102 BRITISH NORTH BORNEO. [chap. 



taken up as a regular pursuit by any of the natives, as is the case 

 in India and Africa. If big -game shooting in this part of the 

 world be contemplated, there are no advantages in Borneo which 

 Java, Sumatra, or the Malay Peninsula could not show, while for 

 variety of game, easy accessibility, and comfort in travel, the latter 

 countries are to be preferred. 



During our visit to the new colony we made no attempt at any 

 larger game than pig and deer, preferring the acquisition of some 

 knowledge of the various settlements and their prospects to the 

 shadowy possibilities of an elephant. Libarran Island, which lies 

 some twenty miles or more to the north of Sandakan Bay, is 

 believed to be, and no doubt really is, full of deer, but an excursion 

 we made thither in search of them was unsuccessful, owing chiefly 

 to inefficient beating, and we had to be content with the inspection 

 of their numerous tracks. Ornithologically speaking, however, the 

 visit was not unproductive, and we added several species to our 

 collections. Among them was an exquisite little black Sun-bird 

 (Chalcostetha insignis), its head and throat glittering with metallic 

 emerald and ruby. It is a not uncommon species, but during the 

 whole of our visit to North Borneo we never met with it elsewhere. 



We left Elopura for the second time on the 22nd of May, in 

 company with H.M.S. Fly, and proceeded to Kudat, which at the 

 time of our visit was the seat of Government and the headquarters 

 of the Company. The present capital is Elopura, in which place, 

 ever since its foundation, trade has centred. Kudat is situated in 

 a small harbour on the western shore of Marudu Bay, and is, 

 roughly speaking, about one hundred and fifty miles from Sandakan 

 by sea. Between the two settlements lies the difficult Mallawall^ 

 Channel, a network of reefs and shoals which is only navigable by 

 day, and even then only with great care. Kudat has, therefore, 

 the double advantage of greater proximity to Hongkong and 

 Singapore and absence of risks in navigation. The latter can 

 certainly be avoided by taking a more northerly passage, but only 

 at the expense of several hours. The visitor's first impression of 



