BORNEO, an Island forming part of the Great East Indian Archipelago. Next to New Holland, which may be considered as a species of continent, it seems in disputably the largest in the known world. It reaches from about 7° north to 4° south latitude, and from 109° to 118° east longitude. Its length may be estimated at 750 miles, its greatest breadth at 600, and its average breadth at 350. It exhibits the usual insular structure, a mass of lofty mountains in the centre, sloping gra dually down to level and alluvial tracts along the sea shore. It is watered by many fine rivers, of which those of Borneo Proper, Banjar Massin, and Passir, are na vigable for more than fifty miles above their junction with the sea. All these rivers are understood by Dr Leyden to be derived from an immense lake in the interior, called the Sea of Manilla. It is more pro bable that they all rise from the mountainous district of greatest elevation. The interior of Borneo is co vered with immense forests, filled with wild ani mals, particularly oran-outangs. A great part of the coast is marshy, so that it is in portions only that it displays the exuberance of tropical fertility. Of all the East Indian Islands, Borneo ranks lowest as to ci vilization and improvement. Nothing, perhaps, has tended so powerfully to check its progress as the solid and unbroken form of its doses, destitute of those large bays or inland seas, which have proved the nursery of commerce.
The Portuguese discovered Borneo in 1526, though the superior wealth promised by the Spice Islands made it attract comparatively little attention, Yet ,they, as well as the Spaniards, the Dutch, and the _ _English, formed establishments on different parts of the coast ; but the small force defending them, and the fierce animosity of the natives, made their tenure generally of very short duration. The physical struc ture of Borneo, the vast forests, mountains, and jungles of the interior, obstruct communication be tween the different parts of its coast, as completely as if an extent of sea had intervened. It is thuasplit into a number of petty districts, entirely detached from each other, and which cannot be satisfactorily described, unless in detail. We shall consider, there
fore, in this manner, the principal states, beginning with Borneo Proper, and thence making the circuit of the Island.; after which, we shall attempt some ge. neral views of its populatiOn and commerce.
Borneo Proper occupies the northern coast, and. a state of great antiquity. The soil is comparatively fertile, supplying rice sufficient for the consumption of the inhabitants, as well as most of the camphire for which the Island is celebrated. The city, called also Borneo, is hullt apon alluvia ground, about ten miles above the mouth-of the river of the same name. It is compared to Yemen : canals are con. ducted through every street; and all business is con ducted in boats, usually rowed by women. The houses are built upon posts, and ascended-to by ladders. The river is, navigable for large vessels considerably above, the town ; but there is a at its entrance, over which there is -scarcely a depth of seventeen feet at high water. The Sultan is treated with these marks of peculiar respect which in this part of the werht usually indicate an ancient dynasty; but the chief power rests in the council of the nobles. This state. has little communication Europeans; the Eng lish, who were accustomed to deal to a smell extent In piece-goods, have in a great measure discontinued this traffic. The commerce of this city and district is almost entirely engrossed by the Chinese, who bring annually from Amou four or five junks, of about 500 tons burden. As the neighbqurheed abounds in excellent timber, they frequently haiku their junks here, and carry theirs away. loaded with the commodities of the country. • On the eastern coast of Borneo, Mangedava and Pappal are populous, fertile, and • well watered dis tricts. Malloodoo possesses these advantages in a still superior degree, and grows also a large quanti ty of rattans. Tiroon produces sago in abundance, and birds' nests more copiously than any other part of the eastern Archipelago. None of these states, however, are much frequented by, or known to, Eu. ropeans.