Directory_and_Chronicle_1934 — Page 1711

BRUNEI

The State of Brunei comprises an area of some 2,500 sq. miles, with a coast line of about 100 miles and lies between 4° 5' and 5° 2' N. Latitude and 114° 7' and 115° 22' E. Longitude. Brunei Town is distant by sea 758 nautical miles from Singapore. There is only one town of any size, Brunei or Darul-Salam (City of Peace) which is situated 12 miles from the mouth of the Brunel River at Muara and showed a popula- tion of 30,135 in the 1931 census. Prior to 1910 it consisted entirely of Malay houses built on nibong piles in the river but it now includes a strip of the mainland, mostly reclaimed, on which all Government buildings, shophouses and many private houses have been erected.

CLIMATE

The climate is pleasant and healthy without any marked changes of temperature. During the day the temperature lies between 80° to 90° Fahrenheit but a light breeze is generally blowing which moderates its heat. At night the temperature usually falls below 80°.

The average annual rainfall varies between 100 to 200 inches for different part of the State.

HISTORY

A State named Puni, 45 days' sail from Java, is mentioned several times in the annals of the Sung dynasty, which ruled over Southern China from about 960 to 1280 A.D., and it is practically certain that this is Brunei. In the 13th and 14th centuries Brunei owed allegiance alternately to Mejaphit and Malacca. The Sultanata rose to great power in the early years of the 16th century in the reign of Nakhoda Ragam and its authority extended not only over the Northern part of the island of Borneo but over the Sulu Islands and part of the Philippines.

The first European account of Brunei is that of Pigafetta, who sailed with Magellan on his famous voyage around the world and wrote his impressions of the various lands visited. Pigafetta saw Brunei in 1521 and was greatly impressed by the splendour of the Court and the size of the town, the population of which he estimated at 25,000 families.

Towards the end of the 16th century the power of Brunei began to decline and by the middle of 19th century it had fallen hopelessly into decay and only a small part of its former territory remained. At this period the Town of Brunei seems to have been a profitable slave market for the captives of the Illanun and Sulu pirates on the coasts of Borneo. Sarawak was ceded to Sir James Brooke in 1841 and concessions were made at later dates to the British North Borneo Company and to the Sarawak Government till Brunei has been reduced to its present boundaries.

In 1888, the Sultan agreed that Great Britain should control his foreign relations and in 1906 a new agreement was made, whereby a British Resident was appointed who became the Agent and Representative of His Britannic Majesty's Government under the High Commissioner for the Malay States and whose advice must be asked and acted upon in all questions other than those touching Mohammedam religion. This followed the system existing in the States of the Malay Peninsula under British protection.

GOVERNMENT

The Sultan is the Ruler of the State of Brunei. The present Sultan is His High- ness Ahmed Tajudin Akhazul Khairi Wadin Ibni Almerhum Sultan Mohammed Jemal- ul-Aham, K.C.M.G., who succceded his father in 1924 at the age of 11 years. During his minority the Duli Pengiran Bendahara and Duli Pengiran Pemancha were appointed to act as joint Regents. On September 19, 1931 His Higness the Sultan assumed full power and the Regency terminated. und

The administration of Government is in the hands of the British Resident who is invariably an officer of the Malayan Civil Service with his headquarters at Brunei. The State is divided into five administrative districts, Brunei, Belait, Tutong, Temburong and Muara. These districts were all formerly in the charge of Malay

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