The expedition to Borneo of H. M. S. Dido

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The visit of her majesty's ship Dido to Borneo and its anti-pirate efforts occupy a small portion of this volume, necessitating an explanation for its title. I persuaded my friend Mr. Brooke to share his Journal for public interest by incorporating these events into the narrative. Given his significant role as a ruler in Borneo and the European curiosity surrounding it, I felt compelled to trace his remarkable journey to that position. Thus, I overcame my reluctance to recount events in which I was involved, addressing Mr. Brooke's hesitations about authoring an autobiographical sketch of such a unique period in his life, which I have extracted from his rough notes. I hope my efforts demonstrate that his diffidence was unfounded, despite my less-than-perfect execution during a lengthy sea voyage home. With the increasing interest in Borneo and the surrounding archipelago, I believe that the information presented will complement the tale of personal adventure effectively.