Borneo is the best watered country in the world; on every side there are numerous rivers with abundant flow. Most of them, however, are partially obstructed by mudbanlcs and stranded tree-trunks and they carry a heavy burden of silt, which is deposited in great deltas at the sea line, thus continually extend ing the alluvial swamps which border the island. Owing to the great width at their mouths some of the rivers have tidal bores which heap up bars and shoals at the entrances from the ocean. The largest river of British Borneo (the northwestern basin) is the Re jang, navigable by small steamers for 170 miles. It issues into the sea by five mouths, forming with the Igan a delta covering 1,200 square miles. In the southwestern section is the Kapuas River, longer than the Rcjang and with a delta 70 miles across. In the south eastern basin the largest river is the Barito: in the rainy season the delta of this river cov ers 11,000 square miles. In the eastern basin the most important river is the Koti or Ma hakkan, also with an extensive .delta. Nearly all of the 40 rivers which empty into the sea are navigable for many miles with vessels drawing not more than 12 feet of water. As far up as the foothills the rivers are practi cally without current, but in the hilly section they are a succession of great rapids and cat aracts. Above this first barrier, however, in many cases there are long stretches of slug gish water available for local navigation. There are many lakes in the numerous val leys, but none remarkable for unusual size. The great Kina Balu lake of the early ex plorers, if it ever existed, cannot now be found.
Climate.— The climate of the whole island is warm and humid and very equable. Snow is sometimes seen upon the tops of the high est mountains. The rainfall is very abundant throughout the year, but somewhat heavier from October to February and least during April and May. The maximum record has been 225 inches and the minimum 102 inches, with 160 inches as the average. The largest month's record is 69 inches and the largest day's record 15 inches. Thunder storms are frequent and of great severity, but wind storms are rare. The temperature ranges nor mally between 72° and 93° F., occasionally reaching 100°, but the heat is tempered by the sea breezes, which, however, do not penetrate the forests. The continuous heat and mois ture promote the decomposition of the vege table debris in the marshes and forests, with the production of poisonous miasmas, render ing many parts of the island very unhealthful, particularly for white men.
Population.— The population of the entire island numbers about 1,845,000 according to conservative estimates—there has never been a census. Of the whole, only about 3,500 are Europeans. The bulk of the population con sists of three classes, the Dyaks or Dayaks, who are the aboriginal heathen inhabitants and con stitute the great majority; the Mohammedans or Malays — for this name is extended so as to include all professors of Islam, whether true Malays, Buginese, Javanese, Dyaks, or Arabs; and the Chinese. The Dyaks are of two groups;
those of the coast country and those of the interior. The former have a strong admixture of Malay blood with some Chinese and Buginese strains. They are less nomadic in character than the purer race of the interior and carry on a certain amount of trading with the coast dwelling Malays with whom they fraternize. They are energetic and successful fishermen. The Dyaks of the interior employ themselves with hunting and tillage, and the collecting of gutta-percha, rubber, resin, gums, rattans, gold dust and wax. They are diveded into numerous tribes. The pure Dyak has a physique superior to the Malay races. They have regular features 'skin of a clear yellow tint, a flat nose and prominent lips. While some of the coast Dyaks have become Mohammedans, those of the in terior have a peculiar religion which includes a supreme creative spirit and a multitude of evil spirits. They regard all animated nature as souls with a mortal envelope. The practice of head-hunting has been subdued in the coast dwellers, hut still exists in the interior. The Malays (taking the name ethnographically) dwell on the coast, are traders and hold sailors. They are more civilized than the Dyaks, culti vate the grounds around their houses, lay out gardens, keep cattle and live partly by fishing. The Chinese, chiefly from Canton, have pene trated far into the interior. They engage in trade and mining, are unwearied in their efforts to make money, and then return to their native country. They have always endeavored to live as independent communities (kong-si) tinder chiefs chosen by themselves, and according to Chinese laws. In 1857 the Chinese living in Sarawak rebelled, and were nearly extermina ted. The Dutch were also compelled to put them down by force of arms, and have imposed a poll tax. The women of Borneo, except the Dyak, weave cotton fabrics, make earthenware, baskets and mats of beautiful designs and colors. In the district of Banjermassin are factories of weapons. The principal exports are gold, gold dust, diamonds, coal, petroleum, rattans, rubber, edible nests, wax, timber, dye woods, mats, resins, sandalwood, camphor, cutch, copra, dried fish, sago flour, trepang, gambier, etc.; the imports, earthenware, iron, steel and copper work, piece-goods, yarns, woolen and silk fabrics, medicines, provisions, wines, spirits, rice, flour, sugar, tea, tobacco, opium, gunpowder, etc. There is one railway in Borneo, running out of Brunei. With its branches it extends about 130 miles. Practically all transportation is carried on by boats.