RETilOSPECTlVK 



31 



removed I had many preparations to make, and some 

 difliculfcies to OTorcomo/* 



Miv Brooke finally saUcd from England in his schooner 

 yacht tlie /6>^a/2H of 142 tons, on the IGth December, 

 1838, and he arrived at Sincapore on the 1st of JunOj 1839. 

 Thence he sailed for Boriieo on the 28th July. His fii'st 

 intention had been to proceed to Malnda Eay ; but, 

 hearing that the Rfijah Muda Hassrmf who then governed 

 tliat part of the island called Borneo Proper, was at 

 Sarawak, ho determined on pTocccding up the river to the 

 capital town of Kuching, He was kindly welcomed by 

 the Eajali, who did not usually reside at Sarawak, but 

 was at that time detained there by a robelHon in the 

 interior. The population was then about 1500 persons, 

 eliieily tJie followers of the Eajah and of his foui-toen 

 brathers, %viio also had their ortliuary residenco elsewhere. 



On Uie 21st Augnsfc, leaving the yacht in the river, and 

 having obtained pennission, Mr. Brooke, accompanied by 

 some chiefs, proceeded onlus first excursion into the inte- 

 rior, visiting Sihnow, Samarahan, and other places removed 

 from the seat of civd war. He returned on tlie 25th. On 

 the 30th, he made anot!ier cxcnrsionj and visited a tribo 

 of Dyaks up the Sundu river. These visits are most 

 interestingly doacribod in his published journal 



On the J)th September, and on subsequent days, Mr. 

 Brooke had interviews with the Eiijah^ during which trade 

 and vai'ious other topics were discussed, and a reci- 

 procal conlidcnce and good feeling appears to hiivo been 



