CHAPTER V. 



BEITISH XOKTH BORXEO. 



The Britisli North Borneo Company — Its formation — Land grants from the Sultans 

 of Brunei and Sulu — Territory acquired — Sandakan Bay — Elopura — Poorness of 

 the soil — Silam — Ascend the Sigaliud River — Narrow escape of the Vigilant — 

 Forest scenery — Graves of the Buludupis — Legend of the origin of the tribe — 

 Birds of the jungle — Exports of Sandakan — Edible birds' nests — Sport in North 

 Borneo — Proceed to Kudat — Murders at Bongon — Visit to Bongon with H.M.S. 

 Fly — Bird caught in spider's web — "We are presented Avith a "while man" — 

 Leave for Banguey Island — The German Borneo Company — Massacre of the 

 English at Balembangan in 1775 — The Abai and Tampassuk Rivers — Gaya — 

 Kimanis — Terrible epidemic of cholera — Floods — Advantages of Sarawak. 



Some four or five years ago the British public learnt, — with some 

 interest perhaps, and certainly with no little astonishment, — 

 that in a remote corner of Borneo, the very coast-line of which 

 was hardly known, a " Xew Kepublic " had suddenly sprung into 

 existence ; a private company established by Eoyal Charter, a 

 nineteenth century East India Company on a small scale wliich, it 

 was said, was destined to revolutionise the East, and to open up a 

 new and salubrious field for the superabundant agricultural talent 

 wliich is generally believed to be the endowment of most young 

 Englishmen, and to be evidenced by a love of out-door exercise, a 

 tendency to smoke short pipes, and a disinclination for all except 

 the most cheerfully-bound literature. 



The Executive was formed upon the most approved principles. 

 There were residents and assistant residents, immigration 

 commissioners, surveyors, superintendents of agTiculture and the 



