The Expedition to Borneo of H.M.S. Dido for the suppression of piracy: with extracts from the Journal of James Brooke Esq. of Sarāwak

Chapter I

General view of the Dyaks, the aborigines of Borneo The Dyaks of Sarawak, and adjoining tribes : their past oppression and present position. Preparatory to entering upon the Journal of the Expedition of the Dido, and the extracts from Mr. Brooke's residence in Borneo, it is necessary to make the reader acquainted with the nature of a country and people so imperfectly known ; and offer that general view of past events and present condition which will make the information respecting them more intelligible, as well as applicable to new circumstances and future measures. The Dyaks (or more properly Dyak) of Borneo offer to our view a primitive state of society ; and their near resemblance to the Tarajahs of Celebes,' 1 See Prichard's Researches, 1826, which, meagre as they must have been from the want of data, tell us in two or three to the inland people of Sumatra, and probably to the Arofuras of Papua,1 in customs, manners, and lan guage, affords reason for the conclusion that these are the aboriginal race of the Eastern Archipelago, nearly stationary in their original condition.

Whilst successive waves of civilisation have swept onward the rest of the inhabitants, whilst tribes as wild have arisen to power, flourished, and decayed, the Dyak in his native jungles still retains the feelings of earlier times, and shews the features of society as it existed before the influx of foreign races either improved or corrupted the native character. The term Dyak has been indiscriminately ap plied to all the wild people on the island of Borneo ; but as the term is never so used by themselves, and as they differ greatly, not only in name, but in their customs and manners, we will briefly, in the first instance, mention the various distinct nations, the general locality of each, and some of their distin guishing peculiarities. 1st. The Dusun, or villagers of the northern extremity of the island, are a race of which Mr. Brooke knows nothing personally, but the name implies that they are an agricultural people : they pages nearly all we know on the subject.

That able investigator states that the Dyaks of Borneo resemble theTaraj ofthe Celebes. 1 With regard to the Arofuras, or Haraforas, it is stated that they are termed in some districts Idaan, in others Murut, and in others Dayaks. See Raffles' Java. And Leyden assures us that all these varieties were originally called Idaan. are represented as not being tattooed, as using the sumpitan, and as having a peculiar dialect.1 2d. The Murut. The Murut inhabits the in terior of Borneo Proper. They are not tattooed, always use the sumpitan, and have a peculiar dia lect. In the same locality, and resembling the Murut, are some tribes called the Basaya. 3d. The Kadiens (or Idaans of voyagers) use the sumpitan; and have likewise a peculiar dialect; but in other respects they nowise differ from the Borneons, either in religion, dress, or mode of life.

They are, however, an industrious, peaceful people, who cultivate the ground in the vicinityof Borneo Proper, and nearly as far as Tanjong Barram. The wretched capital is greatly dependent upon them, and, from their numbers and industry, they form a valuable population. In the interior, and on the Balyet river, which discharges itself near Tanjong Barram, is a race likewise called Kadien, not converted to Islam, and still retaining the practice of " taking heads." 4th. The Kayan. The Kayans are the most numerous, the most powerful, and the most warlike people in Borneo. They are an inland race, and their locality extends from about sixty miles up the country from Tanjong Barram to the same ex- 1 A singular contrast to preceding accounts, which represent the north and north-eastern population not only as pirates, called Tiran or Zedong, but even as cannibals.

Near them, there appear to be the piratical nests of Magindano, Sooloo, &c. tent farther into the interior, in latitude 3° 30' n., and thence across the island to probably a similar distance from the eastern shore. Their customs, manners, and dress are peculiar, and present most of the characteristic features of a wild and independent people. The Malays ofthe n.w. coast fear the Kayans, and rarely enter their country; but the Millanows are familiar with them, and there has thence been obtained many particulars respecting them. They are represented as extremely hospitable, generous and kind to strangers when with them, strictly faithful to their word, and honest in their dealings ; but on the other hand, they are fierce and bloodthirsty, and when on an expedition, slaughter without sparing.

