Where is Pulau Emas? What is the size of Pulau Emas? Who compose its population? To whom does it belong? How many men in the streets of London would be able to answer these questions? How few would be able to tell us that Pulau Emas is the 52nd largest island in the world, with an area of 6600 square miles; and that all of this island belongs to His Highness, Sultan Raja Tuanku IV, and is under lease to the Régie Autonome des Coloniale which has begun to develop its vast resources. The population of this island, with its agricultural riches, is less than one-hundred-and-fifty-thousand souls, nearly a quarter of whom inhabit the capital of Branbrakel.
The fascinating history of Pulau Emas of European rule is by no means familiar to the British public. In 1875 this corner of the Malay Archipelago most important from its strategic position, commanding the routes athwart the sea-lanes between the East Indies and the Philippines was in danger of being acquired by a hostile foreign power, when at the eleventh hour a small body of Belgians and Englishmen leased the island from the Sultan Raja Tuanku III. Formal recognition of the status of the island was granted in 17 November 1879 by Leopold II, King of the Belgians, who agreed to act as honorary chair of the Régie Autonome.
During the 25 years which have since elapsed, the country has been redeemed from a condition of lawlessness and desolation which has left the native population peaceful and industrious. Their welfare is studiously safeguarded. Smallpox formerly devastated the country, and native population seemed doomed to annihilation but vigorous campaigns of vaccination has proved their salvation, and this and other ameliorative measures have bought about a large increase in their numbers. Forty years ago, the country was a tropical wilderness; untilled, uncared for, utterly neglected. Today it is a scene of patient toil and industry. Numerous rubber, copra and tobacco estates are scattered throughout the Territory, and its valuable timber and tin resources are being exploited. As yet however it is still in its youth as a producing country, and the next few decades will assuredly witness an immense expansion of its industrial activities.
The Directors of the Régie Autonome welcome any attempt to enlighten the British public as regards the good work which they are doing in this remote corner of the Kingdom of Belgium, under the benevolent gaze of Leopold II, King of the Belgians.
Game Play:
Welcome to MasNES I: Ghosts of Empires. In this NES players will take control of an individual on Pulau Emas (the Island of Gold), a fictional island located in the Sulu Sea between the territories of the North Borneo Chartered Company, the Dutch East Indies and the Philippines. The objective of this NES is to give players a chance to shape the future of a fictional political entity.
Players are tasked with creating their own character. At the start of the NES only a handful of selected player created characters will be present. These players (who helped with developing the NES) will help to give other potential players grounding in the setting colonial Southeast Asia.
As time goes on and the ghosts begin get hungry, new players will be able to join. If you wish to join the NES you can apply for admission at the end of each of turn, however as this NES is an experiment in maximum player control of their environment, your acceptance will hinge on player and moderator support. When creating a new character, it is strongly suggested that you take into account the current political climate of Pulau Emas.
Though this NES begins in the year 1900, with the turn of the century, the game itself will include an initial pre-NES stage where the background of Pulau Emas and the players interactions with their home will be established.
This NES will by and large be built on what the players make of it. As time goes on the rules for the NES will adjust themselves to best fit the current situation of Pulau Emas. It is likely that as Pulau Emas develops the political and economic environment will change perhaps decisively which the players will shape and be shaped by it.
I would like to thank Bombshoo for giving me the inspiration to try and a workable structure to borrow. And a shout-out is also due to Iggy who came up with the map and has proved an invaluable sounding board.
Population:
The population of Pulau Emas as recorded by the returns of the Census taken on June 1st, 1899, numbers approximately one-hundred and fifty-thousand souls of which the greater part are Malays, followed by Chinese, Europeans, Javanese, Eurasians, Japan and Arabs.
Religion:
The Malays are with few exceptions Mohammedan but of a lackadaisical sort as befits their natures. The Arabs small in number more than make up for this lack of fervor being lackadaisical of a fanatical sort. Some Malays have remained Pagans until the present day although little is known of them.
A small Christian community among the commercial classes of the natives. More numerous are the poor village 'Christians' who have attached themselves to the Protestant and Roman Church as a means to advance their material station.
