WCP7115

[1] [p. 423]¹

Sarawak

April 2nd 1862.

My dear Rajah²

I got your note of 8^th Feby from Burrator.³ This is Hari Raya[;]⁴ guns are firing and the Malay population in their gala dresses[? ] travelling from house to house. I am delighted that feasting[?] is over, for they will now <devote?> themselves to trade. I am sorry to say the harvest has again failed to a great extent so that the Unhappy[?] people will be[?] once[?] again[?] half starved as they were last year. This is very unfortunate[.]

The Bishop⁵ & family arrived [2] by the Steamer. Both he & she⁶ looking decidedly stronger and better. It is a pleasure to have him here again[,] so old and true a friend. I am glad you have a lad training for our Accountants[?]. M^r Clarke[?]⁷ as far as I see at present does well [,] he is unpopular with Henry[?]⁸ because he is strict and will have things methodically[?] done.

I have nothing whatever political to tell since[?] my last. Every thing is perfectly quiet[.] My plans are to go to Kinabalu[?] after the return of the steamer and stay there for some time [3] [p. 424] establish a post and send[?] [1 illeg. word] to meet Kanan[?] Kepu[?]⁹ I am happy to say that Willy[?] Point[?]¹⁰ is very much improved in the last year and is likely I think to prove a capable man. I do[?] not[?] think will he will be a better man than the new [1 or 2 illeg. words] for[?] [1 illeg. word] however because the latter I have seen very little of as yet. I hope you will not send me out young[?] fellows from the Merchant Navy. I dislike the style of them[?] greatly & w[oul]^d prefer J.[?] R[?]¹¹ to officers[?]. We want real[?] gentlemen[?] by habit as much as by [1 illeg. word], it is a serious source of anxiety [4]¹² to me, the gin drinking, [1 illeg. word] tobacco smoking propensities of some of our young fellows, they come out here[,] shake[?] themselves to pieces, and then abuse the country & people.

We had a most painful[?] murder case from [one illeg. word] the other day. The murderer and his father (also implicated) about the wealthiest[? ] people in the place[.] a [sic] young Owasy[?] was found in the [2 illeg. words] with the daughter. They were going to kill him on the spot but the brother of the offender interfered[?] and it was settled that a fine w^d.[?] be paid & the matter was apparently concluded[;] afterwards the brother of the [5] [p. 423]¹³ girl went in and deliberately hacked the Owasy[?] (who is not 15) to pieces - I put the case[?] into[?] the hands of a [1 illeg. word] Jury and they brought in Wilful Murder by[? ] [1 illeg. word] the brother & found the guilt of the father's[?] talk[?] less[?] than that of the son - who was executed yesterday morning. [6]¹⁴ The Fathers [sic] sentence was forfeiture[?] and banish[men]^t[?].

Sarawak is looking beautiful just now. All the trees bursting into fresh bloom. Your favourite Brangia[?] Brangia[?]¹⁵ covers[?] itself[?] with masses of blossom.

[1 illeg. word] has just come in from Phuket[?] those[?] report[?] it[?] favoured[?] but no other news.

[7] [p. 424]¹⁶ Please tell Tom[?] if he will visit[?] us[?] on[?] his way to Labuan I should be glad to see him and that all[?] our[?] ill[?] will[?] has evaporated — By the bye I heard that the directors[?] of the Labuan[?] Company offered a situation to Arthur Cruickshank [sic]¹⁷ at Labuan then[?] temporary[?] with the officer[?] of another [2 illeg. words] was unfair, & if you[?] [1 illeg. word] [8]¹⁸ On appointment I hope you will tell them this and that they had better not provoke us to reprisals.

Believe me dear Rajah | Y[ou]r affec[tionate] nephew| J Brooke Brooke¹⁹ [signature]

[9]²⁰ [p. 425] I don't know what you will think of the proceeding, but I am sending the Whitworth to Siam. [sic] where M^r Gunn[?]²¹ thinks he can sell it at all events for cost price. I have named $1500 as the lowest. If I get this money I will send it home & it will go far towards the price of a Steam Engine for our proposed Gun[?] boat. The Whitworth is too fine a tool for our rough work. A [one illeg. word] is badly wanted for our expenses are likely to be very heavy this year. I think you should [10]²² endeavour to come to some arrange[men]^t with the Company²³ about the new[?] districts[?] over[?] the course of the year. I shall be glad to get £1000 out of them towards that big[?] sum[?] one[?] has[?] to make up in Oct for Brunai [Brunei], I will send[?] [1 or 2 illeg. words] Steamers[?] of ores[?] as soon as I can get them. I am expecting a M^r Geach²⁴ over here, a friend of Wallace, & a geologist and naturalist, he may be very useful²⁵