Seventeen years among the Sea Dyaks of Borneo; a ... - Sabrizain.org

2G SARAWAK—SIR JAMES BROOKE
any other ; so, setting sail, he made his way up the
Sarawak River, and anchored of! Kuching on August 15,
1839. The country was nominally under the rule of
the Sultan of Brunei, but his uncle, Rajah Muda Hassim,
was then the greatest power in the island. As he was
favourable to English strangers, Mi. Brooke paid him
the customary homage, and was favourably received, and
given full licence to visit the Dyaks of Lundu. The
Rajah was at this time engaged in war with several fierce
Dyak tribes in the province of Sarawak, who had revolted
against the Sultan ; but his efforts to quell this
rebellion were ineffectual. The absolute worthlessness of
the native troops under his command, and his own weak-
ness of character, induced him to cling to Mr. Brooke, in
whom he recognized a born leader of men, and he appealed
for his help in putting down the insurgents, and implored
him not to leave him a prey to his enemies. The Rajah
even offered to transfer the government of the province
to Brooke if he would remain and take command. This
offer he felt bound at the time to decline, but it led to
his obtaining a position of authority at Sarawak, useful
for the purposes of trade.
With James Brooke's help the rebellion, which the
Malay forces were too feeble to subdue, was effectually
stayed. The insurgents were defeated in a battle in which
Brooke, with the crew of his yacht and some Malay
followers, took part. For his services on this occasion
Muda Hassim conferred on him the title of Rajah of
Sarawak, and this was the first step towards that larger
sovereignty which he afterwards acquired. Some time
elapsed, however, before the Sultan of Brunei could be
induced to confirm the title. Mr. Brooke at once took
vigorous action, making many reforms and introducing