A History of Sarawak under Its Two White Rajahs 1839-1908

CHAPTER XVII

Chapter 171,611 wordsPublic domain

EDUCATION—RELIGION—MISSIONS

The education of native children a problem—Schools—Islamism— 439-450 Paganism—The S.P.G. Mission—Roman Catholic Missions— American Methodist Mission

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

PAGE

The late Rajah. From an engraving after the painting by _Frontispiece_ Sir Francis Grant, P.R.A.

The present Rajah. Photo, Bassano i

Nepenthes and Rafflesia. C. R. Wylie 1

Mt. St. Pedro, or Kina Balu. C. R. Wylie. From St. 2 John's _Life in the Forests of the Far East_

Ukit Chief, wife and child. Photo, C. A. Bampfylde 13

A Punan. Photo, Lambert and Co., Singapore 14

A Kayan girl. Photo, Lambert and Co., Singapore 17

Group of Muruts. Photo, Mrs. E. A. W. Cox 20

Land-Dayak Chief, with his son and grandson. Photo, Rev. 22 J. W. Moore

Sea-Dayak Chief (Pengulu Dalam Munan). Photo, Tum Sai On 23

Sea-Dayak girl. Photo, Buey Hon 26

Satang Islands. C. R. Wylie 35

Mercator's map. C. R. Wylie 36

Old jar ("Benaga"). Photo, C. A. Bampfylde 36

Figure at Santubong. Photo, Lambert and Co. 39

Kuching, 1840. From _Views in the Eastern Archipelago_. 61 J. A. St. John

Tower of old Astana. C. R. Wylie, from a photo by Buey 61 Hon

The _Royalist_ off Santubong. C. R. Wylie 63

Land-Dayak village. Photo, C. Vernon-Collins 76

Land-Dayak head-house. Photo, Rev. J. W. Moore 81

Kuching, present day. Photo, Buey Hon 91

H.E.I.C. _Phlegethon_. C. R. Wylie 92

H.M.S. _Dido_. From _Expedition to Borneo_. Keppel. C. 92 R. Wylie

The present Rajah as a midshipman 105

Attack on Sherip Usman's stronghold. C. R. Wylie. From 151 _Views in the Eastern Archipelago_

Old Sekrang fort. C. R. Wylie. From _Ten Years in 153 Sarawak_

Sea-Dayak shield and arms. C. R. Wylie 153

On the war-path. Photo, C. A. Bampfylde 184

Government station at Bau. Photo, Buey Hon 185

Old Chinese temple, Kuching. Photo, Lambert and Co. 196

Chinese procession 205

Malay lela (cannon) and spears. C. A. Bampfylde 207

Sherip Masahor's spear. C. R. Wylie 207

Kanowit. C. A. Bampfylde 244

Native tools and hats. C. A. Bampfylde and C. R. Wylie 246

Melanau sun-hat. C. R. Wylie 246

Plan of operations at Muka 249

Sarawak flag: execution kris. C. R. Wylie 267

Sulu kris. C. A. Bampfylde and C. R. Wylie 268

Native musical instruments. C. A. Bampfylde and C. R. 279 Wylie

Kayan mortuary. C. A. Bampfylde and C. R. Wylie 279

Punan mortuary. Photo by Mrs. E. A. W. Cox 283

Kayan mortuary. Photo by Mrs. E. A. W. Cox 288

Sea-Dayak house. From a photo by Lambert and Co. C. R. 295 Wylie

The Rajah's grave. Photo by Major W. H. Rodway 295

Kuching. C. R. Wylie, from photos by Buey Hon 299

Fort Margherita, Kuching. C. R. Wylie, from photo by 307 Buey Hon

Berrow Vicarage. C. R. Wylie, from a photo 307

Fort Brooke, Sibu. Photo, Lambert and Co. 324

H.H.S. _Zahora_. C. R. Wylie, from a photo 325

Daru'l Salam. C. R. Wylie. From _Life in the Forests of 326 the Far East_

Bruni gong. C. R. Wylie 326

The Sultan's palace. C. R. Wylie, from a photo by Mrs. 332 E. A. W. Cox

Trusan Fort. Photo, Mrs. E. A. W. Cox 345

On the Lawas river. Photo, M. G. Bradford 363

The _Gazelle_. Photo, Buey Hon 372

Sea-Dayak war-boat. Photo, C. A. Bampfylde 373

Land-Dayak weapons. C. R. Wylie 373

The Sarawak Rangers. Photo, Lambert and Co. 376

Rangers in mufti. Photo, Buey Hon 377

Kapit Fort. Photo, C. A. Bampfylde 380

Fort Alice, Simanggang. Photo, Lambert and Co. 385

Sea-Dayak war-boats. Photo, C. A. Bampfylde 391

The Astana. C. R. Wylie, from photos 393

Kuching, from down river. Photo, Buey Hon 394

Drawing-room, Astana. Photo, Lambert and Co. 397

Dining-room, Astana. Photo, Lambert and Co. 397

The Esplanade, Kuching. Photo, Buey Hon 399

Hospital, Kuching. Photo, Buey Hon 403

The Malay Members of Supreme Council. Photo, Buey Hon 407

The Police. Photo, Buey Hon 409

Chinese Street, Kuching. Photo, Buey Hon 413

Interior of Museum, Kuching. Photo, Buey Hon 415

Buildings in Kuching. Photo, Buey Hon 421

General Market, Kuching. Photo, Lambert and Co. 423

Chesterton House, Cirencester. Photo, W. D. Moss 424

The Borneo Company's Offices, Kuching. Photo, Buey Hon 425

A pepper garden 434

Chinese sluicing for gold. Photo, Buey Hon 436

Brooketon coal-mines. Photo, Buey Hon 437

Cyanide works at Bau. Photo, Buey Hon 438

St. Joseph's and St. Thomas's Churches. Photo, Buey Hon 439

Malay mosque. Photo, Buey Hon 439

S.P.G.'s boys' school. Photo, Buey Hon 441

S.P.G.'s girls' school. Photo, Buey Hon 442

R.C. boys' school. Photo, Buey Hon 443

Chinese temple 450

_Map at end of volume._

TITLES

SULTAN.—Supreme head of the once large Bruni Sultanate, which is now only a corner or enclave within the raj of Sarawak. Iang di Pertuan, the Lord who Rules, is the correct supreme title in Bruni, and the one most generally in use.[1]

