1843.] ISLAND OP LABUAN. 33 



which should be, and usually is, extended to British sub- 

 jects from the mother country ; anxious also not to lose 

 sight of the interests of those with whom he has con- 

 sented to settle, and willing, at the same time, to advance 

 their security, by obtaining the countenance of Great 

 Britain, he has further induced the Borneon Powers to 

 seek by Treaty a closer alliance with our country, and to 

 offer, as a pledge of their sincerity, the cession of part of 

 their territory for the foundation of a military position. 

 Kuching does not offer such a position ; it is inland, ap- 

 proachable only with a favourable tide, and by a cir- 

 cuituous route, nearly twenty-five miles from the sea ; nor 

 are any spots to be met with either at the Santubon or 

 Morotabas entrances desirable for forming a settlement. 

 The ground is too precipitous, and the difficulties of 

 clearing away and levelling too heavy an operation for 

 an infant colony to undertake. If compelled to select 

 a spot in this neighbourhood, the most eligible is probably 

 on the Santubon or western entrance ; but it is much to 

 be feared that the percolation from the mountain in the 

 rear would create fever, and take off the young colony 

 before any efficient mode of draining could be carried 

 out. It is more than probable that to this cause alone 

 may be attributed the original lamentable sickness at 

 Hong- Kong. 



Under these considerations it was thought that the 

 Island of Labuan would offer a better naval position, a more 

 central point from which the pirates could be overlooked ; 

 and under the supposition that its coal might be rendered 

 available for the use of steamers employed upon the 



D 



