.8,, GEOLOGY OF BORNEO. iii 



out spurs into the plains, and tongues of the latter extend into the 

 marshes. 



According to Schwaner, the central mountain tract has a north- 

 east and south-west strike, and culminates in two high peaks — the 

 Gunong Tebang and Gunong Apo Borau, estimated at from 5,000 

 to 6,000 feet high. The four chief ranges that branch off from this 

 massif extend towards the south-east, south-west, north-west and 

 north-east, and constitute the chief political boundaries. 



The south-eastern chain has a varied character. Its central 

 portion consists principally of hill-land through which only isolated 

 peaks (mountain-islands) project ; but its northern and southern 

 parts are more ruggedly developed, and steep ridges and rocky peaks 

 rise to a considerable height. The southern limit of this chain is 

 formed (in Tanah Laut) by the Meratus mountains, the highest peak 

 of which is 4,250 feet above the sea-level. 



The south-western chain extends from the central tract to near 

 Cape Sambar, which is the extreme south-western point of the island. 

 With the exception of a few hilly tracts in its central part, this chain 

 retains throughout a rugged Alpine character. Its highest point is 

 reached in the Rajah Bukit — the Olympus of the Dyaks — which is a 

 peak of 7,000 to 8,000 feet. Schwaner describes a portion of the 

 chain as consisting of a high plateau, 20 to 30 miles wide, the surface 

 of which is broken by numerous dispersed peaks. 



The northern chain, which comprises a north-eastern and a 

 north-western branch, is less known than the southern chains. Its 

 highest part is reached at its northern limit in the imposing massif of 

 Kina-balu (13,698 feet) ; in its middle portion the peaks vary from 

 6,000 to 8,000 feet, and still further west, between Sarawak and West 

 Borneo, they decrease to 2,000 — 3,000 feet. The western branch of 

 the chain terminates in the Datu Mountains, spurs of which reach the 

 sea, forming the promontories of Api and Datu. Isolated peaks of 

 this part of the chain have an altitude of 6,000 feet. 



In their general character, the northern chains are similar to the 

 south-western chain, being composed of detached ridges and moun- 

 tain-islands. Kina-balu is the highest mountain in Borneo, and is 

 held in much veneration by the natives. This fine mass is situated 

 in the territory of the British North Borneo Company, and forms a 

 striking feature in the scenery of this part of Borneo. It consists of 

 about ten peaks in a line, running east and west, while a solitary 

 peak rises on the south, separated from the others by a deep and wide 

 ravine. Several of its peaks have been ascended by English 

 explorers. Spenser St. John describes the view from one of the 

 summits as magnificent : the coast-line of North Borneo is visible as 

 far as the island of Labuan, while to the south and south-east the eye 

 ranges over a multitude of ridges and peaks of from 7,000 to 8,000 

 feet. 



In the central mountains rise all the principal rivers — the 



