The Borneo Question; Or, The Evidence Produced at Singapore  By India. Commissioners Charged With the Enquiry Into the Facts Relating to Sir James Brooke pages 19-20.

 

SATURDAY, 23RD, SEPTEMBER 1854.

GEORGE JULIUS DARE, Ship Chandler, Singapore, called by Mr Woods.

Q. MR WOODS. You sailed many years on this side of the Cape of Good Hope? A. Yes.

Q. Can you tell us how many years you have sailed East of the Cape altogether? A. From 1823 to 1839 out of Calcutta to China &c., and from 1840 till 1845 I sailed between this port and China.

Q. Since then I think you have been settled here on shore? A. In 1845 I went home and returned in 1846, I have been settled on shore here since February 1848.

Q. You have commanded several vessels in the trade between this and China? A. Yes.

Q. How many? A. Three.

Q. During the time you have commanded these vessels have you ever visited the Coast of Borneo? A. Never.

Q. By what passage did you proceed to China? A. Principally up and down to China Sea,—occasionally, twice I think, by the Eastern passage.

Q. Now as Master of a vessel I suppose it teas part of your duty to make yourself acquainted about pirates? A. I don't know whether it was a duty, but it is natural for every Master of a vessel to do so, the Eastern Seas being much talked, about as infested by them.

Q. Will you tell the Commissioners the particular name or description of the pirates you ever heard of in these Seas? A. Malays, Illanese and Balignini and we knew them as pirates in the Eastern Seas,

Q. Did you ever hear of any persons on the Coast of Borneo, called Dyaks being pirates? A. Yes, when Sir James Brooke's Expedition against them in 1849 or 50 took place, in which the Nemesis was concerned.

Q. Did you ever whilst you commanded a vessel fall in with any description of pirates? A. Yes, I fell in with a fleet of 5 prahus which chased me about three hours in the Southren entrance of Macassar Straits.

Q. In what year was that? A. I think in 1843. Q. Will you describe to the Commissioners the prahus you were chased by? A. I could not tell what country they belonged.

Q. Were they large or small? A. I should think they were boats carrying from 50 to 60 men each.

Q. Had they masts and sails? A. Yes.

Q. Was their form like a Malay prahu or canoe? A. Like Malay prahus, or Illanese.

Q. They did not attack you? A. No.

Q. What became of them? A. When they got within about a mile of me they lowered their sails down altogether in a lump and seemed to have a consulation, there being a small boat pulling from one to another, and upon a vessel called the Maia closing on me, coming up with a breeze, they made sail and went in another direction.

Q. You remember in 1849 there was much discussion about an expedition against the Sakarah and Serebas Dyaks on the Coast of Borneo? A. Yes.

Q. That was the Expedition in which the "Albatross" and the "Nemesis" were engaged? A. Yes.

Q. Did you know the Captain and the Officers of the “Nemesis"? A. Yes.'

Q. Did you ever speak with them upon the subject of that Expedition? A. Yes.

Q. Did they speak among each other about the subject— whether they considered the Expedition justifiable or unjustifiable? A. I heard them speak about the Expedition.

The Commisioners declined to receive the testimony of Mr Dare as to the conversations of these officers, after hearing Mr. Woods's argument for its admission, remarking that, if necessary, the evidence of the officers could be taken in Calcutta, and Mr .Woods then desired that a note might appear upon the minutes of his having tendered the evidence.

Q. Commissioners. You are one of the persons who signed the Memorial of Mr. Hume[1]? A. Yes.

Q. Did you authorise this description of yourself—" G. J. Dare, Ship-chandler, sole partner in the firm of G. J. Dare & Co., late Master of the "Masdeu," "John Bagshaw" and other vessels, and has sailed exclusively in the Archipelago for 10 years."? A. No, it must have been added, I did not authorize it—I never traded in the Eastern Archipelago—my voyages have all been to China.

Q. Were you aware of that description having been appended to your signature? A. Not until about a week ago, when a gentleman told me.

Q. You have no personal knowledge of the character of the people of the West Coast of Borneo? A. None.

Mf Woods said if the Commissioners would allow him he would explain how this confusion about the signatures had arisen. After the original memorial to Mr Hume was signed, his Clerk copied the names in a legible hand on a separate sheet of paper, and he (Mr Woods) added the descriptions from his own knowledge and from the information of others. This was transmitted to Mr Hume with the original memorial and Mr Hume was also referred to gentlemen who had been long resident in Singapore for information regarding the persons who had signed the memorial. How this paper had been substituted for the original signatures in the copy of the memorial laid before Parliament, Mr Woods could not account lor, and he could only refer to Mr Hume for an explanation.

The Commissioners observed that Mr Woods would have an opportunity of offering an explanation when he himself was examined.

Some Chinese Merchants here presented an Address to the Commissioners, signed by themselves and a number of other Chinese interested in the trade with Borneo. It was arranged that they should procure a translation of the Address which the Commissioners could afterwards verify by means of the Court Interpreters. It was understood that this Address was favorable to Sir James Brooke.