Dcfcriptlon of the JJIand of Borneo, 1 97 



It defcrves to be mentioned, as a meteorological obfervatlon, 

 that the thermometer here is never lower tlian 82", and never 

 higher than 94°. 



Landac lies on the northern arm of the river Pontiana, 

 about feventeen miles higher up, in the latitude ot o^ 3^' 

 north. The Dutch had a refident here fo early as a hun- 

 dred and fifty years ago. After that period their pofleflioBS 

 were deftroyed, till the king of Bantam, to whom Landac 

 and Succatana had for many years belonged, made a prefent 

 to the company of all thefe lands in the year 1778 — but 

 whether voluntarily or through compulfion I cannot venture 

 to fay. This much, however, is certain, that the Dutch 

 after that time conlidered thefe lands as their property, and 

 the princes who govern in them as their valfiils; built their 

 fori at Pontiana, between Landac and Succatana, and ap- 

 pointed Pangerang Saidja Nata as regent of the whole 

 diftria. 



The refidence of the prince of Landac is fituated on the 

 proje6ling corner of a mountain, to which there is an afcent 

 by 118 iteps. Two rivers, which are fo full of rocks that n6 

 kind of vefTel can be navigated in them, flow on the right 

 and left of this mountain ; and as there are other mountains 

 on each fide of thefe rivers, this place is fo ftrong by nature 

 that it is impregnable. It is alfo well furniflied with artil- 

 lery : bcfides feveral fmall cannons, there are in it two iron 

 guns, eight-pounders, one of which has on it the company's 

 arms, and the other the Danifli. It is inconceivable hovsr 

 fuch heavy mafles could have been conveyed to the fummit 

 of fo fteep a rock. In this kingdom there are gold and dia- 

 mond mines of confiderable importance. 



Between Landac and Borneo, the moll northern kingdom 

 of the ifland, and from which, in all probability, the whole 

 country takes its name, there are feveral fmaller kingdoms, 

 which arc not of great importance, but which are not yet 

 fufficiently known. Their regents are, in part, vafTals of the 

 fultan of Borneo, A fmall trade is carried on in thefe dif- 

 tri£ts with gold, diamonds, canes, wax, and other articles of 

 the like kind, which are given in exchange for the produc- 

 tions of Java J but this traffic is of little confequence, and at 

 9 the 



