130 LAKE OF KINI BALU. [1846. 



It is said to be five or six fathoms deep in some places, 

 and to be the source of all the considerable rivers in Borneo, 

 about a hundred in number; the water is not limpid, 

 but whitish ; around its margins are innumerable towns 

 of Idaan. They have a Sovereign here, but in other 

 places only Chiefs, or Orankys (orang kaya, head, or chief 

 man). This tribe is exceedingly numerous, but from 

 their want of foreign communication, and some remark- 

 able customs, they are less addicted to commerce than 

 the value of their country would make it imagined. 

 They have, however, an intercourse with Benjar, and are 

 well enough inclined to commerce and husbandry, except 

 where their prejudices lead them into war." 



These remarks appear to have been written about the 

 year 1792, and are compiled upon the information given 

 by Bahatol, a clever navigator, and native of Sooloo. 

 There are many objectionable parts ; more particularly 

 those relating to the range of country between Kini Balu 

 and Maludu Bay, which from the continuous range of 

 mountainous land, as viewed from the sea, must throw 

 great doubt upon this portion of the narrative. From 

 the best information which we were able to obtain, 

 the description of the Lake of Kini Balu, and the inha- 

 bitants of that region, is considered nearly fabulous. 

 The eastern rivers of Borneo about the Curan region, 

 result from lakes of their own, possibly a chain may ex- 

 tend towards Borneo Proper, but our intelligent friends 

 at Gunung Taboor asserted that they were on the near 

 side of a mountain five days journey from Bulungan. As 

 I before remarked, these extracts are especially given for 

 the sake of stimulating those who may have occasion to 



