(Signed on 24th of September, 1841)
This agreement made in the year of the Prophet one thousand two hundred and fifty seven at twelve o’ clock on Wednesday the thirteenth day of the month of Rejab showed that with a pure heart and high integrity PANGERAN MUDA HASSIM son of the late Sultan Muhammad hereby transfer to JAMES BROOKE Esquire the Government of Sarawak the dependencies thereof its revenues and all its future responsibilities. Moreover he James Brooke Esquire shall be the sole owner of its revenues and will be alone responsible for the public expenditure necessary for the good of Sarawak.
Moreover James Brooke Esquire acting with the same integrity and pureness of heart accepts This Agreement as set forth and further undertakes from the date hereof to pay to the Sultan of Brunei one thousand dollars to the Pangeran one thousand dollars to the Pettinggi three hundred dollars to the Bandar one hundred and fifty dollars and to the Temonggong one hundred dollars.
Moreover James Brooke Esquire undertakes that the laws and customs of the Malays of Sarawak shall be forever be respected since the country of Sarawak has hitherto being subject to the government of the Sultan of Brunei the Pangeran Muda and Malayan rajas.
Moreover should intrigues arise within or without the State of State of Sarawak detrimental to its intetests whether caused by peoples or princes or rulers who may be inimical to Sarawak the Sultan and his brother the Pangeran shall uphold James Brooke Esquire as the lawfully appointed Ruler of Sarawak subject to no interference by any other persons.
Moreover the Pangeran Muda and James Brooke Esquire do themselves make this Contract and the Pangeran agrees to relinquish all further activities in the Government of Sarawak except as may be carried out by the consent of James Brooke Esquire and anything which they may be carried out by the consent of James Brooke Esquire and anything which they may severally or individually do in regard to the Government of Sarawak must be in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
Written in Sarawak on the night of Friday the second day of Shaaban 1257 at ten o’ clock.
Commentary: Raja Muda Hassim, uncle of the sultan of Brunei, agreed to transfer the government and revenue of a small territory at the north western end of Borneo known as Sarawak on the conditions Brooke make annual payments, preserve existing laws and customs, and refrain from interfering in religious affairs.
