Mss Eur C36

pp. 159˗161: J. C. Ross to Sir T. S. Raffles. London,

17th Jany 1825. “Herewith I send for your acceptance the

rough sketch of the remarks which I formerly submitted to

your notice. . . . Should my testimony appear requisite .. .

you will reckon on my giving it in the fullest manner ... .

I can speak to the whole detail of Banjermassin affairs from

personal observation ....”

(a) pp. 163˗219: “The Island Borneo appears to have been

nearly in the same state or condition as to Civilisation ....

Messrs Hunt & Crawford [Crawfurd] who seem to have been much

more active in discovering and exaggerating the wrong

proceedings of the Europeans than was consistent with

historic impartiality. . . . But that the condition of Borneo as

described in the Friend of India, vizt ‘Peaceful abounding

in riches ... and carrying on ... that extensive commerce

which precluded every Idea of piracy, &c.’ It is my belief

that such a state never existed . . . except in the imagination

of Mr Hunt & the Editor of the Friend of India. As for

Mr Crawford’s work it is ... only an abridged one (history)

of Java with cursory notices of the other Islands & making

up for its deficiencies by oratorical flourishes ....” After

this preamble he describes Borneo, its physical features, its

mineral riches & vegetable products, its people & their

habits & religion.”

(b) pp. 219˗236: Extracts from a Journal kept by John

Clunies Ross. Begins, “Novr 1810 Joined the South Sea

Whaler Baroness Longueville as Harpooner. . .. May 1812

put into Coupang [Kupang] in the Island Timor ... lay the H.C.

chartered brig Olivia in want of a Commander˗˗being

applied to by the Resident Mr Joseph Burn ... I joined

the Olivia ... proceeded to Macassar, Bima and Batavia ... .

1813 received on board 80 convicts, &c., for Banjermassin ... .

Mr Hare [Resident at Banjermassin] proposed to me that I should take charge of the

gun vessels &c. attached to the Bornean establishment. . . .

The settlement was abandoned just at the moment when all

difficulties had been overcome Van de Waht’s treachery