BORNEO 225 



look-out in order not to lose himself, for should this 

 happen, he would be compelled to lie by until the 

 following morning. In the dry season the district bore 

 quite another aspect. The immense sheet of water had 

 disappeared, its place being taken by a black soil, tra- 

 versed by numerous canals and filled with clear dark- 

 brown water. During the dry season, between Barabai 

 and Amuntai, I could clearly distinguish the districts 

 subject to periodic floods. The vegetation consists en- 

 tirely of thickly tangled bushes, while the boundary was 

 marked by the gigantic trees of the virgin forest." 



Few countries are so plentifully furnished with rivers 

 as Borneo, and, although in most cases the existence of 

 bars prevents the entrance of large vessels, small craft 

 can navigate them for a very large portion of their 

 course. The rivers of the north-west are necessarily the 

 smallest, from the proximity of the mountain range to the 

 seaboard. Taking them in their order from the north, 

 the first of any importance is the Limbang, better known 

 as the Brunei river. From the absence of nipa palm and 

 mangrove, and the bareness of its banks, it differs greatly 

 from the majority of the rivers of tropical Malaysia, 

 and the plentiful outcrop of coal visible in ascending the 

 stream renders it still more peculiar. It is supposed 

 to admit vessels of 20 feet draught, but the entrance 

 is very intricate and dangerous. The Picjang, a large 

 stream which rises near the central mountain mass, and 

 debouches by two mouths, is of more importance, and 

 much forest produce descends its stream. It is the 

 largest river in Sarawak, and will admit vessels of 1000 

 tons. The fort, where a President of the Sarawak service 

 is stationed, lies 25 miles from the entrance, and ships 

 can anchor off it in 7 fathoms. A small Government 

 steamer ascends the river for 200 miles. The Bataug 