By law Eurasians must be Christian as befits their station. Europeans, naturally, are all Christian.
Some Chinese have become Mohammedans and in doing so have begun to be absorbed into the Malay race and creed. Most are Buddhists and Confucians of a vague sort. A small number are Christians but these are mostly to be found among the better sorts.
Economy:
Labour:
All manual labour is performed by Asiatics. The nationalities so employed are Malays, Chinese and Javanese.
The Malays of the island do not figure prominently among the labouring classes. He undertakes little work for hire beyond the felling of jungle and the management of boats. He is mostly concerned about his own affairs and does not enter into competition with the immigrant labouring classes. A small number of Malays live a nomadic life on the sea and are usually called Sea Gypsies. There are also some Pagan Malays who live in the interior although they are little documented.
Chinese are the most numerous and the most important class of labourers. They will undertake almost any class of work, from the high grade-handiwork of the skilled artisan in wood and metal to the drudgery of the most menial offices. The labour of the mines in the island is almost wholly composed of Chinese, but they seldom work as agricultural labourers, except on their own account as vegetable gardeners, or for employers of their own nationality. When engaged on road and railway work, the arrangement is usually made with the headman on behalf of his gang of coolies, and not with the men individually. Chinese labour is more satisfactorily utilised on piece-work or contract than on daily wages. Except in the case of domestic servants, it is usually difficult to persuade them to accept work otherwise than on those terms.
The Javanese are not numerous in comparison with the Chinese or Malays. They are fairly reliable labourers and are more amenable to European control than the Chinese, and therefore, form the bulk of the labour force employed by the Government and by planters and contractors. Their remuneration generally takes the form of daily wages payable monthly. They are the best coolies for road and estate work.
A small number of Arabs live in the island mostly as merchants and to a lesser extent as Mohammedan holy men. These are dangerous men for they excite the natives to great fevers of religion which have upon occasion harmed the prestige of the Company.
Eurasians are small in number and so faculty as clerks, policemen and as work gang bosses. Eurasians should not be promoted to positions of managerial authority or be placed in charge of large sums of monies. They are best paid on a monthly basis.
Europeans naturally hold the positions of authority and importance.
Agriculture:
Pulau Emas offers the planter the following natural advantages: -
(i.) A fertile soil, varying in composition according to locality, but almost uniformly possessed of the substances necessary to ensure a strong and rapid growth.
(ii.) A moist, forcing heat, varying but little throughout the year.
(iii.) An abundant and regular rainfall.
(iv.) An immense acreage of virgin soil, hitherto untouched, available for planting at any elevation up to four thousand feet.
The following products can be cultivated with success: -
Coffee, tea, sugar, pepper, sago, rice, rubber, coconuts, bananas, tapioca and various kinds of native fruits.
Mining:
Mining for alluvial tin ore is the principal industry carried on in much of the country. As already stated, Chinese labour is almost universally employed in this work.
The normal method of tin mining is more profitably pursued by Chinese than Europeans and involves manual dredging the tin laden earth before separating it via panning and other laborious processes.
Mining for tin by hydraulic power has been introduced by Europeans and is very successful, but requires a large outlay of capital. The water is carried for some miles through iron pipes of about nine inches in diameter, and is force against the hillside, washing the mud down the hill and leaving the ore behind with a minimum of labour.
Some gold has been discovered in alluvial deposits although this not found in sufficient quantities to be profitably extracted by Europeans.
Government:
In 1875 the Sultan signed a treaty handing administrative powers over to the Board of the Régie Autonome who are allowed to make binding decisions upon all residents of the islands, save in matters which touch upon the native's customs or religions matters which are properly vested with the Sultan.
The system works as such: the Chairman is the highest authority in the Régie Autonome who is vested with the direction of affairs in all of the island and who is answerable only to the board which is based in Belgium.
He is assisted by a staff of Company Officers resident on the islands to whose hands is entrusted supervision of the principal departments of the states being Finance, Lands, Mines, Public Works, Railways, Police and Native Affairs.
