Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this file which includes the original illustrations. See 52873-h.htm or 52873-h.zip: (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/52873/52873-h/52873-h.htm) or (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/52873/52873-h.zip) Images of the original pages are available through Internet Archive. See https://archive.org/details/historyofsarawak00bari Transcriber's note: Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_). Superscripts are denoted by a carat character before a single superscripted character (example: M^cDougall). [Illustration: J Brooke.] [Illustration: C Brooke] A HISTORY OF SARAWAK UNDER ITS TWO WHITE RAJAHS 1839-1908 by S. BARING-GOULD, M.A. Author of 'The Tragedy of the Caesars,' etc. and C. A. BAMPFYLDE, F.R.G.S. Late Resident of Sarawak London Henry Sotheran & Co. 37 Piccadilly, W., and 140 Strand, W.C. 1909 DEDICATED WITH HIGH APPRECIATION OF THE WORK DONE BY THEM UNDER THE TWO RAJAHS TO THE OFFICERS ENGLISH AND NATIVE, PAST AND PRESENT OF THE RAJ OF SARAWAK PREFACE As I have been requested to write a preface to _The History of Sarawak under its Two White Rajahs_, one of whom I have the honour to be, I must, first of all, assert that I have had nothing to do with the composition or writing of the book, and I do not profess to be a writer, otherwise than in a very ordinary sense, having left school at the age of twelve to enter the Navy. In that service I remained for ten years, when I obtained my lieutenancy, and then received two years' leave, which the Admiralty were glad to grant at that time (about 1852), as they thought naval officers were of a type likely to be of service in the development of the colonies and the improvement of native states. I then went to Sarawak to join my uncle, the first Rajah, with and under whom I remained, and consequently had to retire from the Navy; but I will admit that my ten years' service gave me what I probably could not have gained from any other profession—the advantages of having been taught to obey my seniors, and of having been disciplined; and I very firmly adhere to the rule that no one can make a successful commander unless he has learnt to obey. It further taught me those seafaring qualities, which have been so useful ever since, of being able to rough it and put up with one's surroundings, the lack of which so often makes the men of the present day, in their refined and gentlemanly way, not quite suited to handle the wheel of a ship at sea or the plough on land.