206 EAMBLES OF A NATUEALI8T. [Ch. XIH. 



endeared himself and his name, and the English nation, to 

 the people he has so worthily governed. 



The territory of Sarawak is magnificently watered and 

 very fertile ; and that a flourishing trade of any description 

 should so speedily occupy the place of lawlessness and 

 plunder is a surprising phenomenon. Upwards of a quarter 

 of a miUion sterling of exports and imports now pass along 

 the river annually, and that they are not more valuable can 

 hardly be wondered at, when we consider that up to the 

 present time the territory has been, as it were, a private 

 appanage, and unprotected and unrecognised by any western 

 power. That it is not is no fault of Sir James Brooke ; 

 and it may be hoped that our Government will not permit 

 a ready-made and valuable colony to pass into the hands of 

 any foreign power, however desirous such foreign power may 

 be of making so desirable an acquisition. 



It is to be feared that Sir James Brooke's career of use- 

 fulness is over, and that he will be physically incapacitated 

 from returning to the scene of his labours and peaceful con- 

 quests. He leaves, however, as his recognised successor, 

 his nephew and adopted son, Charles Johnson Brooke, who 

 is styled Tuan Muda, and who has completely gained the 

 confidence of the people over whom he is placed. This 

 gentleman lately published a work entitled, " Ten Years in 

 Sarawak," in which he tells, with simplicity and straight- 

 forwardness, of the expeditions he has made at various 

 times for the estabHshment of peace and security within the 

 territory. By the coolness and determination exhibited in 

 these expeditions, and by other means, he has acquired an 

 extraordinary influence over the Sea Dyaks, who universally 

 regard him as their ruler and head. 



The Dyaks or aboriginal tribes are divided into Sea 



