1846.] DALRYMPLE'S ACCOUNT. 129 



articles of commerce. There are many rivers of fresh 

 water, which fall into the Bay of Mattoodoo, which is re- 

 ported to have good soundings to the very bottom. On 

 the east side there is a large shoal, which, by report, 

 forms a fine harbour at Bankoka, where is a very fine 

 landing-place, and very fine Coolit Lawang, or Clove 

 Bank, is produced here. 



" The opposite, or west side, is remarkable for the 

 Pearl Banks, which are chiefly found near Songy Basar 

 (Sungei besar or Great River). 



" The whole district of Mattoodoo abounds with Rat- 

 tans, of which, ten or twenty feet long, two or three 

 ship's load might be had ; it also abounds in grain, and 

 inland, is very populous. The country to the eastward 

 of Keeney Balloo (Kini Balu) as far as Sandakan, is low 

 and plain, with a few hillocks, but no high land, except a 

 ridge to the southward of Bankoka, which seems to run 

 nearly east and west towards Paitan, leaving a gap of 

 of low land. At the bottom of Mattoodoo Bay, between 

 this ridge and that which runs from the Tampassook 

 mountains towards Sampanmangio ; through which, from 

 Banguey and Mattoodoo Bays, the high mountain of 

 Keeney Balloo is seen to great advantage, rising abruptly 

 on the west to a stupendous height, and falling down on 

 the east with a gentle declivity towards the low land of 

 Sandakan. This country cannot fail of being one of the 

 most fruitful in the world if well cultivated, and inhabited 

 by a civilized people ; were this the case, there would be 

 an easy land carriage, of forty or fifty miles to the Lake of 

 Keeney Balloo, which is represented to exceed in magni- 

 tude the Lake of Manila, and to have many islands in it. 



VOL. II. K 



