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THE 



PHILOSOPHICAL MAGAZINE. 



APRIL 1800. 



I. Defcription of the IJland of Borneo, iv'ith fome Account of 

 the Manners and Citjhms of its Inhabitants. By Mr. VoN 

 WuRMB *. 



X HE Portuguefe, Dutch, and Englifli, ever fince the 

 fixteenth century, have in turns endeavoured to eftablifh- 

 themfelves in this ifland, which is one of the iargeft in the 

 Indian ocean ; but the Dutch alone, by being fo fortunate as 

 to have a preponderance in India, were able to accomplifli 

 their objeft. On account of the gold and diamonds found 

 here, as well as of the pepper, of which the Dutch Eafl 

 India company export annually 600,000 pounds, this ifland' 

 is of confiderable importance to their trade. 



It is reported that, when the Portuguefe wifhed to form a 

 fettltment here in the year 1526, they prefented to the fultan 

 of Landac and Succatana fome beautiful pieces of tapeftry on 

 which figures of various kinds were reprefented ; but that 

 the fultan, who took thefe figures to be animated or magic 

 figures, and apprehended that they might unexpeftedly ru(h 

 from the tapeltry and ftrangle him, rejefted the prefent, and 

 expelled the Portuguefe, with their prcfents, from the coun- 

 try. The Englifli were nut much more fortunate, having 

 quitted Eornco entirely ever fince the year 1706. In 1766 



'' From MerkiLUidigkeiten aus OJiindien, publilhed by the author's 

 brcther. 



Vol. VI. C c they 



