Products.— Practically the whole of Bor neo, even the tops of the highest mountains, is covered with dense forests standing, for the most part, in carpets of thick moss. On the lower levels the trees reach to heights of 150 to 200 feet; on the highest mountains they are somewhat stunted. Nearly 500 distinct species of trees have been recognized, and many of them yield valuable timber. Some varieties are so hard and close-grained that they will not float in water. Among the most important of the forest products are ironwood, bilian, teak, ebony, sandalwood, gutta-percha, dyewoods, benzoin, wax, dragon's-blood, sago rattans, various resins, oil nuts and gums. The cam phor of Brunei is the best in Asia. The mohor-tree, well adapted for making native boats, attains a height of 80 feet, and the kala dang, suited for large masts, of 200 feet. Nut megs, 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, and panthers are very numerous. The flying fox and flying squirrel are plentiful. The elephant is found only in the north and the rhinoceros in the northwest. The rhinoceros and wild cattle, however, have nearly disappeared and the orang-outang would be extinct if it were not for government protection. The few domesticated animals are water buffaloes, sheep, goats, dogs and cats. A few horses are seen in Banjermassin. Among the birds are eagles, vultures, argus pheasants, peacocks, flamingoes, pigeons, parrots, and also the swifts (Collocalia esculents) which construct . the edible nests prized by the Chinese for making soup. The rivers, lakes, and lagoons swarm with croco diles, and many kinds of snakes, including a 20-foot python, frogs, lizards and leeches. Fish is plentiful, including mackerel, herring, barbel, soles, mullet, crabs and shrimp, and the coasts are rich in tortoises, pearl mussels, oysters, and trepang. Brilliant butterflies and moths are in great variety, and swarms of mosquitoes and sting flies. Ants, scorpions and centipedes abound, and the jungles are noted for the din created by the multitudes of noisy insects and frogs. Among the mineral products are bi tuminous coal, gold and copper, especially in Montrado; large quantities of antimony, iron, tin, platina, nickel, arsenic, mercury, diamonds and other precious stones, rock crystals, porce lain clay petroleum of good quality and sul phur. Tice diamond mines are chiefly in Lan
dak and Pontianak; Sambas produces the greatest quantity of gold; the kingdom of Brunei, Kutei and Banjermassin, the largest amount of coal. The Pengaron coal field worked by the Dutch government, is one of the most important.
Borneo was engaged in com merce with China as early as the 5th century, but it is not certain that the Chinese had settlements there until the 12th century. The Malay kingdom of Borneo proper dates back to the 13th century. Later, Brunei and the Sulu Islands were joined under one sultan who was first resident at Brunei, and afterward at Sulu. Another Malay settlement of later origin, Sambas, was at first dependent on Johore in the Malay Peninsula. Sukadana was founded by Hindu Javanese from the kingdom of Majapahit (see JAvA) and spread its in fluence on the whole southern part of the west coast. Mampawa was a Buginese settlement, and Pontianak was founded as late at 1771 by a colony of Arabs, Malays and Buginese. Islam began to be preached by Arabs from Palem bang in the 16th century.
The Spaniards first visited Borneo in 1521 landing at Brunei, and in 1576 sent an armed force to take possession of that kingdom. The Portuguese came in 1526, and after 1530 kept up regular communication with Brunei for many years. In 1609 they effected a settlement at Banjermassin; from thence they were, how ever, soon expelled. The Dutch succeeded in concluding a treaty of commerce with the princes of Banjermassin. They erected a fort and factory in 1643, and a second in 1778 at Pontianak. They resumed attempts at colon ization in 1816, meeting the opposition of the Chinese who had established themselves near the mines of Landak and Montrado on the east coast. A war finally ensued (1853-56) result ing in victory for the Dutch, who gradually extended their possessions by conquest and treaty. The British made unsuccessful attempts in 1702 and 1774 to effect a settlement in Bor neo, but during the 19th century they acquired a preponderating influence on the northwest coast. They drove off the Spaniards and for some time disputed with the Dutch for exclu sive possession of the island. The struggle ended, in 1892 with an agreement which divided the island according to the boundaries which now obtain.