Directory_and_Chronicle_1921 — Page 1550

LABUAN RECREATION CLUB

LABUAN--BRUNEI

President-G. E. Cator Committee -E. Roberts, J. S. Mont- gomery, A. L. Mowe, Fong Chong Fong, E. G. Goldfinch (hon. treasurer), K. P. Menon (hon. sec.)

RURAL BOARD

The Resident (chairman) The Executive Engineer

The Medical Officer

W. W. Boyd

Lee Peck Keng

A. Abad, and cashier clerk

1429

SARAWAK GOVERNMENT AGENCY AND COAL DEPOT (Also Brooketon Mines) Tel. Ad: Lewis; Codes: A.B.C. 5th edition, Al, Watkin's 1904, and Scott's 1909

ST. SAVIOUR'S CHURCH

Chaplain-Rev. R. J. Hitchcock

VANSCOLINA & Co., Merchants and General Agents-Tel. Ad: Vanscolina, Labuan S.S.

Arthur G. Vanscolina, partner James S. Montgomery,

Agencies

do.

The Straits Steamship Co., Ld. Lloyd's

BRUNEI

The sovereignty of the Sultan of Brunei has been reduced to a wedge of territory of some 4,000 square miles, practically surrounded by Sarawak. With a coast line of 100 miles it embraces the Districts of Belait, Tutong, Brunei, Tamburong and Labu. There is only one town of any size, Brunei or Dar-ul-Salam (city of peace), which has a population of 9,767 persons. The census of 1911 showed a total of 21,718 for the whole State. Of these some 300 were Chinese. The Europeans numbered 8 in Brunei Town. The town itself was formerly composed of houses built in the river on nibong piles. With the establishment of peace and order, however, the natives have gradually learned the advantages of cultivation and have migrated to terra firma, and all business in the town is now conducted on land The Chinese have built soine 30 stone and brick shops and houses, and all government buildings are on land. At Muara Damit (Brooketon) leased to Raja Brooke, and where there is a colliery, there is a settlement of 1,447 persons.

The land may be said to slope gradually from a backbone of mountains, of which Mount Mulu, in Sarawak territory, is the largest, towards the sea. It contains no noticeable peaks such as Kinabulu in British Nortli Borneo. The bars at its river mouths and the rapids which occur within 30 miles and less of the sea prevent any but limited navigation. Launches drawing 5 or 6 feet can enter the Belait and Tutong rivers except in the monsoon season. Steamers drawing 12 feet can at all times reach Brunei Town, situated some 12 miles from the river mouth at Muara. The elimate is damp and warm. The annual rainfall exceeds 100 inches. No marked changes of temperature occur, in which respect the country resembles the Malay Peninsula. The nights are cool.

Roads are being made throughout the State to secure that rapid expansion whiclı the richness of the country deserves.

Petty wars, head-hunting raids, and the jealousy of the numerous chiefs, coupled with the existence of slavery, rendered agriculture impossible in the past. Since the appointment of a resident British official, the common people have shown eagerness to take up land, and plant coconuts. The rivers are fringed with the uipah palm; the forests of the interior abound in rattans; there are large areas of the sago palmi, which is industriously worked by the natives and sold to Chinese traders for export to the Singapore market. The wild rubber tree, Jelutong (dyera costulata), is common, and is worked for export. Land suitable for cultivation of Para rubber (hevea brasiliensis( is alienated by the Government at an extremely low rental, and several European companies have taken out grants, and are actively proceeding with planting operations. At Brunei Town, the Island Trading Company, Ltd. has its cutcli factory,. employing several hundreds of hands. The value of cutch exported in 1919 $304,249 compared with $361,500 in 1918. Coal is worked at Buang Tawar and at Raja Brooke's Brooketon Collieries. In 1919, the Brooketon mines had a prosperous year. Here 26,274 tons of coal were raised, and sold at $15 per ton at Brooketon and $17 per ton at Labuan.

In 1914, payable oil was found for the first time in the State of Belait, at a depth