but the pirates would take no quarter, and the prisoners were few.  It was a striking fact, that one of the war-boats under Mr. Brooke was manned by some thirty Malays, every one of whom had lost during the year a near relative, killed by these same pirates.  The confederacy has never risen from this defeat, and for years the tribes composing it have returned to the labors of peaceful life.  Writing twelve months afterwards to a friend, Rajah Brooke says:  “Pray keep the 31st of July apart for a special bumper, for during the last year not a single innocent life has been taken by these pirates, nor a single prahu fallen into their hands.”  Many a victory, famous in story, has accomplished less.

The next year a fleet of sixty-four prahus, manned by northern pirates, and carrying 1224 guns, was destroyed by British gunboats in the Gulf of Tonquin.  This was followed by an attack of the Spaniards upon the haunts of the Soloo pirates.  A lull ensued.  For three or four years almost nothing was heard of freebooting; but it was a deceitful calm, not a final cessation of the storm.  The freebooting spirit was not taken out of the blood of the Malay.  Now piracy is said to be on the increase again.  Only three years since six Balanini pirates had the audacity to sail into Sarawak Bay and commence depredations along its coasts.  But not one returned to tell the tale.  The whole six were captured or destroyed, and their crews killed or taken prisoners.  The only permanent remedy for the evil is just, settled, and efficient government, such as has been established at Sarawak, destroying not simply the fleets, but breaking up the piratical haunts, and with firm hand forcing their people back into the habits and pursuits of civilized life.

* * * * *

Being delivered for a time at least from these perils, the new Rajah was at liberty to devote himself to the welfare of his subjects.  It is not possible, in a brief notice, even to hint at all the events and efforts of the next fifteen years of his government,—­to say how he repressed the cupidity and lawlessness of the Malay chiefs; how he encouraged and protected the poor Dyaks; how he opened new channels for trade; how, from year to year, he resisted the fierce pirates, who, coming from the neighboring islands with strong fleets, sought to sweep the adjacent seas.  Of course the prime need was to restore confidence, and to assure to all honest workers, of every race, the gains of their industry.  The first question, indeed, of the Chinese emigrant was, “Will you protect us, or will our plantations, so soon as they are worth anything, be stripped by your chiefs?” It has been beautiful to behold order coming out of chaos, peace out of violence, whole districts redeemed from anarchy, simply by giving efficient support to the orderly part of the population.  Another object of not less importance was to create in this people something of the feeling of nationality, and to make