BOIINEO 230 



region. Of mixed blood, largely Arab and ]\Ialay, the 

 Sulus of Borneo resemble those of the neighbouring 

 archipelago in being independent, rather fanatical, and 

 not very trustworthy; but they are good seamen and 

 successful fishermen, and in addition carry on a certain 

 amount of trade in forest produce. 



The Chinese are perhaps the most important people 

 in Borneo. They have been traders and settlers on the 

 coast from beyond historic times, and, as has just been 

 stated, have for an equally long period mixed with the 

 natives ; so that some Dyaks — the Dusuns especially — 

 might almost be classed with them. They are not only 

 traders who amass wealth merely to return with it to 

 their own empire, but miners, agriculturists, and pro- 

 ducers, without whom it would be ditticult to develop the 

 country. The Philippines, Singapore, and Borneo receive, 

 perhaps, a larger number of these immigrants than any 

 other countries. In Borneo they are scattered over the 

 whole seaboard, carrying on a good deal of the river 

 trade, and supplanting in many ways the less energetic 

 Malay. But they are chiefiy to be found in West Borneo, 

 especially in the mining districts, as in Sambas and 

 Montrado (Menteradu) in Dutch territory. Xumljcrs 

 are settled around Bau and Bidi, in Sarawak, and in tlie 

 capital, Kuching. In Xorth Borneo an irruption of some 

 thousands occurred on the opening up of the country, and 

 great numbers are employed on the tobacco plantations 

 lately established. In Labuan, and in Peugaron m South 

 Borneo, the coal mines were worked by Chinese, and they 

 still act as sago-washers iri the former island. Bound 

 together by societies with stringent laws, their system of 

 co-operation enables them to prosper where others would 

 fail. In West Borneo they thus became so powerful as 

 to defy the Dutch Government, who had great difficulty in 



