LIFE IN BORNEO.

Waikato Times, Volume 108, Issue 18140, 3 October 1930, Page 9

LIFE IN BORNEO.

HAMILTONIAN’S EXPERIENCES. A PLEASANT CLIMATE. The first impressions of a Hamiltonian of life in Sarawak, Borneo, contained in a letter to the secretary of the Frankton Football Club, make interesting reading, and dispel the old bogey that existence in these outlying settlements is almost unbearable. Giving his address as Survey Department, Kuching, Sarawak, Borneo, Mr Lyle Noakes, who last- season was ■ a prominent member of the Frankton Football Club, states that in his first week there he enjoyed many pleasant experiences. ' In Kuching, the capital of Sarawak, there are but 150 European inhabitants, 300 Sikh policemen, and thousands of Malays, Dyaks, and Chinese. ’ The writer considers Kuching far superior to Singapore, which he characterises as a town of extravagance, where everyone seems to drink more than is good for them. The inhabitants of Kuching are a fine type of people, and are not contaminated by tourist traffic. The ruler and king of Sarawak is an Englishman, Rajah Brooke, whose uncle, a very just man, came there in 1840. He made himself so indispensable to the native ruler that when the Rajah died he left Brooke as his successor. The Brooke family are still in possession, and are likely to be always, if the future Rajahs • are-as capable as their predecessors. Orderly, Contented, Happy. Sarawak Is. known as the most orderly, contented; and healthiest country throughout the East. They have an admirable medical system, and in Kuching infectious diseases are praotically unknown. Mr Noakes recalls that when he left New Zealand he had doubts as to the heat, but on arrival soon found them to be groundless. The average temperature for years has been 84 ■degrees, and as there is usually a light breeze the climate, is everything that could be desired. The evenings were similar to summer evenings in New Zealand. "We work in white duck suits during the day," he states, “and in the evening, w'hcn one can play golf, tennis, cricket or soccer (no Rugby unfortunately), or attend the club, we all dress in open shirts and shorts.” Mr Noakes expects to be in Kuching for about three months, and will then commence surveying in the jungle. \nv hopes that the writer may have entertained of big gome hunting in • Sarawak have not materialised, and, according to his letter, are never •likely to. He \vas told on inquiry that it was useless to carry a rifle in the iungle. as there was nothing to Minot. The trip from New Zealand to Borneo is fully described by Mr Noakes. The journey from Sydney to Singapore was full of incident, and i.he final stages from Singapore to Kuching occupied two days in a small boat of about 900 ton*.