virtue of which Labuan became at 

 once an appanage of the British crown, a harbour of refuge 



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