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, Sibuku, Paitan, Sugut, Sigalind, Sigama and many others. The best harbours are those of Gaya on the West coast, Kudat on the North, and Sandakan and Timbur Mata on the East.
The climate is particularly pleasant for the tropica; 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 in dried and salted fish are encouraging. The fact of the country, especially in the neighbourhood of Sandakan, being very sparsely inhabited offers particular facilities for planters as preventing any chance of complications with the natives, while the harbour lying almost directly in the track of the Australian steamers, it is hoped that large quantities of sugar, pepper, cocoa, sago, &c. may be grown for direct shipment to Bydney, Adelaide, and other ports. Several thousand acres have been applied for already in the neighbourhood of Sandakan, chiefly for the cultivation of sugar. Amongst the zoological productions of Sabah are to be noted elephants, rhinoceros, deer of three kinds, buffalo (Bos Ghaur as well as Bos Banleng probably), pigs, bears, &c. There are pythons of 20 feet and upwards in length, but other anakes, particularly poisonous varieties, are very rare. Of game birds there are a few, Argus, Fire back, and Bulwer pheasants, three sorts of partridges, many pigeons and doves, snipe and quail.
Kudat, the principal seat of residence of His Excellency the Governor, is situated in Marudu Bay at the extreme north of the territory, and was selected on account of its central situation giving command of both coasts. It is but newly opened, and it is expected that a good deal of the trade of Palawan as well as that of its own district will be attracted to it.
Elopura, in the magnificent harbour of Sandakan, is the chief place of trade. The imports include cloth, rice, hardware, manufactured goods of all kinds, opium, Chinese tobacco, Chinese coarse crockery, matches, biscuits (a great many biscuits are consumed by the numerous produce collecting parties up country), oil, sugar, &c. The chief exports from Sabah are rattans, gutta-percha, india-rubber, birdsnests, seed pearls, trepang, sharksfins, camphor, tortoiseshell, dried cuttle fish, beeswax, and other natural products. These are brought in from the numerous rivers, the neighbouring Sulu Archipelago, &c. It is an interesting fact that both the exports and imports have almost doubled every year by year since the occupation of the country six years ago, and it was estimated the revenue of 1884 would be 40 per cent. higher than that of 1883.
The territory of Sabah was acquired from the Sultans of Brunei and Sulu by cession for a small annual payment in 1879-80, and the British North Borneo Com- pany was incorporated by Royal Charter on the 1st November, 1881.