MOUNTAINS. 



will probably soon find it necessary, for the extermi- 

 nation of the piratical inhabitants, to have them fully 

 investigated. 



In geographical features this island presents us 

 with great variety. It has high mountains, magnificent 

 rivers, extensive lakes, and probably, in the northern 

 part of the island, considerable plains. The mountains 

 are disposed in a range which traverses the island 

 from its N. E. extremity in a south-westerly direction ; 

 in the northern division they are very high, Kina Balou 

 being nearly 14,000 feet. They appear gradually to 

 decrease in height as they approach the south-western 

 shore; about the middle of the island they are 

 observed inland of Tanjong Barram 8,000 and 9,000 

 feet high ; but westerly, in the Pontianak country, as 

 they approach the sea, they are from 2,000 to 4,000 

 feet in height. 



The heights of many of the principal peaks of the 

 northern part of the island have been recently ascer- 

 tained by Lieut. Gordon, but as his observations are 

 not yet published I am unable to avail myself of them. 

 Kina Balou (the Chinese widow), which is situated 

 about eighteen miles inland, and at the foot of which 

 is Malludu Bay, is supposed much to exceed any of 

 the others in height. I have been informed by the 

 Rajahs of Borneo that it derives its name from the cir- 

 cumstance of its summit having been in former times 

 the residence of a female spirit of great beauty, of 

 whom it is said a Chinese prince of Bruni (before the 

 time of its conversion to the religion of Mahomet), 



