18世紀,西婆羅洲的各蘇丹國進口大量華人苦力到南洋挖掘金礦與錫礦,由於有荷蘭殖民者進行騷擾,所以當地有華人社團從廣東招請團練,來到南洋擔當類似保鑣或傭兵的角色,逐漸形成所謂「公司」的組織。又以客家人族群由於習武風氣盛又相當團結有嚴格紀律,故頗受歡迎,影響力甚大,當中勢力最大的是蘭芳公司。根據荷蘭學者Veth等人的說法,大約在十八世紀四十年代,婆羅洲喃吧哇(Mampawa)酋長首次從汶萊招募十幾名華人開發當地金礦,結果非常成功,三發(英語:Sultanate of Sambas)(今三發縣)蘇丹也跟著效倣。[5]
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來源:蘭芳公司歷代年冊 Groot, J.J.M. (1885), Het Kongsiwezen van Borneo: eene verhandeling over den grondslag en den aard der chineesche politieke vereenigingen in de koloniën, The Hague: M. Nijhof.Page 53
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