Narrative of Events in Borneo and Celebes, down to the Occupation of Labuan: From the Journals of James Brooke, Esq. Rajah of Sarawak, and Governor of Labuan. Together with a Narrative of the Operations of H.M.S. Iris. by Mundy, Captain Rodney - 1848

London: John Murray, 1848. First edition, two volumes, pp.xvii, [1], 385; xi, 395, 18 plates, of which 6 are lithographs, 5 folding maps, one in colour. A good/very good, sound set bound in original red cloth, gilt. Recased, endpapers renewed, and rebacked in cloth, retaining the original spine's cloth on first volume. Internally clean. Mundy, a naval officer, formed a friendship with James Brooke when ordered in HMS Iris to assist him in suppressing piracy. He arrived in Sarawak in June 1846 with a copy of Keppel's "The Expedition to Borneo of HMS Dido..." which had just been published. Almost immediately he accompanied Brooke and Admiral Cochrane in the attack on Brunei the following month, remaining until September when he returned to Sarawak. In December 1846 Captain Mundy returned to Brunei to secure the signature of the Sultan to the Treaty ceding Labuan to Britain. He later took possession of the Island and established the Colony there. Mundy's original intention in writing this had been to refer to James Brooke's Journal of events on the Borneo coast post-dating Keppel's work. But he decided to include earlier material from the Journals as well as from his own experiences as a leading participant. This book provides a full and vivid account of both the destruction of pirates and of the several actions to force the submission of the Sultan of Brunei. In addition it gives a clear indication of James Brooke's actions and motives during this crucial period, derived from his own words written at the time. It is thus of prime historical importance in tracing the course of events and the reactions of the participants at this crucial time.