The Kayans are partially tattooed, use the sumpitan, have many dialects, and are remarkable for the strange and apparently mutilating custom adopted by the males and mentioned by Sir Stamford Raffles. 5th. To the southward and westward of Bar ram are the Millanows,1 who inhabit the rivers not far from the sea. They are, generally speaking, an intelligent, industrious, and active race, the princi pal cultivators of sago, and gatherers of the famous camphor barus. Their locality extends from Tan- 1 There are several rivers, Meri, Bentulu, &c, the inhabitants of which, says Mr. Brooke, I class under the general term Millanow, as their dialects shew a very close connexion, and their habits are the same. Evidently from language they are civilised tribes of Kayans. jong Barram to Tanjong Sirak. In person they are stout and well made, of middling height, round good-tempered countenances, and fairer than the Malays.

They have several dialects amongst them, use the sumpitan, and are not tattooed. They re tain the practice of taking heads, but they seldom seek them, and have little of the ferocity of the Kayan. 6th. In the vicinity of the Kayans and Mil lanows are some wild tribes, called the Tatows, Balanian, Kanowit, &c. They are probably only a branch of Kayans, though differing from them in being elaborately tattooed over the entire body. They have peculiar dialects, use the sumpitan, and are a wild and fierce people. 7th. The Dyaks. The Dyaks are divided into Dyak Darrat and Dyak Laut, or land and sea Dyaks. The Dyak Lauts, as their name implies, frequent the sea ; and it is needless to say much of them, as their difference from the Dyak Darrat is a difference of circumstances only. The tribes of Serebas and Sakarran, whose rivers are situated in the deep bay between Tanjong Sipang and Tanjong Sirak, are powerful communities, and dreadful pirates, who ravage the coasts in large fleets, and murder and rob indiscriminately ; but this is by no means to be esteemed a standard of Dyak character.

In these expeditions the Malays often join them, and they are likewise made the instruments for op pressing the Laut tribes. The Serebas and Sakarran are fine men, fairer than the Malays, with sharp keen eyes, thin lips, and handsome countenances, though frequently marked by an expression of cun ning. The Balows and Sibnows are amiable tribes, decidedly warlike, but not predatory ; and the lat ter combines the virtues of the Dyak character with much of the civilisation of the Malays. The Dyak Laut do not tattoo, nor do they use the sumpitan ; their language assimilates closely to the Malay, and was doubtless originally identical with that of the inland tribes. The name of God amongst them is Battara (the Avatara of the Hin dus). They bury their dead, and in the graves de posit a large portion of the property of the deceased, often to a considerable value in gold ornaments, brass guns, jars, and arms.

Their marriage-ceremony consists in two fowls being killed, and the forehead and breast of the young couple being touched with the blood ; after which the chief, or an old man, knocks their heads together several times, and the ceremony is completed with mirth and feasting. In these two instances they differ from the Dyak Darrat. It must be observed that the Dyak also differs from the Kayan in not being tattooed ; and from the Kayan Millanows, &c, in not using the national weapon — the sumpitan. The Kayan and the Dyak, as general distinctions, though they differ in dialect, in dress, in weapons, and probably in religion, agree in their belief of similar omens, and above all, in their practice of taking the heads of their enemies ; but with the Kayan this practice assumes the aspect of an indiscriminate desire of slaughter, whilst with the Dyak it is but the trophy acquired in legitimate warfare.

The Kadiens form the only exception to this rule, in consequence of their conversion to Islam ; and it is but reasonable to suppose, that with a slight exertion in favour of Christianity, others might be induced to lay aside this barbarous custom. With respect to the dialects, though the difference is considerable, they are evidently derived from a common source ; but it is remarkable that some words in the Millanow and Kayan are similar to the Bugis and Badjo language. This intermix ture of dialects, which can be linked together, appears to be more conclusive of the common ori gin of the wild tribes and civilised nations of the Archipelago, than most other arguments ; and if Marsden's position be correct (which there can be little or no reason to doubt), that the Polynesian is an original race with an original language,1 it must likewise be conceded that the wild tribes represent the primitive state of society in these islands.

