'British Borneo' by W. H. Treacher, is an account of British colonialism in the island of Borneo, including modern-day Brunei, Malaysia, and parts of Indonesia. The book delves into the history of the region, from the early expeditions by the Portuguese and Spanish, to the acquisition of territories by the British East India Company and the establishment of permanent British possessions. Treacher provides detailed descriptions of the different regions, including the capital city of Brunei, Sarawak, Labuan, and North Borneo, and their unique cultures, customs, and traditions. The book also explores the impact of European colonization on the region's trade, economy, and population, and the challenges faced by the British in maintaining their control. A must-read for anyone interested in the history of British colonialism in Southeast Asia.

"In 1878 a German named Overbeck and an Englishman named Dent travelled to North Borneo (now Sabah), announced to the locals that their ruler, the Sultan of Brunei, had sold all trade rights in the region, and left a young man named William Pryer to 'establish' the British North Borneo Company there. In 1894 Ada Pryer, who had married William in 1883, published her account of his early years as an administrator, along with some sketches of their life together. The result is a lively, vivid and compelling narrative." "The only book aimed at presenting North Borneo appealingly to British audiences, and thus capturing their political support for the British commercial presence there, Ada's little book functioned as a kind of immigration manual about a land where snakes were scarce and moonlight was plentiful. The memoir has value both as a travel narrative in its own right and for understanding the international politics of the British takeover of North Borneo." "This new edition reproduces the text of the original 1894 edition, and includes an introductory essay as well as annotations to explain and contextualize references of historical and biographical significance."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved

Now an energy-rich sultanate, for centuries a important trading port in the South China Sea, Brunei has taken a different direction than its Persian Gulf peers. Immigration is restricted, and Brunei’s hydrocarbon wealth is invested conservatively, mostly outside the country. Today home to some 393,000 inhabitants and comprising 5,765 square kilometers in area, Brunei first appears in the historical record at the end of the 10th century. After the Spanish attack of 1578, Brunei struggled to regain and expand its control on coastal West Borneo and to remain within the trading networks of the South China Sea. It later fell under British sway, and a residency was established in 1906, but it took the discovery of oil in Seria in 1929 before the colonial power began to establish the bases of a modern state. Governed by an absolute monarchy, Bruneians today nonetheless enjoy a high level of social protection and rule of law. Ranking second (after Singapore) in Southeast Asia in terms of standards of living, the sultanate is implementing an Islamic penal code for the first time of its history. Focusing on Brunei’s political economy, history and geography, this book aims to understand the forces behind Brunei’s to-and-fro of tradition and modernisation.