16 BROUWER and WING EASTON 



should be thoroughly examined beforehand, and mended if necessary. 

 At the same time it is good advice to have always a piece of 

 strong string at hand since the native driver only mends the 

 things when they are badly broken and mark how they do it! 



Borneo is the country of water-traffic. All the larger rivers (as 

 far as the head-stream is concerned) are navigable for steam-launches 

 and other vessels of light draught far inland, and great use is made 

 of them from Pontianak, Bandjermasin, Samarinda and other places. 

 On most of the tributary streams however the traveller has soon 

 to struggle with rapids and falls, which render other traffic than 

 smaller rowing-boats impossible. To conquer these obstacles special 

 guides from the nearest surroundings should always be taken, as 

 they only are acquainted with the various peculiarities of the rapids. 

 Travellers are earnestly advised never to interfere by any personal 

 commands during the passage of such spots. As contrasted with 

 this, transportation by land is exceedingly burdensome. Real high- 

 ways are wanting; what is sometimes called such, has no claim to 

 that name, except in the immediate surroundings of the chief towns. 

 Bridges are rare. Neither riding- or draught-animals, nor vehicles 

 are to be had. The traveller therefore has no other recourse but 

 the footpaths, which are most often hardly kept in repair. For 

 people who are in a hurry, Borneo is not a very suitable country. 



For those who want to travel by water continuously for a long 

 time, it is recommended to purchase a suitable good seized rowing- 

 vessel (bidar) in one of the bigger places, and to have it furnished 

 according to their own taste for day and night use. A second boat 

 of a smaller size (cooking-prow) is likewise a desirable thing as 

 an abode for the cook and a storing-place for food. Other desired 

 vessels may be locally hired for the time needed. Inquires concerning 

 prices, wages of rowers, etc. should be made from the government- 

 officials or harbourmasters. 



Celebes. In sharp contrast to Borneo the rivers of Celebes are 

 almost unnavigable. Transportation therefore will have to take 

 place exclusively by land. The relatively slight breadth of the arms 

 of the island usually enables the traveller to use one of the seaside- 

 places as a centre for various short trips and by doing so to keep 

 in contact with the outside-world. The high mountains that have 

 to be crossed are often difficult to ascend and render Celebes-expe- 

 dition very tedious. An extensive network of roads is being con- 

 structed, improved or prepared however, so that in a few years 

 presumably quite another picture of the island can be drawn. Even 

 the construction of railroads is now beginning. In some parts of 



