Directory_and_Chronicle_1922 — Page 1614

BRUNEI

The sovereignty of the Sultan of Brunei has been reduced to a wedge of territory of some 4,000 square miles, practically surrounded by Sarawak. With a coast line of 100 miles it embraces the Districts of Belait, Tutong, Brunei, Temburong and Labu. There is only one town of any size, Brunei or Dar-ul-Salam (city of peace), which has a population of 10,000 persons. The census of 1921 showed a total of 25,454 for the whole State. Of these some 1,500 were Chinese. The Europeans numbered 23 in Brunei Town. The town itself was formerly composed of houses built in the river on nibong piles. With the establishment of peace and order, however, the natives have gradually learned the advantages of cultivation and have migrated to terra firma, and all business in the town is now conducted on land. The Chinese have built some 30 stone and brick shops and houses, and all government buildings are on land. At Muara Damit (Brooketon), leased to Raja Brooke, there is a colliery, and a settlement of about 2,000

persons.

The land may be said to slope gradually from a backbone of mountains, of which Mount Mulu, in Sarawak territory, is the largest, towards the sea. It contains no noticeable peaks such as Kinabulu in British North Borneo. The bars at its river mouths and the rapids which occur within 30 miles and less of the sea prevent any but limited navigation. Launches drawing 5 or 6 feet can enter the Belait and Tutong rivers except in the monsoon season. Steamers drawing 12 feet can at all times reach Brunei Town, situated some 12 miles from the river mouth at Muara. The climate is damp and warm. The annual rainfall exceeds 100 inches. No marked changes of temperature occur, in which respect the country resembles the Malay Peninsula. The niglits are cool.

Roads are being made throughout the State to secure that rapid expansion which the richness of the country deserves.

A wireless telegraphic installation of the most modern type was opened in 1921, with a central station at Brunei and subsidiary stations at Labuan and in each of the districts. It will place every part of Brunei in telegraphic communication with Singapore and Europe.

Petty wars, head-hunting raids, and the jealousy of the numerous chicfs, coupled with the existence of slavery, rendered agriculture impossible in the past. Since the appointment of a resident British official, the common people have shown eagerness to take up land and plant coconuts. The rivers are fringed with the nipah palin; the forests of the interior abound in rattans; there are large areas of the sago palm, which is industriously worked by the natives and sold to Chinese traders for export to the Singapore market. The wild rubber tree, Jelutong (dyera costulata), is common, and is worked for export. Land suitable for cultivation of Para rubber (hevea brasiliensis) is alienated by the Government at an extremely low rental, and several European companies have taken out grants, and are actively proceeding with planting operations. At Brunei Town, the Island Trading Company, Ltd. has its cutch factory, employing several hundreds of hands. The value of cutch exported in 1919 was $304,249, compared with $355,300 in 1920. Coal is worked at Raja Brooke's Brooketon Collieries. In 1920, the Brooketon mines had a prosperous year. Here 28,107 tons of coal were raised, and sold at $17 per ton at Brooketon.

In 1914, payable oil was found for the first time in the State of Belait, at a depth of 1,820 ft. At first the flow was 25 tons daily, but a week's pumping test reduced this to an average of 6 tons. A recent report by the geologists of the D'Arcy Exploration Syndicate is not of an encouraging nature.

Native industries- other than sago working-are few. a certain vogue, and would be appreciated if it could be market. The women also weave silk cloths and sarongs.

Brunei silver-work enjoys expeditiously put on the

The natives are expert fishermen and the coast waters abound in excellent fish, which-with rice-form the staple diet of the people. The principal imports are piece goods, tobacco, rice, kerosene and sugar. The main exports are cutch, coal, rubber, sago and jungle produce. Para rubber was exported for the first time in 1914-about 7,000 lbs. The value of rubber exports in 1920 was $214,733. Some Chinese have begun to plant pepper, a product for which Brunei was famous 150 years ago.