ns, called _The
Swift_, which he had laden with a suitable cargo. Upon its arrival at
Sar[=a]wak, the rajah petitioned to have the cargo ashore, assuring Mr
Brooke of a good and quick return: part of such return being immediately
promised in the shape of antimony ore. Three months elapsed, and the
rajah's share in this mercantile transaction had yet to be fulfilled.
Disgusted with his treatment, and hopeless of justice, Mr Brooke
dispatched the _Swift_ to Singapore; and hearing that the crew of a
shipwrecked vessel were detained in Borneo Proper, sent his only
remaining vessel, the _Royalist_, to the city of Borneo, in order to
obtain such information as might lead to the rescue of his countrymen.
"I resolved," the journal informs us, "to remain here, to endeavour, if
I could, to obtain _my own_. Each vessel was to return as quickly as
possible from her place of destination; and I then determined to give
two additional months to the rajah, and to urge him in every way in my
power to do what he was bound to do as an act of common honesty. Should
these means fail, after making the strongest representations, and giving
amplest time, I considered myself free to extort by force what I could
not gain by fair means."

"I need hardly remark," writes Captain Keppel, "on the singular courage
and disregard of personal safety, and life itself, evinced by my friend
on this occasion. At issue with the rajah on points of great temptation
to him, beset by intrigues, and surrounded by a fierce and lawless
people, Mr Brooke did not hesitate to dispatch his vessels and
protectors,--the one on a mission of pure humanity, and the other in
calm pursuance of the objects he had proposed to himself to accomplish;
and, with three companions, place himself at the mercy of such
circumstances, regardless of the danger, and relying on the overruling
Providence in which he trusted, to bring him safely through all his
difficulties and perils."

On the 16th of August 1841, the Royalist returned, and three days
afterwards it was followed by the Swift. The former reported that the
prisoners had been heard of in Borneo, but, unfortunately, not released.
The Swift was accompanied by the Diana steamer. The formidable squadron
alarmed the rajah and his ministers. Mr Brooke learned that the
difficulties of the rajah's situation were increased, and his conduct
towards himself, in a manner, excused, by the intrigues and evil doings
of the latter. Macota, of w