We know little of the wild tribes of Celebes beyond their general resemblance to the Kayans of the east coast of Borneo ; and it is probable that 1 Leyden concluded that the language was allied to the Batta and Tagala, and the whole derived from and varieties of the primitive tongue of the Philippine Islands. the Kayans are the people of Celebes, who, crossing the Strait of Makassar, have in time by their supe rior prowess possessed themselves of the country of the Dyaks. Mr. Brooke (from whom I am copying this sketch) is led to entertain this opinion from a slight resemblance in their dialects with those used in Celebes, from the difference in so many of their customs from those of the Dyaks, and from the Kayans of the north-west coast of Borneo having one custom in common with the wild tribe of Min koka, in the Bay of Boni.

Both the Kayans and Minkokas on the death of a relative seek for a head ; and on the death of their chief many human heads must be procured : which practice is unknown to the Dyak. It may further be remarked, that their probable immigration from Celebes is sup ported by the statement of the Millanows, that the Murut and Dyak give place to the Kayan when ever they come in contact, and that the latter people have depopulated large tracts in the in terior, once occupied by the former. Having thus briefly noticed the different wild people of the island, I proceed with the more particular task of describing the Dyak Darrats. The locality of these Dyaks may be marked as follows: — The Pontiana river, from its mouth, is traced into the interior towards the northward and westward, until it approaches at the furthest within 100 miles of the north-west coast ; a line drawn in latitude 3° n. till it intersects the course of the Pontiana river will point out the limit of the country inhabited by the Dyak.

Within this incon siderable portion of the island, which includes Sam bas, Landak, Pontiana, Sangow, Sarawak, &c, are numerous tribes, all of which agree in their leading customs, and use nearly the same dialect. Person ally (w-rites our sole authority for any intelligence respecting them), I am acquainted only with the tribes of Sarawrak and some tribes further in the interior beyond the government of the Malays, who inhabit the country between Sarawak and Landak, and the description of one tribe will serve as a description of all, so little do they vary. Before, however, I say any thing of the cha racter of the Dyaks, or their temper, it will be necessaryto describe briefly the government under which they live, and the influence it has upon them ; and if afterwards in the recital there ap pear some unamiable points in their character, an allowance will be made for their failings, which those who rule them would not deserve.

The Dyaks have from time immemorial been looked upon as the bondsmen of the Malays, and the Rajahs consider them much in the same light as they would a drove of oxen — i. e. as personal and disposable property. They were governed in Sarawak by three local officers, called the Pa tingue, the Bandar, and the Tamangong. To the Patingue they paid a small yearly revenue of rice, but this deficiency of revenue was made up by sending a quantity of goods — chiefly salt, Dyak cloths, and iron — and demanding a price for them six or eight times more than their value. The produce collected by the Dyaks was also mono polised, and the edible birds-nests, bees-wax, &c. &c, were taken at a price fixed by the Patingue, who moreover claimed mats, fowls, fruit, and every other necessary at his pleasure, and could likewise make the Dyaks work for him for merely a nominal remuneration.

This system, not badly devised, had it been limited within the bounds of moderation, would have left the Dyaks plenty for all their wants ; or had the local officers known their own interest, they would have protected those upon whom they depended for revenue, and under the worst oppression of one man the Dyaks would have deemed themselves happy. Such unfortu nately was not the case ; for the love of immediate gain overcame every other consideration, and by degrees old-established customs were thrown aside, and new ones substituted in their place. When the Patingue had received all he thought proper to extort, his relatives first claimed the right of arbi trary trade, and gradually it was extended, as the privilege of every respectable person in the country, to serra1 the Dyaks. The poor Dyak, thus at the mercy of half the Malay population, was never al lowed to refuse compliance wdth these demands ; 1 Probably a Dyak phrase for levying exactions on the oppressed people.

