Life in the forests of the Far East (vol. 2 of 2)

by Sir Spenser St. John

They are a most industrious and saving nation, and yet liberal in their households, and free in their personal expenses. They are the only people to support an European government, as they are the only Asiatics who will pay a good revenue. In Sarawak there are not above 3,000 Chinese, and yet they pay in indirect taxes more than the quarter of a million of Malays and Dayaks pay altogether. There is room within the Sarawak territories for half a million of Chinese cultivators, without in any way inconveniencing the other inhabitants; and these Chinese could pay without feeling the pressure 2l. a head in indirect taxes: as those levied on opium, spirits, tobacco, and other articles.

There must be soundness in the system pursued in Sarawak, or it could not have stood alone for so many years, exposed as it has been to successive storms. A similar, or a modified system, supported by our national power, would produce great results. No one can judge of the consuming power of the Chinese abroad, by the Chinese in their own country. Abroad he clothes himself in English cloth, he uses English iron; he sometimes takes to our crockery; he when well off drinks our beer, and is especially partial to our biscuits. He does nothing in a niggardly spirit, but, as I have said, is liberal in his household.

I believe if England were to try the experiment of a Chinese colony, where they had room to devote themselves to agriculture, to mining, and to commerce, the effects would be as great in proportion as those displayed in our Australian colonies. The Indian Isles are not far distant from China, and emigrants from them are always ready to leave on the slightest temptation.

I have lived so many years in the Archipelago that I hope my information may be found correct. I certainly expect much from the future of Borneo, if the present experiment should be aided or adopted, as it possesses the elements of wealth and prosperity, and can obtain what is essential to success, a numerous and industrious population.

The Chinese have no difficulty in amalgamating with the native inhabitants, and to a certain extent can always obtain wives, as Borneo, like England, appears to possess a redundant female population. The men are, of course, exposed to many more dangers than the women, and these latter are so fond of their own homes that they seldom remove far from their parents. But now there appears to be no difficulty in procuring female emigrants, and if the present rebellion continue to desolate China we might remove all the inhabitants of a village together. I have heard men say that they have seen as much misery in some of the provinces of that vast empire as they saw in Ireland during the famine, and when that is the case, there will be no difficulty in inducing these people to emigrate. A calculation has been made that, if Borneo were well cultivated, it would suffice for the support of a hundred millions of Chinese.

The administration of justice is a subject of vital importance in all countries, but especially so in an Asiatic and a mixed population. The simple forms adopted in Sarawak are admirably suited to the country, and the care displayed in inquiries has won the confidence of the people. There are three courts established in Sarawak: a general court, a police court, and a native religious court. The last has charge of all cases in which a reference is required to the laws of the Koran, as in marriages and divorces; an appeal lies, however, in certain cases to the general court. Ten years ago the native judges gave no satisfaction to the people and inspired no confidence, as it was known the principal chief took bribes, but since his removal, it is rare indeed to hear of a decision giving dissatisfaction, as both the late bandhar and his brother, the present bandhar, really take a pride in their court, and look into the cases. They also regularly attend the general court, and have thus been educated by the example set by the English magistrates of the most patient investigation. The general court takes cognizance of all the principal cases both civil and criminal, and in serious trials there is a kind of jury of the principal English and native inhabitants.

Cheap, and above all, speedy justice is what is required in the East, where they never can understand our wearisome forms. It reminds me of the Malay tried for murder in one of our English courts; he was asked the question, Guilty or Not guilty, and answered immediately, Guilty. He was advised to withdraw it and plead not guilty, but he steadily refused, saying, “Why should I plead not guilty, when I know I committed the murder; when you all know that as well as I, and mean to hang me, so don’t make a long fuss about it.” They very often confess even the most heinous crimes. The police court has cognizance of the same cases as would come before similar courts elsewhere, with a little mixture of the county court.

The Malays, except the followers of the Brunei nobles, are found on the whole to be very truthful, faithful to their relatives, and devotedly attached to their children. Remarkably free from crimes, and when they commit them it is generally from jealousy. Brave when well led, they inspire confidence in their commanders; highly sensitive to dishonour, and tenacious as to the conduct of their countrymen towards them, and remarkably polite in their manners, they render agreeable all intercourse with them. Malays are generally accused of great idleness; in one sense they deserve it; they do not like continuous work, but they do enough to support themselves and families in comfort, and real poverty is unknown among them. No relative is abandoned because he is poor, or because an injury or an illness may have incapacitated him for work. I like the Malays, although I must allow that I became weary of having only them with whom to associate.

Sarawak appears to the natives of the western coast of Borneo what an oasis must be to the wandering Arab, and it is often visited by the people of the neighbouring countries to examine as a sort of curiosity. A party of Bugau Dayaks from the upper Kapuas once arrived in Kuching after fifteen days’ journey, merely to discover whether or not it were true that the Dayaks of Sarawak were living in comfort; but a more curious incident was the arrival of a chief from the Natunas to lay his case before the Sarawak government. A near relative of the Sultan of Linggin had yearly visited that group, which was subject to his authority, under the pretence of collecting taxes, but instead of confining himself to that, commenced a system of gross extortion. The natives submitted patiently, but not content with that, he seized their young girls, and when his passions were satisfied, sent them again ashore, and forbad them to marry, under the pretence that they must consider themselves in future as his concubines.

At last he proceeded so far as, during a chiefs absence, to take up his residence in his house and to seize on his wife and family. On the orang kaya’s return, he was received with shots from his own batteries. His wife, evading the watch kept on her, rejoined him; but after vainly endeavouring to recover the rest of his family, he brought his complaints to Sarawak. As the Sultan of Linggin was under the suzerainty of the Dutch, it was impossible to interfere actively in their defence; but as there was no doubt of the truth of these representations, as they merely confirmed the accounts which had been previously received from the officers of one of our vessels which had surveyed that group, the whole case was laid before the Dutch authorities at Rhio, with an apology for the apparent interference in their affairs; but although naturally disposed to think that there was much exaggeration in the native accounts, they acted promptly, sent a vessel of war to the Natunas, whose captain fully confirmed the report forwarded, and giving the young noble an order to restore all his plunder, and come on board within an hour, they set sail with him to one of the fortresses to the eastward, where he remained several years. This energetic action had a most beneficial effect, and, although many years have passed since, I have not heard of any complaints from the inhabitants of that very lovely group.