The pagan tribes of Borneo - Get a Free Blog Here

HISTORY OF BORNEO 23
In 1747 the Dutch East India Company, which
in 1705 had obtained a firm footing in Java, and in
1 745 had established its authority over all the northeastern
coast of that island, extorted a monopoly
of trade at Banjermasin and set up a factory.
Nearly forty years later ^ (17S5), the reigning prince"
having rendered himself odious to his subjects, the
country was invaded by 3000 natives of Celebes.
These were expelled by the Dutch, who dethroned
the Sultan, placing his younger brother on the
throne ; and he, in reward for their services, ceded
to them his entire dominions, consenting to hold
them as a vassal. This is the treaty under which
the Dutch claim the sovereignty of Banjermasin
and whatever was once dependent on it. In this
way the Dutch got a hold on the country which
they have never relaxed ; and, after the interval
during which their possessions in the East Indies
were administered by England,^ they strengthened
that hold gradually, year by year, till now twothirds
or more of the island is under their flag and
feels the benefits of their rule. If there are still
any districts of this large area where Dutch influence
has even now barely made itself felt, they will not
long remain in their isolation ; for the Controleurs
are extending their influence even into the most
remote corners of the territory.
To turn again to the north-western coast and
the doings of Englishmen, in 1763 the Sultan of
Sulu ceded to the East India Company the territory
in Borneo which had been given him when he
killed the usurper Abdul Mubin in Bruni. In 1773
a small settlement was formed on the island of
Balambangan, north of Bruni ; and in the following
year the Sultan of Bruni agreed to give this
settlement a monopoly of the pepper trade in
return for protection from piracy. In the next
^ Crawfurd, Descriptive Dictionary^ P- 37*
^ l8ii to 1S15.