Rajah's nephew, and moved into a small bungalow in Kuching on a hill above the Sarawak River known as Bukit Mata. From 1852 to 1856 he worked for McEwan and Company trading primarily in sago and antimony. In 1856, the BCL was formed and Helms was selected by the directors to be the company's manager in Sarawak, although Rajah Brooke favored Spenser St. John. His staff originally consisted of a Chinese Cook and a native clerk named Abdullah. Helms spent much time exploring the Sarawak interior in search of minerals, and vividly describes the Borneo rivers, jungles, and natives he encountered in his book Pioneering in the Far East, including many illustrations. As the Sarawak manager for the BCL, Helms prospected or traded for antimony, sago, quicksilver, gold, diamonds, gutta percha, coal, timber, and other resources. He would eventually be replaced as manager by W.G. Brodie in 1872. 1857 Chinese Insurrection Helms was in Kuching during the February 1857 Chinese Insurrection against Rajah James Brooke, and recounted his experiences in Pioneering through the anonymous diary of a friend, who is now known to be fellow BCL employee Paul Tidman. During the initial attack Helms retreated to a nearby Malay village, where he unsuccessfully attempted to organize a defense, and the next day he returned to Kuching and was forced to attend a meeting with the leaders of the insurrection, along with Bishop Francis McDougall, Tidman, and Mr. George Ruppell (Rajah Brooke's Treasurer). During the meeting the Chinese attempted to appoint him as Rajah (thinking Rajah Brooke dead), an honor which Helms declined. He later was able to assist other Europeans in Kuching, and avoid being taken hostage by the Chinese as they retreated up the river. He then went downriver for help, and assisted the women and children in evacuating. At one point Helms and Tidman were directed by Rajah Brooke to "offer the country on any terms to the Dutch", which he fortunately did not have to do; he was on the BCL Steamer Sir James Brooke when it re-took Kuching. He then sailed at the Rajah's request to Sambas to inform the Dutch of the Insurrection, and then to Singapore, where he met with Admiral Henry Keppel, who sent a warship as a demonstration of force. Marriage to Anne Amelia Bruce On June 19, 1858, he sailed for the UK, via Bali and Australia, to recover his health