A History of Sarawak under Its Two White Rajahs 1839-1908Baring-Gould, S. (Sabine)
History
A History of Sarawak under Its Two White Rajahs 1839-1908
Baring-Gould, S. (Sabine)
Charles, Rajah of Sarawak, 1829-1917; James, Rajah of Sarawak, 1803-1868; Sarawak (Malaysia) -- History
The Sultan also told the Rajah that it would be a delight to him to
welcome both his uncles, Hasim and Bedrudin, back to Bruni, and begged
the Rajah to carry for him a friendly letter to the former, conveying
assurance that he was completely reconciled to him. Bruni, he said,
would never be well until his return. The Lascars of the _Lord
Melbourne_ were at once given up, and the Rajah also procured the
release of three of the _Sultana's_ Lascars, who had been transferred to
Bruni masters. He remained at Bruni for ten days—a period, as he wrote,
"quite sufficient to discover to me the nakedness of the land, their
civil dissensions, and the total decay of their power, internal and
external."
On his return the Rajah received a cordial welcome, for it was believed
that he would certainly be killed in Bruni; and on September 18, the
deed was read appointing him to hold the government of Sarawak. The
ceremony was impressive, but it nearly became tragical. We will give the
Rajah's own description of it. After the deed had been read—
The Rajah (Muda Hasim) descended, and said aloud "If any one present
disowns or contests the Sultan's appointment, let him now declare."
All were silent. He next turned to the Patinggis and asked them.
They were obedient to the will of the Sultan. Then came the other
pangirans. "Is there any pangiran or any young Rajah that contests
the question? Pangiran der Makota, what do you say?" Makota
expressed his willingness to obey. One or two other obnoxious
pangirans, who had always opposed themselves to me, were each in
turn challenged, and forced to promise obedience. The Rajah then
waved his sword, and with a loud voice exclaimed, "Whoever he is
that disobeys the Sultan's mandate now received I will separate his
skull." At the moment some ten of his brothers jumped from the
verandah, and, drawing their long krises, began to flourish and
dance about, thrusting close to Makota, striking the pillar above
his head, and pointing their weapons at his breast. This
_amusement_, the violence of motion, the freedom from restraint,
this explosion of a long pent up animosity, roused all their
passions; and had Makota, through an excess of fear or an excess of
bravery, started up he would have been slain, and other blood would
have been spilt. But he was quiet, with his face pale and subdued,
and, as shortly as decency would permit after the riot had subsided,
took his leave.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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