THE PALAEOTROPICS 211 



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 localities, as well as volcanic formations; but there are none of the 

 active volcanoes which are such a marked feature of Java and 

 western Sumatra. Indeed the geology of Borneo is more like thai 

 of the Malay Peninsula, and there is also much in common in the 

 vegetation between Borneo and the Peninsula. 



As one approaches Sarawak from the west, the coast presents a 

 very picturesque aspect, bold mountains coming down to the sea in 

 places. Between two of these mountains, Mattang and Santu- 

 bong, the Sarawak River, upon which is situated the principal 

 town, Kuching, makes its way to the sea. Santubong is especially 

 impressive, rising abruptly from the water to a height of 3,000 

 feet, its steep flanks clothed with primaeval forest. 



The low banks of the delta are for the most part densely covered 

 with mangroves, and the mud flats exposed at low-tide, are the 

 haunt of crocodiles and other less formidable creatures, like the 

 grotesque mud-fish, which climb about the exposed mangrove 

 roots like lizards, while myriads of bright blue crabs scuttle about 

 over the mud, and if the tide is low, cannot fail to attract atten- 

 tion. 



Further up the river, the numerous narrow channels which 

 traverse the mangrove formation, are lined with dense growths 

 of the Nipa-palm, whose leaves are indispensable for thatch, or 

 for the manufacture of the basket-work panels which form the 

 sides of the native houses. Behind the Nipa zone, another beauti- 

 ful palm, the "Nibong" (Oncosperma filamentosa) is common, and 

 their slender stems and feathery crowns form a conspicuous and 

 beautiful feature of the shore vegetation. 



With the decreasing salinity of the water as the river is ascended, 

 the mangroves gradually disappear and the solid river banks are 

 covered with a dense growth of trees and shrubs in great variety. 

 Back of the belt of shrubs and low trees there appear in places the 

 tall trees of the high forest, the outposts of the prodigious forests 

 which cover most of the wet lowlands of Borneo. 



Wherever a native village appears on the river bank, coco- 

 nuts, sago-palms, bananas, bread-fruit, and the other common 

 cultivated trees are seen between the wild growths of the shore. 



The trees and bushes of the jungle lining the river banks are 

 smothered in a tangle of climbing plants and epiphytes in astonish- 

 ing variety and profusion. Ferns, orchids, and other epiphytes 



