BORNEO, an island, next to Australia and Papua, the largest in the world, is situated in the Indian Archipelago, in 7° 3' N.-4° 10' S. lat., and 108° 53'— 119° 22' E. long. It is bounded on the E. by the Sea of Celebes and the Ma cassar Strait, S. by the Sea of Java, W. and N. by the Gulf of Siam and the China Sea. Its length is about 800 miles, with a breadth of 700, and an area of about 284,000 square miles.
coasts, which are often low and marshy, and rendered dangerous to navigation by numerous islets and rocks, present no deep inden tations, though they are pierced by nu merous small bays and creeks. A great part of the island must be described as mountainous. In the far N. rises the magnificent structure of Kinabalu (13, 698 feet high), the culminating peak probably of the whole Indian Archipel ago, and not unworthy in its picturesque ness of such a rank. Throughout the narrow northern portion of the island there runs a kind of central ridge in a general S. W. direction, with highest points ranging from 4,000 to 8,000 feet; and this can be traced, at least as a water parting, far to the S. W. So far as is known the mountain framework of the whole island consists, like Kinabalu, of eruptive and crystalline rocks of high antiquity. Of modern volcanic activity, so prevalent elsewhere in the Indian Archipelago, there is, in Borneo, no trace either in tradition or in the rec ord of the rocks. A large portion of the surface, not covered by alluvium, consists of tertiary deposits, in regard to the age of which, however, geologists are not agreed. Though there are many powerful streams, navigable far inland for boats of considerable burden, their value as waterways is lessened by the bars which usually prevent the entrance of sea-going vessels, and in their upper reaches by frequent rapids and occa sional waterfalls. In connection with the river systems there are numerous lakes in Borneo; but of true mountain lakes on a large scale there are prob ably few.
Climate and climate in the low grounds is humid, hot, and unhealthful for Europeans; but in the higher parts toward the N. the temper
ature is generally moderate, the ther mometer at noon varying from 81° tc. 91° F. During the rainy season, from November to May, heavy storms of wind with loud thunder are experienced on the W. coast. The influence of the land and sea breezes passes inland to quite remarkable distances across the level plains and up the river valleys. Vege tation is extremely luxuriant. The for ests produce ironwood, bilian, teak, ebony, sandalwood, gutta percha, dye woods, benzoin, wax, dragon's blood, sago, various resins, vegetable oils, and gums. The camphor of Brunei is the best in Asia. The mohor tree, well adapted for making native boats, attains a height of 80, and the kaladang, suited for large masts, of 200 feet. Nutmegs, cloves, cinnamon, pepper, betel, ginger, rice, millet, sweet potatoes, yams, cotton in Amuntai, sugar cane in Sambas and Montrado, indigo, tobacco, coffee in Sambas, pineapples, cocoanuts, etc., are cultivated. The mountains and forests contain many monkeys, among which is the orang outang. Tapirs, a small kind of tiger, small Malay bears, swine, wild oxen or banteng, and various kinds of deer abound. The elephant is found only in the N., and the rhinoceros in the N. W. The few domesticated animals are buffaloes, sheep, goats, dogs, and cats. Fish is plentiful, and the coasts are rich in tortoises, pearl mussels, oysters, and trepang. Brilliant butterflies and moths are in great variety. Among the min eral products are coal, gold, and copper, especially in Montrado; antimony, iron, tin, platina, nickel, diamonds and other precious stones, rock crystals, porcelain clay, petroleum, and sulphur. The dia mond mines are chiefly in Landak and Pontianak; Sambas produces the great est quantity of gold; the kingdom of Brunei, Kutel, and Banjermassin, the largest amount of coal. The Pengaron coal field, worked by the Dutch Govern ment, is one of the most important.