It is not Malay. he could plead neither poverty, inability, nor even hunger, as an excuse, for the answer was ever ready : " Give me your wife or one of your children ;" and in case he could not supply what was required, the wife or the child was taken, and became a slave. Many modes of extortion were resorted to ; a favourite one was convicting the Dyak of a fault and imposing a fine upon him. Some ingenuity and much trickery were shewn in this game, and new offences were invented as soon as the old pleas would serve no longer : for instance, if a Malay met a Dyak in a boat which pleased him, he notched it, as a token that it was his property ; in one day, if the boat was a new one, perhaps three or more would place their marks on it ; and as only one could get it, the Dyak to whom the boat really belonged had to pay the others for his fault.

This, however, was only "a fault;" whereas for a Dyak to injure a Malay, directly or indirectly, pur posely or otherwise, was a high offence, and pun ished by a proportionate fine. If a Dyak's house was in bad repair, and a Malay fell in consequence and was hurt, or pretended to be hurt, a fine was imposed ; if a Malay in the jungle was wounded by the springs set for a wild boar, or by the wooden spikes which the Dyaks for protection put about their village, or scratched himself and said he was injured, the penalty was heavy ; if the Malay was really hurt, ever so accidentally, it was the ruin of the Dyak. And these numerous and uninvited guests came and went at pleasure, lived in free quarters, made their requisitions, and then forced the Dyak to carry away for them the very property of which he had been robbed.

This is a fair picture of the governments under which the Dyaks live, even including those under the sway of the Dutch ; and although they were often roused to resistance, it was always fruitless, and involved them in deeper troubles ; for the Malays could readily gather a large force of sea- Dyaks from Sakarran, who were readily attracted by hope of plunder, and who, supported by the fire-arms of their allies, were certain to overcome any single tribe that held out. The misfortunes of the Dyaks of Sarawak did not stop here. Anti mony ore was discovered ; the cupidity of the Bor neons was roused ; then Pangerans struggled for the prize : intrigues and dissensions ensued ; and the inhabitants of Sarawak in turn felt the very evil they had inflicted on the Dyaks ; whilst the Dyaks were compelled, amidst their other wrongs, to labour at the ore without any recompense, and to the neglect of their rice-cultivation.

Many died in consequence of this compulsory labour, so con trary to their habits and inclinations ; and more would doubtless have fallen victims, had not civil war rescued them from this evil, to inflict upon them others a thousand times worse. Extortion had before been carried on by individuals, but now it was systematised ; and Panderans of rank, for the sake of plunder, sent bodies of Malays and Sakarran Dyaks to attack the different tribes. The men were slaughtered, the women and children carried off into slavery, the villages burned, the fruit-trees cut down,1 and all their property destroyed or seized. The Dyaks could no longer live in tribes, but sought refuge in the mountains or the jungle, a few together ; and as one of them pathetically described it, — " We do not live," he said, " like men, we are like monkeys ; we are hunted from place to place ; we have no houses ; and when we light a fire, we fear the smoke w-ill draw our enemies upon us."

In the course of ten years, under the circumstances detailed, — from enforced labour, from fa mine, from slavery, from sickness, from the sword, — one-half of the Dyak population3 disappeared ; 1 The utter destruction of a village or town is nothing to the infliction of cutting down the fruit-trees. The former can be rebuilt, with its rude and ready materials, in a few weeks ; but the latter, from which the principal subsistence of the natives is gathered, cannot be suddenly restored, and thus they are reduced to starvation. 2 The grounds for this opinion are an estimate personally made amongst the tribes, compared with the estimate kept by the local officers before the disturbance arose ; and the result is, that only two out of twenty tribes have not suffered, whilst some tribes have been reduced from 330 families to 50 ; about ten tribes have lost more than half their number ; one tribe of 100 families has lost all, its women and children made slaves ; and one tribe, more wretched, has been reduced from 120 families and the work of extirpation would have gone on at an accelerated pace, had the remnant been left to the tender mercies of the Pangerans ; but chance (we may much more truly say, Providence) led our countryman, Mr. Brooke, to this scene of misery, and enabled him, by circumstances far removed beyond the grounds of calculation, to put a stop to the sufferings of an amiable people.

