THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE 



165 







A CHINESE) PUPPET SHOW EXHIBITED IN FRONT OF THE CHINESE TEMPLE IN 

 KUCHING, THE CAPITAL OF SARAWAK 



Hasim, who gave him permission to visit 

 the Lundu, Samarahan, and Sadong 

 rivers, which were unknown to Euro- 

 peans ; but as the tribes of the interior 

 were in insurrection, Mr. Brooke was not 

 able to explore the country, and after six 

 weeks he departed, greatly to the regret 

 of Hasim, whose confidence he had won. 



Mr. Brooke again sailed from Singa- 

 pore on August 1 8, 1840. for Manila, in- 

 tending to pay only a short visit to Hasim 

 on the way ; but he found his former 

 friend distracted by rebellion in his coun- 

 try, which he was powerless to control. 

 The visitor reluctantly consented to give 

 assistance in restoring order. 



In return for this service, Hasim agreed 

 to give Mr. Brooke the government and 

 trade of Sarawak, with the title of Ra- 

 jah; for Hasim, who was heir presump- 

 tive to the throne of Brunei, foresaw his 



own prestige heightened if he could re- 

 turn to Brunei, leaving Sarawak pacified 

 in Mr. Brooke's control. 



But when Hasim saw his country at 

 peace as the result of Brooke's efforts, he 

 forgot his obligation to the visitor and 

 connived in a plot against the latter. This 

 failed, however, and he was obliged to 

 fulfill his agreement and proclaim Brooke 

 Rajah and Governor of Sarawak in Sep- 

 tember, 1841. The Sultan of Brunei con- 

 firmed the deed given by Hasim and pres- 

 ently also acknowledged Rajah Brooke's 

 complete independence. 



Rajah Brooke was recognized as an in- 

 dependent sovereign by the United States 

 in 1850 and by Great Britain in 1863. 



Sir James Brooke died in 1868, naming 

 as his successor to the raj his nephew, 

 Charles Brooke. Sarawak was made a 

 British Protectorate in 1888. 



