List of Illustrations VII
Abbreviations X
Currency Values, Weights and Measurements XI
Glossary XII
Introduction 1
Part 1
Submarine Telegraphy: The Forces of Science and Commerce
1
The Significance of Gutta Percha and the Rise of Submarine Telegraphy 17
Gutta Percha and Its Significance 17
The Development and Significance of Submarine Telegraphy 22
2
Gutta Percha and the Challenge of Submarine Telegraphy 39
Gutta Percha and Submarine Telegraphy – The Early Years 39
Growth Years of Submarine Telegraphy and Its Dependence upon Gutta Percha 53
3
The Rise and Challenges of the Gutta Percha Trade 60
The Lands of Plenty: Southeast Asia and Regional Trade 60
The European Hunt for Gutta Percha 67
4
Factory to Forest: Opportunity at the Periphery 95
Singapore and the Development of the Gutta Percha Trade 96
The Trade Comes to Sarawak via Singapore 110
Part 2
Power, Profit and the Periphery
5
The Gutta Percha Trade of Sarawak 135
Sarawak, Its People and the Brooke Administrations 135
Significance and Growth of the Gutta Percha Trade in Sarawak 147
6
The Trade Network 158
Overland Trade Paths 190
Trade Venues: Bazaars and Outports 197
Credit and Barter 202
7
Impact of the Gutta Percha Trade – Opportunity 208
Interaction with the External Market 209
The Changing Nature of Sarawak Imports 212
Prestige Goods or Pusaka 225
8
Impact of the Gutta Percha Trade – Change and Challenge 241
Monetization 241
Changing Social Relations and the Gutta Percha ‘Wars’ 246
9
Conclusions 267
Appendix 1 Gutta Percha 279
Appendix 2 Statistical Material 286
References 298
Index 326