BRITISH BORNEO. 57 
action taken by Her Majesty’s vessels, on his advice, in 
North-West Borneo years before, had inspired the natives 
with a feeling of respect for Englishmen which must have 
been a powerful factor in favour of the newly appointed 
officers. The native tribes, too, inhabiting North Borneo 
were more sub-divided, less warlike, and less powerful than 
those of Sarawak. 
The promoters of the scheme were fortunate in obtaining 
the services, for the time being, as their chief representative 
faethe ast ot Mir. VW. oH. READ, €.M.G., an old friend of Sir 
JAMES BROOKE, and who, as a Member of the Legislative 
Council of Singapore, and Consul-General for the Nether- 
lands, had acquired an intimate knowledge of the Malay 
character and of the resources, capabilities and needs of 
Malayan countries. 
On his return to England, Mr. DENT found that, owing to 
the opposition of the Dutch and Spanish Governments, and 
to the time required for a full consideration of the subject by 
Her Majesty’s Ministers, there would be a considerable delay 
before a Royal Charter could be issued, meanwhile, the 
expenditure of the embryo Government in Borneo was not 
inconsiderable, and it was determined to form a “ Provi- 
sional Association” to carry on till a Chartered Company 
could be formed. : 
Mr. DENT found an able supporter in Sir RUTHERFORD 
ALCOCK, K.C.B., who energetically advocated the scheme from 
patriotic motives, recognising the strategic and commercial 
advantages of the splendid harbours of North Borneo and the 
probability of the country becoming in the near future a not 
unimportant outlet for English commerce, now so_ heavily 
weighted by prohibitive tariffs in Europe and America. 
The British North Borneo Provisional Association Limited, 
was formed in 1881, with a capital of £300,000, the Directors 
beng Sib INUIHERFORD, ALCOCK, Mr. A. Dent, MrR. B, 
MARTIN, Admiral MAYNE, and Mr. W. H. READ. The Asso- 
ciation acquired from the original lessees the grants and 
commissions from the Sultans, with the object of disposing of 
these territories, lands and property to a Company to be in- 
corporated by Royal Charter. This Charter passed the Great 
