orthwith, and bring
matters to a crisis. Loading the _Royalist's_ guns, and bringing them
to bear, he went ashore with an armed party to the Raja's palace, and
at once pointed out to him Pangeran Makota's treachery. He went on to
say that Makota's presence in the country was dangerous both to the
safety of the Raja and the Government, and announced his determination
of expelling him from it. Brooke concluded by saying that a large
force of Dyaks were at his call, and the only way to prevent bloodshed
was to instal him Governor then and there.

This speech, and the determined way in which it was spoken, decided
Muda Hasim. Brooke's terms were unconditionally accepted, and Makota
outlawed. An agreement was signed by the Raja making over the
government of Sarawak and its dependencies to Brooke, on his
undertaking to pay a small annual tribute to the Sultan of Brunei, and
this document having been duly signed by the latter, Brooke was
proclaimed Raja of Sarawak on the 24th September, 1841.

From this day matters mended, and under the influence of a just
government the country soon showed signs of improvement. In 1847 Raja
Brooke went to England for a while, and was there received with great
honours. Among others he received the order of knighthood while on a
visit to Windsor Castle; and the freedom of the City of London was
presented to him in recognition of his deeds in Borneo. He was not
long away, however, from his adopted country, returning to Sarawak
early the following year.

Sarawak now steadily progressed, and the revenue, which in the first
year of Brooke's accession, was next to nothing, began to show a
considerable increase. Several Englishmen also were employed by the
Raja to maintain order throughout his dominions. An incident, however,
occurred in 1857, which, had it not been for the prompt and decisive
action shown by the Raja's Government, might have led to serious
consequences.

A colony of Chinese (of whom great numbers had come into Sarawak on
the accession of Sir James) had settled at Bau, a short distance above
Kuching, on the Sarawak river, for the purpose of working gold. These
men were members of a "Hue," or Chinese secret society, and,
instigated by the three chiefs or leading members thereof, determined
to attack Kuching, overthrow the Raja's government, and seize the
country.

Descending the river in twenty-five large boats, some 600 strong, and
fully armed, they reached the capital about m