SULTAN MUDA, heir-apparent. Lit. young Sultan, but seldom used. Iang di Pertuan Muda is the more correct Malay title. Cp. Pangiran, _infra_.

RAJAH (fem. Rani, or Ranee).—The old title of the Bruni sovereigns. It is a Sanskrit word, and means king. But in Bruni it was improperly assumed by those (male and female) of royal descent. This has fallen into disuse, that is, none of them now bears such a title, but in referring to the princes of Bruni generally the term Rajah Rajah[2] would be used. Rulers of districts were never entitled to the title _ex officio_. Such rulers are feudal chiefs with the title of Pangiran, and their chieftainship is generally hereditary.

RAJAH MUDA, heir apparent. Lit. young Rajah.

PANGIRAN is the highest Bruni title. Pangiran Muda—sometimes Pangiran Muda Besar—is another title of the heir-apparent to the Sultanate. (Rajah Muda is only used in Sarawak.) It is a Javanese title and means prince. It is not, however, now confined only to persons of royal descent as formerly, and the title has become very common, especially as illegitimate as well as legitimate children of all pangirans assume it.

DATU.—Lit. great-grandfather (by extension—ancestor). This is a high title in the Malay Peninsula, and the highest in Sarawak, but not in Bruni, though it is in Sulu. It can be conferred by the Ruler alone, and is an official title and not hereditary. It is only granted to Malays.[3]

BANDAR (Persian).—The meaning of this word is a port. Datu Bandar, one of the highest titles in Sarawak, would mean the chief of the port or town.

SHAH BANDAR means the Controller of the Customs.

BANDAHARA (Sanskrit.).—A treasurer. The Pangiran Bandahara is the chief of the four Wazirs of Bruni. The present Bandahara is Regent of Bruni.

TEMANGGONG.—Another high official title, meaning Commander-in-Chief. The Pangiran Temanggong is one of the Bruni Wazirs.

DI GADONG AND PEMANCHA.—Also high official titles, the meanings of which are uncertain. The Pangiran di Gadong and the Pangiran Pemancha are the titles of the other two Bruni Wazirs.[4]

PATINGGI (from Tinggi—elevated, exalted; hence Maha-tinggi, the most high). The Datu Patinggi was the highest or premier chief in Sarawak.

PENGLIMA.—A Malay title, also sometimes formerly given to Dayaks; means a Commander.

ORANG KAYA.—Lit. rich man. A title generally given to Malay chiefs of inferior rank and to the Dayak chiefs.

SHERIF.[5]—An Arab title meaning noble. A title assumed by half-bred Arabs claiming descent from Muhammad. These men also take the exalted Malay title of Tunku or Tungku[6] by which princes of the royal blood are alone addressed, but more especially the Sultan.

HAJI.—One who has made the pilgrimage to Mecca.

TUAN.—Master, Sir, Lord, Mistress, Lady. Tuan Besar—High Lord. Tuan Muda—Young Lord.

NAKODA.—Shipmaster, merchant.

PENGULU.—Headman. A title given to Dayak district chiefs.

INCHI.—Mister—a lower title than Tuan. A title foreign to Sarawak, and in that country only assumed by foreign Malays.

ABANG.—Lit. elder brother. Datu's sons are styled Abang, and also Malay Government chiefs below the rank of Datu.

LAKSAMANA.—An Admiral.

IMAUM.—High Priest.

HAKIM.—A Judge: lit. a learned man.

AWANG.—A title sometimes given to the sons of Pangirans.

DAYANG OR DANG.—Lady of rank. A title given to daughters of Datus and Abangs.

WAN.—Another title given to Sherifs, but more generally to their sons. It is probably derived from the Arabic word Awan, meaning a helper or sustainer of Muhammad.

The following Malay geographical terms should also be noted:—

BUKIT, a hill. DANAU, a lake. GUNONG, a mountain. PULAU, an island. SUNGI, a river. TANJONG, a cape. KAMPONG, a village, or subdivision of a town, a parish.

Footnote 1:

Sultan is a title foreign to the Court language of Bruni.—Sir Hugh Low, G.C.M.G., _Sarawak_, 1848.

Footnote 2:

_Rajah_, correctly Raja. Plural is expressed by duplication.

Footnote 3:

In Bruni this title also is now debased by being granted to all natives, Chinese included.

Footnote 4:

St. John gives the di Gadong as Minister of Revenues, and the Pemancha as Minister for Home Affairs.—_Forests of the Far East._

Footnote 5:

Pronounced by Malays Sherip, or Serip. Fem. Sheripa, Seripa. Sayid is another, though in the East less common title, assumed by descendants of the Prophet. Sir Richard Burton in his _Pilgrimage_ says the former, men of the sword, the ruling and executive branch, are the descendants of El Husayn, the Prophet's grandson; and the latter, men of the pen, religion, and politics, are descended from the Prophet's eldest grandson, El Hasan. Siti is the female title.

Footnote 6:

A corruption of Tuan-ku (Tuan aku), my Lord, as it is often so pronounced.