PONTIANAK, the capital of the kingdom of the same name on the w. coast of Borneo, is situated near the junction of the Landak and Kapuas. It is built on both banks of the river, which is 900 ft. broad, and thence to the sea is called the Pontianak. The city derives its importance from being the seat of the Netherlands' resident, who rules directly and indirectly over the whole w. coast, from 2° 56' s. to 2° 50' n. lat., and 108° 45' to 112° 50' e. long.; territories rich in vegetable and mineral wealth. The residency house is near fort Du Bus, in 0° 2' n. lat., and 100° 1' 20" e. long. ; other principal buildings being the sultan's palace, the mosque, and hospital. Pop. 7,000, including 2,000 Chinese, Trade is the only pursuit in the town; and the rich alluvial lands are partly cultivated' with rice, sugar-canes, cotton, indigo, coffee, provisions, and fruits.
Besides a number of small dependencies, the Netherlands' resident at Pontianak gov erns the important kingdoms of Landak, Mampawa, and Sambas, with the mining dis trict of Montrado, in the n.•, Tayang, Simpang, and Matan or Snccadana, to the s. ; and Sangouw, Sekadouw, and Singtang, in the interior. The produce consists of dia. moru:s, gold, coal, tin, iron, wax, edible nests, pepper, gutta-percha, etc. There are many gold mines in Moll track) and other districts; rich iron ores in Mahal; gold, plativa, copper, etc., in Sambas; and in former times Landak was rich in diamonds, but the produce is now trifling. In this district was found the famed diamond of the sultan of 'Matan, which weighed 367 carats. The annual produce of the mines in the residency of Pontianak is estimated at not less than 425,000 ounces of gold. In 1873, pop. 365,881, of whom 142 were Europeans, 24,997 Chinese, 90,128 native Malays, 248,708 Dyaks, etc.
In 1872 the Dutch imports and exports were: imports, £182,212, and exports, £178, 833. Vessels above 10 tons burden, belonging to the w. division of Borneo, 62, amount
ing to 16S0 tons. The other Netherlands possessions in Borneo are called the resi dency of the s. and e. division, including the lands from Matan, in the s.w., along the s. and e. coasts to 0° 50' n. lat. The resident's house is at Banjermassin, on the island of Tatas. 15 in. from the month of the Panjar, in 3° 34' 40" s. lat., and 114° 30' e. long. Pop. 80,000. The exports are—pepper, diamonds, gold-dust, coal, benzoin, wax, rattans, dragon's blood, camphor, edible nests, iron, fire-arms, etc. Imports—piece-goods, pow der. knives, opium, rice, salt, sugar, Chinese porcelain, silk-stuffs, coral, pearls, etc. In 1874 the coal-mines of Orange-Nassau produced 3,637k tons. On the e. coast tfiere is also coal, and the sultan of lintel delivers it, according to contract, for the use of the Dutch navy, at R1 per ton. During 1872, the imports of the s. and e. residency amounted to £229,025, and the exports to £120,461. The vessels above 10 tons belonging to it numbered 30, with a tonnage of 2,543 tons. At Nagara (pop. 10,000), in Banjer massin, are important factories of fire-arms and other weapons.
There has been constant war on the s. and c. coasts since 1859. In 1860, the direct government of Banjermassin was assumed by the resident; but the interior of the king dom has always been disturbed, and especially in 1873, through the war with Atcheen (q.v.), inciting the Mohammedan population against the Dutch. In 1873 pop. of the s. and c. division, 869,763, of whom 403 were Europeans, and 2,643 Chinese.—See Borneo's Westerafileeling, Geographisch, Statisch, Historiscic (P. J. Veth, Amsterdam); the latest colonial reports by the Netherlands secretary of state for the colonies, etc.