BORNEO 
261 
made without their advice and co-operation, neither their 
emoluments nor their dignity were seriously interfered 
with. 
The little opposition Mr. Brooke experienced in 
making these radical changes was largely due to his 
extremely conciliating and dignified manner, so accordant 
with the Malay character; and to his having acquired 
the Malay language by intercourse with the higher classes, 
and being able to speak it with great purity and ease. 
He was also tolerant of native prejudices, and had studied 
the native character so completely that he well knew how 
to influence it. His personal courage, and the sagacity 
and boldness with which he detected and put down some 
of the early conspiracies against his rule, won the better 
class of chiefs to his side ; and the great respect he always 
paid to the Mohammedan religion, even using the precepts 
of the Koran as the foundation of many of his amend¬ 
ments of the law, disarmed the opposition of the priests, 
and enabled him subsequently to introduce English 
missionaries among the Dyaks without exciting the least 
animosity. 
No less wisdom was shown by the mode in which 
justice was administered. Three courts w^ere established 
-—a police court, a general court, and a native religious 
court—the latter chiefly for the settlement of cases relat¬ 
ing to marriage or divorce. The police court dealt with 
the simplest cases, the general court with all other cases, 
civil and criminal. There were no lawyers, and hardly 
any forms. The parties in dispute appeared with their 
witnesses. They gave their evidence and were examined 
by the judge, assisted by the native chiefs, and by any 
European residents who chose to be present, and they 
obtained substantial, cheap, and speedy justice. The Baja 
had associated with him in the government a small body 
