WCP3790

[1]¹

Sarawak

28^th Dec^r 1855

My dear Brooke

The important intelligence of this month is the reported death of the Patingi [Patinggi]² at Mecca which although it wants confirmation is probable as there has been severe Cholera in that place.

I am a little uneasy [2] about Rajang [Rejang]³, on account of the fellows there being so abjectly funky; and the Dyaks ^are so turbulently inclined to come out as to prove the backing they have from Sheriff Mashahor [sic].⁴

I have sent Gallon[?] powder and muskets and so soon as the season permits shall proceed my self to put these rascals to rights. In every other respect we are [3] quiet and easy and the Kunsi[?] are expecting a reinforcement of some hundred men — Low⁵ writes that Bruni⁶is in a wretched condition and the Sultan⁷ & Makota⁸ oppressing the coast shamefully. Your proceedings at Muka gave some umbrage which was to be expected, and is of no consequence, but we are now in the balance whether to be friends or foes — The Sultan is proved to be a bad oppressive man who[?] views[?] his position as[?] the [4] prophet[?] greater[?] than[?] as a merchant and Makota urges on the devastation of the government beyond all bearable limits — I shall go up early in the season to see how matters stand — the Temangong [Temanggong, Tumongong]⁹ is our first ally and it will rest upon with me to promote[?] afresh[?] at[?] the Sultans coronation.

The schooner belonging formerly to Nakodah Mahomed¹⁰ and purchased by[?] the Sultan was wrecked the other day at Oya — the cargo was saved but it is to become the [1 or 2 words illeg.] oppressing the people —

[5] The Bishop¹¹ returned two days before Christmas and St Johns¹² brother & M^r.[?] Read¹³ arrived from Labuan, the day before — so we had a party not wanting in numbers but dull as ditch water — the Bishop is as good as ever & the same as ever — he will take letters patent from this government as Bishop of Sarawak.

I enclose you an article from the Friend of India[.]¹⁴ Read shoves up us ahead at a great rate, but I must be excused employing the black guardism[?] of [1 word illeg.] when we can get [6] as many[?] good hearts and heads[?] as the country offers to promote[?] one[?] properly[?] — I am conservative as old folks usually are — I want the pudding to be well baked in all parts before attempting to taste — I shall leave you to set fire to the brandy and to distribute the sweets. I am very confident of the proper[?] ^process[?] of the course I took in the affairs of the proposed Company¹⁵ — it is easier to get into a scrape than to get out of it [7] as I should well know and we should by blocking[?] difficulties & leaving matters of vital importance unsettled, [1 or 2 words illeg.] a heavy penalty some future day — I should not like to leave you such a legacy — I am writing in a desultory manner and I have but very little to say — McKintosh¹⁶ arrived safe & well & [2 words illeg.] with[?] Peter¹⁷ — I like him and I hope that he will turn into a useful man — Crymble¹⁸ is particularly horrible[?] to him and[?] on a late occasion it was clearly understood between us that if any single case of [1 word illeg.] occurred again, he was to vacate his office without a word — we have the horse house [8] in nice order and for some time been inhabiting your room where we dined on Chrism's [Christmas] day — tis a pleasant apartment — I have put in new Bullion[?] beams to the roof of the dining room & Fox's¹⁹ room and it is painted — besides this I have built a new bathing[?] room on your side & removed the one on mine & I am going to erect a bungalow for Charlie²⁰ — Charlie was with us for a few days — his legs are certainly improved but I did not think him looking bright though he drank Champagne and was very merry — I have received a box of books from Willis²¹ & the [9] and the first installment [sic] of wine from Bellamy — If matters go wrong in England I shall stop all luxuries of all sorts — do not bring any of the more expensive things I commissioned (as the Yankees would say) but the tooth brushes and a couple of shaving brushes I should like to have and I want likewise little china things for flowers — about an inch to an inch and [a] half in diameter — and little glass thingumbobs — Milton[?] vases or cups or any name[?] like that — which hold one single flower & made of ground glass — Besides this [10] positively stop the parcel of the "Times" news paper & send it by post via Southampton til the 4^th & via Marseilles up to the 10^th of each month — Even this luxury dispense with if the [1 word illeg.] in[?] question goes wrong & let us have nothing but the Home News —

So much today my dear Brooke — I shall not write to Templer²² by this opportunity[?] but send him this scrawl & the enclosed to let him know all the news.

29^th Dec^r — Wallace²³ wishes [11] know whether you have got your written notes on the Mias²⁴killed by Crymble — particularly the measurements of the head[?] and height — He is sceptical of the size which is contrary to his experiences.

30^th December 1855

A happy new year to you dear[,] dear Brooke and I doubt not that it will be so in the bosom of home — I have no further intelligence to communicate — Our [1 word illeg.] are overpowering — Last night Baba George²⁵ gave a dinner — tonight we have one here — tomorrow there is a ball at M^rs McDougall's²⁶ — & next day we likewise celebrate [12] the new year at the mission.

We are looking for the mail. I may have another opportunity of writing — Farewell — my love to all — to dear Papa Mama brothers & sisters — and to the dear Savages²⁷ & the Stuarts²⁸.

Ever my dear Brooke Your very affec[tiona]^te friend | J Brooke [signature]

Captain Brooke Brooke

[13] Sarawak 5th January 1856

My Dear Brooke

I enclose a letter for you to forward to your aunt[.] I am anxious to tell you at the latest able[?] by this mail, that all is quiet and well and though we have had no arrivals from the outposts, intelligence would have been received had anything untoward occurred. The "Maria" has come in on her way to Brune [Bruni] without bringing our mail and be hanged to them — which is just a dirty dodge to keep the price of Sago in Singapore a secret. Tomorrow shall teach them a lesson. The reports of the [14] immigration of Chinese from Lombok begin to assume some reliable shape. The Kunsi [Kongsi]²⁹ has been with me to say they expect from three to five hundred people — perhaps more — as their people amount to some 3000 — and a good many might come. Outside men say 2000 at least shortly after the New Year — and there is beyond doubt a general disaffection against the Dutch and a desire to move here. Our road is complete to Sungei Lang³⁰ at[?] so far as cutting and laying down batangs[?] — it is about 4½ miles from the rock & comes out opposite Batu Kawa³¹—

Farewell & with love to all ever Your affec[tiona]^te uncle & friend | J Brooke [signature]

[15] P.S.³² If the [2 words illeg.] affair comes off formally[?] and matters be settled with the Borneo Company young Hitchins³³ or some other other [sic] likely young fellow should come out — Love to Arthur³⁴— Let him come out if health be re-established — we are sadly in want of hands[?] and with the Chinese advent — The B. Co[m]pany[?] and the new fort at Serekei you may imagine have had no[?] prospect of efficiency — yet for all this[?] it would be no use having a half cured liver and mind dont hurry yourself. — I have written to McEwans[?] to [16] Remit £250 per quarter to Cameron & Booty³⁵ for[?] land[?] expenses & your wants[.]