There are twenty tribes in Sarawak, on about fifty square miles of land. The appearance of the Dyaks is prepossessing : they have good-natured faces, with a mild and subdued expression ; eyes set far apart, and features sometimes well formed. In person they are active, of middling height, and not distinguishable from the Malays in complexion. The women are neither so good-looking nor well formed as the men, but they have the same expres sion, and are cheerful and kind-tempered. The dress of the men consists of a piece of cloth about fifteen feet long, passed between the legs and fasto 2, that is, 16 persons ; whilst two tribes have entirely disappeared. The list of the tribes and their numbers formerly and now are as follows : — Suntah, 330 — 50 ; Sanpro, 100 — 69 ; Sigo, 80—28; Sabungo, 60—33; Brang, 50—22; Sinnar, 80—34; Stang, 80—30 ; Samban, 60—34 ; Tubbia, 80—30 ; Goon, 40— 25; Bang, 40—12; Kuj-juss, 35—0; Lundu, 80—2; Sow, 200—100; Sarambo, 100—60; Bombak, 35 — 35; Paninjow, 80—40; Singe, 220—220; Pons, 20 — 0; Sibadut, 25 — 25.

Total, formerly, 1795 — now, 849 families; and reckoning eight persons to each family, the amount of population will be, formerly, 14,360 — now, 6792 : giving a decrease of population in ten years of 846 families, or 7568 persons ! tened round the loins, with the ends hanging before and behind ; the head-dress is composed of bark cloth, dyed bright yellow, and stuck up in front so as to resemble a tuft of feathers. The arms and legs are often ornamented with rings of silver, brass, or shell ; and necklaces are worn, made of human teeth, or those of bears or dogs, or of white beads, in such numerous strings as to conceal the throat. A sword on one side, a knife and small betel-basket on the other, completes the ordinary equipment of the males ; but when they travel they carry a basket slung from the forehead, on which is a palm mat, to protect the owner and his pro perty from the weather.

The women wear a short and scanty petticoat, reaching from the loins to the knees, and a pair of black bamboo stays, which are never remoyed except the wearer be enceinte. They have rings of brass or red bamboo about the loins, and sometimes ornaments on the arms ; the hair is worn long ; the ears of both sexes are pierced, and ear-rings of brass inserted occasionally; the teeth of the young people are sometimes filed to a point and discoloured, as they say that " Dogs have white teeth." They frequently dye their feet and hands of a bright red or yellow colour ; and the young people, like those of other countries, affect a degree of finery and foppishness, whilst the elders invariably lay aside all ornaments, as unfit for a wise person or one advanced in years. In character the Dvak is mild and tractable, hospitable when he is well used, grateful for kindness, industrious, honest, and simple ; neither trea cherous nor cunning, and so truthful that the word of one of them might safely be taken before the oath of half a dozen Borneons.

In their dealings they are very straightforward and correct, and so trustworthy that they rarely attempt, after a lapse of years, to evade payment of a just debt. On the reverse of this picture there is little unfavourable to be said ; and the wonder is, they have learned so little deceit or falsehood where the examples before them have been so rife. The temper of the Dyak inclines to be sullen ; and they oppose a dogged and stupid obsti nacy when set to a task which displeases them, and support with immovable apathy torrents of abuse or entreaty. They are likewise distrustful, fickle, apt to be led away, and evasive in concealing the amount of their property ; but these are the vices rather of situation than of character, for they have been taught by bitter experience that their rulers set no limits to their exactions, and that hiding is their only chance of retaining a portion of the grain they have raised.

They are, at the same time, fully aware of the customs by which their ancestors were governed, and are constantly appeal ing to them as a rule of right, and frequently arguing with the Malay on the subject. On these occasions they are silenced, but not con vinced ; and the Malay, whilst he evades or bullies when it is needful, is sure to appeal to these very much -abused customs whenever it serves his purpose. The manners of the Dyaks with strangers are reserved to an extent rarely seen amongst rude or half-civilised people ; but on a better acquaint ance (which is not readily acquired) they are open and talkative, and, when heated with their favourite beverage, lively, and evincing more shrewdness and observation than they have gained credit for pos sessing. Their ideas, as may well be supposed, are very limited : they reckon with their fingers and toes, and few are clever enough to count beyond twenty- ; but when they repeat the operation, they record each twenty by making a knot on a string.

