BORNEO.
After Australia this island is the largest in the world. It extends from about 7 deg. N. to 4 deg. S. latitude, and from 109 deg. to 118 E. longitude. Its length is about 750 miles, its greatest breadth 600 miles, and its average breadth is estimated at 350 miles. Its vast interior consists of almost impenetrable forests, which teem with animal life, but are sparsely populated by man. The soil is exuberantly fertile, but in many parts near the coast the land is marshy, low, and unhealthy. Borneo ranks lowest of all the East Indian islands in the scale of civilisation, and the greater portion of it is still a mere wilderness. It was discovered by the Portuguese in 1526, and they as well as the Spaniards, Dutch, and English formed settlements on different parts of the coast, but none of these were long maintained. The Dutch claim sovereignty over the greater part of the south and west of the island, along the coast of which they maintain establishments; the territories of the North Borneo Company, the Sultan of Brunei, and the Rajah of Sarawak extend over and along the north and north-eastern coast. The native states are insignificant and in a most backward condition. The total population of Borneo is roughly estimated at 3,000,000. The productions are many and varied, and its mineral resources believed to be very great. The Chinese, who have been settled in most Bornean towns for generations, ɔnduct all the trading operations. The country generally is in a most undeveloped condi- tion. The natives are of the Malayan type, and are, as a rule, indolent and wanting in enterprise.
SABAH (BRITISH NORTH BORNEO).
The territory of Sabah, situated at the northern end of the island of Borneo, contains an area of some 20,000 square miles and has a coast line of about 500 miles. The indigenous population is estimated to number about 150,000, located chiefly on the West coast. It is composed principally of an inoffensive race known as Dusuns, who live a quiet lazy life, subsisting on rice, tapioca, bananas, Indian corn, sweet potatoes, and the like, cultivation of which makes the smallest call on their energies. The chief geographical feature in the territory is the mountain of Kina Balu, nearly 14,000 feet high. A large lake until lately shown on all maps of Borneo has been proved to have no existence. The principal rivers on the West coast are those of Kimanis, Papar, and Pandassan; on the East there are the Kina-Batangan, Labuk, Sibucu, Paitan, Sugut, Sigalind, Sigamah, and many others. The best harbours are those of Gaya on the West coast, Kudat on the North, and Sandakan and 'unbun Mata on the East.
The climate is particularly pleasant for the tropics; the days are rarely very hot, while a blanket is often required at night; and in many places, particularly on the East coast, very little inconvenience is experienced from insect pests, such as mosquitoes and the like. Hurricanes, earthquakes, and other natural disturbances are unknown. The seas are teeming with fish and the prospects of an export trade
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