Rajah Brooke : $b the Englishman as ruler of an eastern stateSt. John, Spenser, Sir
History
Rajah Brooke : $b the Englishman as ruler of an eastern state
St. John, Spenser, Sir
James, Rajah of Sarawak, 1803-1868; Sarawak (Malaysia) -- History; Sarawak (Malaysia) -- Kings and rulers -- Biography
Before concluding this long paper, I may observe that there are
points of inquiry which may be useful to the studies of the learned,
which, provided the process may be moderately simple, I shall
be willing to make, and I shall always be happy to receive any
directions or suggestions regarding them. I allude to observations of
the tides, to geology, natural history, etc., etc., for the general
observer often overlooks highly interesting facts from his attention
not being called to them. The specimens of natural history will be
forwarded from time to time, and information will be sent to the
Geographical Society which may always, if it be of any value, be
used as freely as it is communicated. In like manner, the objects
of natural history will be open to any person who is interested in
such pursuits. I cannot but express my regret that, from pecuniary
considerations as well as the small size of the vessel, and the
limited quantity of provisions she carries, I am unable to take a
naturalist and draughtsman, but I should always hail with pleasure
any scientific person who happened to be in the countries at the
time; and I may venture to promise him every encouragement and
facility in the prosecution of his pursuits.
I embark upon the expedition with great cheerfulness, with a strong
vessel, a good crew, and the ingredients of success, as far as the
limited scale of the undertaking will permit; and I cast myself on
the waters, like Southey’s little book; but whether the world will
know me after many days is a question which, hoping the best, I
cannot answer with any degree of assurance.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 13: This Appendix is reprinted from Vol. I. of _The Private
Letters of Sir James Brooke, Rajah of Sarawak_, edited by J. C.
Templer, Barrister-at-Law (Bentley, 1853), from the original MS. in
his possession. A brief abstract of it was published in the _Journal
of the Geographical Society in 1838_, Vol. VIII., p. 443.]
[Footnote 14: In the text of this volume the name is spelt ‘Marudu.’]
[Footnote 15: Kina Balu.]
[Footnote 16: _I.e._, Australia.]
[Footnote 17: I may here add a brief summary of the Dutch trading
regulations:—Death was inflicted on traders in spice and opium
not first bought from the Company. It is forbidden, under heavy
penalties, to export or import the following articles, viz., pepper,
tin, copper, Surat silks, Indian cloths, cotton yarns of all sorts,
unstamped gold, Samarang arrack, muskets, gunpowder, etc., etc.
All vessels required a pass. No vessel to carry powder or shot in
greater quantity than specified in the pass. No port was open to any
vessel coming from the northward of the Moluccas, except Batavia. No
navigation was allowed to be carried on by the vessels of Banka and
Billiton, except to Palembang: no navigation from Celebes!]
[Footnote 18: The _Royalist_, a yacht of 142 tons burthen, belonging
to the Royal Yacht Squadron, in which the enterprise was prosecuted.]
ERRATA
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