Like other wild people, the slightest restraint is irksome, and no temptation will induce them to stay long from their favourite jungle. It is there they seek the excitement of war, the pleasures of the chase, the labours of the field, and the abundance of fruit in the rich produce which assists in supporting their families. The pathless jungle is endeared to them by every association which influences the hu man mind, and they languish when prevented from roaming there as inclination dictates. The rest of their character will be best understood in the course of describing their customs and mode of life, from the details of which they will appear to the reader, as they did to Mr. Brooke after much experience, to be a tractable and simple people, free from the besetting sins of the Malays, and readily susceptible of every kind of improvement. c

Chapter II

Introduction. Borneo, its geographical bounds and leading divisions. British settlements in 1775. The province of Sarawak ceded by the sultan to Mr. Brooke its present ruler. The haunts of the pirates. The Dido sails from Singapore. Journal of her proceedings. Chase of three piratical praus. Sail up the river Maratabus. Intermediate operations of the boats under Lieut. Horton, accompanied by Mr. Brooke. Action with the pirates, and capture of a prau. By looking at the map, it will be seen that the island of Borneo extends over 1 1 degrees of latitude, and the same of longitude, from 4° n. to 7° s., and 108° to 119° e. This extensive coast is but thinly popu lated ; and the natives who inhabit the banks of some of the beautiful rivers differ, as has been stated, from each other in manners and customs, and have but little communication among them selves.

From Point Datu on the n.w. to the river Banjainassim on the s. is claimed by the Dutch,1 within which territory there is a large settlement of from 30,000 to 40,000 Chinese, at a place called Montrado. The s., e., and n.e. coasts of Borneo are but thinly inhabited, and very little known. There are various divisions of Malays, as well as different tribes of Dyaks, who live in an 1 See Map. E. I. CO.'S SETTLEMENT IN 1775- 19 unsettled state, and occasionally warring on one another : their principal occupation, however, is piracy. The north part of the island was once in the possession of the East India Company, who had a settlement and factoryon the island of Balambangan, which was attacked in 1775, when in a weak and unguarded state, by a powerful piratical tribe of Sooloos, who surprised the fort, put the sentries to death, and turned the guns on the troops, who were chiefly Buguese (or Bugis) Malays.

Those who escaped got on board the vessels in the har bour and reached Borneo ; whilst the booty obtained by the pirates wTas estimated at 375,000/. From that time to this these atrocious pirates have never been punished, and still continue their depredations ; and Balambangan, a beautiful island, with harbour and every requisite for forming an useful settlement, remains unclaimed by any Power. The remainder of the coast on the n.w. is now called Borneo Proper, to distinguish it from the name that custom has given to the whole island, the original name of which was Klemantan, and Brunia that of the town now called Borneo, and which was probablythe first part of the coast ever visited by Europeans, who extended the appellation through out. The town of Borneo, situated on the river of that name, was, until the last few years, a port of some wealth, and carrying on an extensive trade, which has been ruined entirely by the rapa city of the Malay chiefs, who have now but little BORNEO PROPER AND SARAWAK. control over that part of Borneo Proper which lies to the northward of the river.

The province of Sarawak is situated at the s.w. end of Borneo Pro per, and was formally ceded by the sultan to Mr. Brooke in 1842, although he had possessed the almost entire management of the government for the two previous years. It extends from Tanjong Datu along about 70 miles of coast, including several small islands and fine rivers. At the conclusion of the Chinese war the commander -in -chief, Vice -Admiral Sir William Parker, ordered the Dido to the Malacca Straits, a station in which was included the island of Bor neo ; our principal duties being the protection of trade and suppression of piracy. In the month of March 1843, while at Pinang, I received intimation from the governor of various daring acts of piracy having been committed near the Borneon coast on some native vessels trading to Singapore.