The mineral products known to exist in sufficient quantities to be worth working are not numerous; they are coal, antimony, and gold. Coal seams have long been known to exist, but in situations that necessitated a considerable outlay; within the last few months, however, coal has been discovered close to the water’s edge in the districts lately ceded, but I have not yet heard of the result of the examinations which have just been made. Antimony of the best quality can be procured in sufficient quantities to supply any demand, and a new mine has been secured to the Sarawak government by the cession of Bintulu.
Gold is only worked by the Chinese, who wash the surface earth in a way which I will afterwards describe. No deep sinkings have been attempted, nor has quartz yet been discovered in large quantities, and it is not likely to be while nine-tenths of the country are still clothed with forest.
Indications of many minerals exist, but until found in greater quantities they are scarcely worth referring to, except to encourage a careful examination of the mountain and hilly districts. Sufficient silver has however been found to render it probable that a mine exists not far from the Bidi antimony works. The Dutch beyond the border are said to be working a copper mine to great profit; and in Sarawak indications of that mineral, as well as of lead, have been several times discovered: but no great importance can be attached to them at present. Manganese and arsenic have been found in considerable quantities, but they are not yet worked.
The most remarkable thing connected with Sarawak is the change which has come over the aborigines; from all the accounts I could gather they were twenty-five years ago in a much more miserable condition than the Muruts and Bisayas in the neighbourhood of the capital. The country was in a state of complete anarchy, and Malays were fighting against Malays and Dayaks against Dayaks. Even before the civil war broke out the condition of the latter was miserable in the extreme; they were exposed to every exaction, their children were taken from them, their villages attacked and often sacked by the Seribas and Sakarang, and hunger approaching to famine added to their troubles.
Even when Sir James Brooke succeeded to the government and peace was restored, it took years to eradicate the belief, founded on long established practice, that the Dayaks were persons to be plundered by every means. When it could not be done openly, it was carried on by a system of forced trade. Sir James Brooke’s attention was constantly directed to this subject, and he found that as long as the Malay chiefs were paid their salaries by receiving half the rice-tax, some of them had an excuse for continuing the old practice. I have mentioned the tours of inspection undertaken under his direction by his nephew, Captain Brooke; shortly after these were concluded a new system was introduced, and the chiefs had their salaries paid to them in money. Since which time few complaints have been made by the Dayaks.
As far as material comfort adds to the happiness of man, the Dayaks have reason to be thankful: whatever they earn, they enjoy; a tax of four shillings on every family is the amount levied on them by government: after that is paid they are free from every exaction. Not only have they the produce of their industry, but the wealth derived from their forests of fruit-trees, a market for which can always be found among the Chinese and Malays. Many of the caves likewise produce the edible bird’s nest, which is another source of profit.
The Malays, however, have benefited equally with the Dayaks by the change of system. Formerly the chiefs employed a crowd of relations and followers to collect their taxes and to oppress the aborigines; and, as at Brunei now, if the master asked for a bushel of rice, the man demanded two more for himself. The system had a debasing influence on all; no doubt many suffered a little by the change, but as a rule all these men turned to legitimate trade, as soon as they found that to oppress the Dayaks entailed fines and punishments.
The impetus given was great, trading prahus were built, and voyages undertaken which their fathers had not thought of. Singapore, Java, the Malay Peninsula, and even a portion of Sumatra were visited. This brought wealth and increased activity, which was shown in the improved dwellings, the larger prahus, the gayer dresses, and the amount of gold ornaments that became common among their women.
There is one thing I must particularly mention, the remarkable honesty shown by these traders in all their intercourse with Europeans. An Englishman, who greatly facilitated their commercial transactions by loans of money at a rate of interest which in the East was considered remarkably moderate, told me that, in all his experience, he had only found one Malay who attempted to cheat him. He never demanded receipts, but simply made an entry in his book, and his loans with that one exception were all repaid him.
He told me a story of a Malay trader that singularly illustrates their character. The man borrowed a small sum and went on a voyage; in a month he returned, stating he had lost both prahu and cargo, and asked to be entrusted with double the amount of his former debt; it was given him. Again he returned, having been wrecked close to the mouth of the river. He came to this Englishman and clearly explained his misfortune, but added—“You know I am an honest man, disasters cannot always happen to me, lend me sufficient to go on another voyage, and I will repay all I owe you.” My informant said he hesitated, but at last lent him the whole amount demanded. The trader was away three months, and his smiling face, when he came back to his creditor, showed he had been successful; he paid off the principal portion of the debt, and afterwards cleared off the remainder, and was, when I heard the story, one of the most flourishing traders in Sarawak. I thought the anecdote was honourable to both, and illustrates the kindly feeling that exists in that country between the European and native.