I am not aware of the exact amount granted to the Borneo mission, but it appears to a looker-on that the greater portion is expended in keeping up the staff and disbursements for the head mission at Kuching, which does not, in fact, much influence the missionary work. Kuching is a town almost exclusively composed of Mahomedan Malays and Buddhist Chinese; and the only effect of establishing the mission among the former is to have rendered them more zealous Mahomedans. Before the arrival of the clergy, the mosque was nearly deserted, now it is crowded. The same effect followed the arrival of the Catholic priests at Brunei. It may be better for men to be earnest in a mistaken religion than lukewarm; but to arouse their zeal will not assist our efforts to spread Christianity.
The Chinese are almost impassible to the missionaries’ doctrines, and always must be so, while their teaching is through interpreters, or the medium of a foreign language.
The pretty church, the expensive and uncomfortable mission-house, the schools, are all interesting objects at Kuching, but they do not further the work among the aborigines.
There is another great objection to the present position of the schools: it is too close to the trading town, and the children are consequently exposed to every temptation; in fact, the girls’ school was entirely ruined; and the boys must be injured by the constant contact with the vicious among their countrymen. Since I left last year, the Government have established a girls’ school in a situation that promises greater success.
The proper position for a mission undertaken to christianize the Land Dayaks should be among them, not twenty miles from the nearest tribe. If the head mission had been established at San Pro, on the left-hand branch of the Sarawak—and what lovelier position could be desired?—or about Siniawan, on the right-hand branch, I believe I should have had very different results to record.
It would not have been a popular recommendation to banish the bishop of Labuan and his staff from the charming society that was always to be found at Kuching to what would have been called the wilds of the interior; but they would not have been in so isolated a position as the Government officers who live in the out-stations, San Pro being within four hours’ pull of the capital.
At Kuching, a chaplain is required to perform the services of our Church for the Europeans resident there, but this clergyman should be paid from some special fund by Government, or by the inhabitants, and not from the allowance to the Bornean mission.
I have mentioned that there are at present three stations besides Kuching where missionaries are established. The first is Lingga, which requires a coasting voyage of thirty miles; the second, Lundu, which in rough weather may be reached by inland water passages; and the third is the Quop, a branch of the Sarawak.
None of these stations necessitates the expensive modes of communication adopted: there was, first, a life-boat, which proved useless; then the “Sarawak Cross” was bought and fitted up at an expense of 1,200l., to be sold for a third of its cost; and now I hear another life-boat is to be purchased. The last kind is neither so safe for a shore voyage, nor so comfortable as a well fitted up native prahu, which would cost less than 20l. All this appears to be a great waste of the mission funds. It was necessary for Bishop Selwyn to have a schooner in New Zealand, as he had many islands to visit; but the Bornean Mission does not require it.
I have heard that several missionaries are on their way out. If these be kept at Kuching, or sent to the very distant out-stations, they will prove nearly useless, as in these positions there is no familiar intercourse with the natives on account of a variety of circumstances. Efforts should be concentrated, not scattered; and the best way of influencing the Dayaks is to let the missionaries proceed to their villages and learn their language. There are fifty thousand Land Dayaks in Sarawak, Samarahan, and Sadong, who have not a missionary among them, and any work undertaken there will yield good results.