ch. vi.] Coal Mines. 115 



mines are deserted, the company having discontinued 

 mining operations. There is a good harbour at the only 

 town, Victoria, and this place forms a convenient coaling 

 station for H.M. gunboats on the China station, which 

 cruise in these seas. The trade is mainly in the hands 

 of the Chinese, who purchase the native products of 

 Borneo, Palawan, and the Sulu Archipelago, which is 

 brought hither in native prahus or boats. Some of the 

 traders also make voyages to different parts of the Bornean 

 coast to collect sago, gutta, beeswax, edible swallows' 

 nests, camphor, trepang or beche de mer, mother-o'-pearl 

 shell, and other produce, in return for which they barter 

 cloth or cotton goods, opium and tobacco, muskets, 

 ammunition, gongs, and crockeryware, spirits, tea and 

 provisions, mostly derived from Singapore. The ss. 

 *' Cleator " carries the mails and most of the imports 

 and exports between Singapore and this port, and affords 

 the only regular means of transport. This vessel makes 

 the voyage between Labuan and Singapore every twent}'- 

 one days, calling at this port on her way to Brunei. 



The main industries of the colony are the coal-mines, 

 sago-washing factories, and the culture of rice, fruit, and 

 other food products. The mines were leased by the 

 Government to the Oriental Coal Company of London 

 and Leith, at a yearly rental of £1000 a year for mining- 

 privileges and the right of cutting timber free of duty. 

 £50 annually was also paid for a wharf and store sheds at 

 the harbour, a distance of nine miles from the mines. The 

 coal was brought down in large sailing boats or lighters, 

 manned by Malays. In 1876 only 5824 tons were obtained, 

 but additional workings have been opened and alterations 

 were made by the Company's manager, Mr. A. Boosie, 

 which it was thought would have facilitated a much larger 

 output. The greatest drawbacks to successful mining 



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