In 1843 Henry Keppel, captain of S. M. S. Dido, and James Brooke, the new Rajah of Sawarak, meet in Singapore. When Keppel learns from Brooks about the serious problem of piracy in Malaysia, he decides to follow him to Borneo and to help his new friend to take actions against pirates. In his travel diary for the years 1843 to 1846 Keppel describes Brooke's campaign against piracy and his own role in solving the conflicts. The focus of his journal, however, is rather on the description of Borneo. Keppel gives the reader his impressions of the island and its people and local customs. His report is supplemented by a portrayal of James Brookes, based on extracts from Brooke's own journal.Reprint of the original edition from 1846.

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The visit of her majesty's ship Dido to Borneo, and her services against the pirates, occupy comparatively so small a portion of this volume, that some excuse may be necessary for its leading title. It was only by undertaking to make the account of them part of the narrative, that I could prevail upon my friend Mr. Brooke to intrust me with his Journal for any public object; and when I looked at his novel and important position as a ruler in Borneo, and was aware how much of European curiosity was attached to it, I felt it impossible not to consent to an arrangement which should enable me to trace the remarkable career through which he had reached that elevation. I hope, therefore, to be considered as having conquered my own disinclination to be the relater of events in which I was concerned, in order to overcome the scruples which he entertained against being the author of the autobiographical sketch, embracing so singular a portion of his life, which I have extracted from the rough notes confided to me. That his diffidence in this respect was groundless will, I trust, be apparent from these pages, however indifferently I may have executed my unusual task, during a long homeward sea-voyage; and, from the growing interest which has arisen throughout the country for intelligence on the subject of Borneo and the adjacent archipelago, I venture also to indulge the belief that the general information will be deemed no unfit adjunct to the story of personal adventure.