Defcrtftion of the IJtand of Borneo. I ^^ 



vanefe for various neceffaries of life. The middle of the 

 inland is occupied bv an extenfive ridge of mountains called 

 the Cryftal Mountains, becaufe a great quantity of cryftal is 

 found in them. At the botton> of thefe mountains is a 

 large inland lake, which gives rife to all the rivers that tra- 

 verfe the whole tfland. 



The real natives of this ifland are the Biadjoos or Dajak- 

 kefe, who live in the interior parts of the country. The fea- 

 coaft is inhabited by a mixture of Malays, Javanefc, and Ma- 

 caffars. It is only of the countries fituated on the coaft that 

 we have any certain accounts, for the interior parts of the 

 iOand arc as yet very little known. 



The greateft kingdom in the ifland, and the mod important 

 on account of its conneclion with the Dutch Eaft India com- 

 pany, is that of Banjermaffing on the fouthern fide. The 

 great river Pontiana, which is navigable for fliips that draw 

 from twelve to thirteen feet of water, is exceedingly conve- 

 nient for trade. The fultan Sufuhunan Natahalam, fince the 

 year 177 i, has transferred his refidence from Cagu-Tangie 

 to Martapura, where he caufed a large city to be built, and 

 a canal to be dug which paflTes through the middle of it ; at 

 the fame time the name Martapura was changed into Bumie- 

 Kintjana. Th% reader may from this readily conceive that 

 the power of this fultan is not inconfiderable. The inha- 

 bitants of the cily, as well as thofe who refide in places at a 

 diftance from the coaft, are mahometans, mixed with a great 

 many Biadjoos or Dajakkefe, who are pagans. Thefe Biad- 

 joos, who inhabit a great many villages, the number of which 

 is faid to amount to 784, are fubjcft to various petty princes, 

 who acknowledge the fidtan as their fuperior. Of thefe Bi- 

 adjoos, who arc the original natives of the ifland, I (hall 

 fpeak hereafter. 



The faftory of the Dutch Eaft India company is fituated 

 at the end of the vill.agc of Tatas, or Banjermafling. It con- 

 fifts of an octagonal fort furrounded by palifades, which on 

 the eaft: fide next the river is furniflied with three, and oa 

 the weft, or land fide, with two baftions. The produftions 

 of the country fought for as articles of commerce, are pepper, 

 gold, (moftly gold-duft, npt very abupdant. in metal,) dia- 

 C c 2 i^KiQds, 