The staff also includes the Judicial Officer who is the highest legal authority, the Commander of the Malay Native Rifles, the Protector of Eurasians, the Protector of Chinese, the Chief Medical Officer. Other such staff are also recruited as required.
The Sultan also retains a small staff which while inferior persons are accorded some respect. These include a Mufti who is the chief Mohammedan religious official and usually an Arab, sometimes versed in the Arab script, a sort of Majordomo who manages the royal finances, lands and household and a Native Minister who administers the native law and ensures that the Sultan is given the respect due to him.
Military:
The military of the island consists of a company of native rifles which are also the police and a squadron of horse which function as equerries to His Majesty the Sultan.
Budget:
The total revenue of the island in the year 1899 was $3,533,100 which were collected from customs, excise (inclusive of the opium farm) and land revenue.
The total expenses was $3,321,977 which was spent primarily on wages, roads and the railroad.
Trade:
It was estimated in 1899 that imports were $9,754,073 and exports $12,844,129 with the main items of imports being manufactures, food and alcohol while the main exports were tin, timber, sugar and rubber.
Social:
No European should remain in the Indies for longer than longer than four years otherwise the stress will tell. Normally, even though fairs are expensive and the journey long, all staff of the Régie Autonome are sent home for a year at the end of each three year spell. Those who remain longer risk getting into a groove and if one spends too long "mental sloth" a most peculiar disease of the East which saps the will and weakens one's moral fiber.
There are only seven hundred and fifty Europeans in the Régie Autonome with perhaps two hundred and fifty employed by the Company with most being district officers and the balance comprised of planters and merchants. There are a small number of professionals and fewer than one European women for every five European men. It is a scandalous truth that many planters and servants of the Company keep native women and sometimes Chinese women as housekeepers for want of a decent European women to marry.
It is hard to get good help, and once found, should be paid well. An ordinary household consists of one cook, one or two houseboys, a water carrier and a gardener. Chinese make good cooks and gardeners when old. Javanese should be employed as houseboys and water carriers. Malays should not be employed for the house but are serviceable for outdoors work, especially those involving water, and the maintenance of horses. It is advised that young female servants not be hired because of the risk they pose to European morals and those of the staff. Older women make fine cooks and may be trusted to take care of European children.
House are usually raised, and have wooden shingles for roofing. In fact the whole house is constructed of wood save the ground floor which is of beaten earth or in better appointed houses laid stone. The ground floor contains the kitchen although this may be housed in a separate building to reduce the smells and other emanations. The house usually has two or three bedrooms set around a central living area with wide balconies, and large open louvered windows, to let in the breeze. Bathrooms are attached to each bedroom although ones bath usually involves pouring a dipper over oneself. Servant quarter are usually in a separate complex detached from the main house.
It is recommended that Europeans purchase a new wardrobe in the Indies or Ceylon. Tweed is not recommended but thin flannel and serge is suitable. These are only worn for parties. A white drill suit is used for office work and a khaki suit is the usual rig for work outdoors. A pith hat, a soft felt cap and a straw hat are a must. Leather boots get 'tropical rot' and must be replaced regularly.
If care is taken tropical diseases can be managed. Malarial fever is normal and should be expected. For most, it takes a mild form and is amenable to treatment. Typhoid fever occurs sometimes and is of a serious nature. Cholera occurs but usually kills the Chinese who live closely together. Dysentery and diarrhea are common and should be expected. Diet and exercise are powerful correctives to all of these issues.
Where one finds a few Britons together sport and gaming are the usual outcomes. The island is no different. Cricket is played regularly and football is universally played by Europeans of all nationalities. The Eurasian community small though it is plays football in its own clubs separate from the European ones. Tennis is popular and so is hunting. Birds are the usual quarry although some elephants, deer, pigs and rather a lot of crocodiles are shot.
There are clubs in all the settlements situated near the sports grounds. They are patronised by both sexes and are closed to non-Europeans. Eurasians have their own clubs and natives do not appreciate civilisation although that may change in time. Billiard and bridge are also common games. Dances, concerts and plays are also common being usually held on a monthly basis.
fresh starts more if there was some correspondence to early history cultures. 
