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ut rather be surprised at the successful efforts of nature to prevent the extermination of the race。
One of the surest and most beneficial effects of advancing civilization； will be the amelioration of the condition of these women。 The precept and example of higher races will make the Dyak ashamed of his comparatively idle life； while his weaker partner labours like a beast of burthen。 As his wants become increased and his tastes refined； the women will have more household duties to attend to； and will then cease to labour in the fielda change which has already to a great extent taken place in the allied Malay； Javanese； and Bugis tribes。 Population will then certainly increase more rapidly； improved systems of agriculture and some division of labour will become necessary in order to provide the means of existence； and a more complicated social state will take the place of the simple conditions of society which now occur among them。 But； with the sharper struggle for existence that will then arise； will the happiness of the people as a whole be increased or diminished？ Will not evil passions be aroused by the spirit of competition； and crimes and vices； now unknown or dormant； be called into active existence？ These are problems that time alone can solve； but it is to be hoped that education and a high…class European example may obviate much of the evil that too often arises in analogous cases； and that we may at length be able to point to one instance of an uncivilized people who have not become demoralized； and finally exterminated； by contact with European civilization。
A few words in conclusion； about the government of Sarawak。 Sir James Brooke found the Dyaks oppressed and ground down by the most cruel tyranny。 They were cheated by the Malay traders and robbed by the Malay chiefs。 Their wives and children were often captured and sold into slavery； and hostile tribes purchased permission from their cruel rulers to plunder； enslave； and murder them。 Anything like justice or redress for these injuries was utterly unattainable。 From the time Sir James obtained possession of the country； all this was stopped。 Equal justice was awarded to Malay； Chinaman； and Dyak。 The remorseless pirates from the rivers farther east were punished； and finally shut up within their own territories； and the Dyak； for the first time； could sleep in peace。 His wife and children were now safe from slavery； his house was no longer burned over his head； his crops and his fruits were now his own to sell or consume as he pleased。 And the unknown stranger who had done all this for them； and asked for nothing in return； what could he be？ How was it possible for them to realize his motives？ Was it not natural that they should refuse to believe he was a man？ For of pure benevolence combined with great power； they had had no experience among men。 They naturally concluded that he was a superior being； come down upon earth to confer blessings on the afflicted。 In many villages where he had not been seen； I was asked strange questions about him。 Was he not as old as the mountains？ Could he not bring the dead to life？ And they firmly believe that he can give them good harvests； and make their fruit…trees bear an abundant crop。
In forming a proper estimate of Sir James Brooke's government it must ever be remembered that he held Sarawak solely by the goodwill of the native inhabitant。 He had to deal with two races； one of whom； the Mahometan Malays； looked upon the other race； the Dyaks； as savages and slaves； only fit to be robbed and plundered。 He has effectually protected the Dyaks； and has invariably treated them as； in his sight； equal to the Malays； and yet he has secured the affection and goodwill of both。 Notwithstanding the religious prejudice； of Mahometans； he has induced them to modify many of their worst laws and customs； and to assimilate their criminal code to that of the civilized world。 That his government still continues； after twenty… seven yearsnotwithstanding his frequent absences from ill…health； notwithstanding conspiracies of Malay chiefs； and insurrections of Chinese gold…diggers； all of which have been overcome by the support of the native population； and notwithstanding financial； political； and domestic troubles is due； I believe； solely to the many admirable qualities which Sir James Brooke possessed； and especially to his having convinced the native population； by every action of his life； that he ruled them； not for his own advantage； but for their good。
Since these lines were written； his noble spirit has passed away。 But though； by those who knew him not； he may be sneered at as an enthusiastic adventurer； abused as a hard…hearted despot； the universal testimony of everyone who came in contact with him in his adopted country； whether European； Malay； or Dyak； will be； that Rajah Brooke was a great； a wise； and a good ruler； a true and faithful friend a man to be admired for his talents； respected for his honesty and courage； and loved for his genuine hospitality； his kindness of disposition； and his tenderness of heart。
CHAPTER VII。
JAVA
I SPENT three months and a half in Java； from July 18th to October 31st； 1861； and shall briefly describe my own movements； and my observations of the people and the natural history of the country。 To all those who wish to understand how the Dutch now govern Java； and how it is that they are enabled to derive a large annual revenue from it； while the population increases； and the inhabitants are contented； I recommend the study of Mr。 Money's excellent and interesting work； 〃How to Manage a Colony。〃 The main facts and conclusions of that work I most heartily concur in； and I believe that the Dutch system is the very best that can be adopted； when a European nation conquers or otherwise acquires possession of a country inhabited by an industrious but semi…barbarous people。 In my account of Northern Celebes； I shall show how successfully the same system has been applied to a people in a very different state of civilization from the Javanese； and in the meanwhile will state in the fewest words possible what that system is。
The mode of government now adopted in Java is to retain the whole series of native rulers； from the village chief up to princes； who； under the name of Regents； are the heads of districts about the size of a small English county。 With each Regent is placed a Dutch Resident； or Assistant Resident； who is considered to be his 〃elder brother；〃 and whose 〃orders〃 take the form of 〃recommendations；〃 which are； however； implicitly obeyed。 Along with each Assistant Resident is a Controller； a kind of inspector of all the lower native rulers； who periodically visits every village in the district； examines the proceedings of the native courts； hears complaints against the head…men or other native chiefs； and superintends the Government plantations。 This brings us to the 〃culture system；〃 which is the source of all the wealth the Dutch derive from Java； and is the subject of much abuse in this country because it is the reverse of 〃free trade。〃 To understand its uses and beneficial effects； it is necessary first to sketch the common results of free European trade with uncivi