RIVERS. 7 



became enamoured, and, wishing to obtain her in 

 marriage, made a journey intending to visit her resi- 

 dence, but, losing his footing, fell over one of the rocky 

 precipices near the top, and was killed. Hence the 

 spirit has been denominated the Widow of the China- 

 man, and the mountain, after her, named Kina or 

 China Balou ; the Borneans not pronouncing the ch 

 soft, as is the practice amongst Malayan nations. 



From these mountains issue innumerable rivers, 

 which empty themselves into the sea on all sides of 

 the island. On the north coast the largest are those 

 of Bruni, Rejang, Sarebas, of Sakarran, and of Sara- 

 wak; on the west coast are the enormous rivers of 

 Sambas and Pontianak ; on the south the great 

 river Banjar; on the south-east that of Passir; and 

 further north that of Coti : beside these are very 

 many others, all of which will be found of the greatest 

 service hereafter, in diffusing trade and civilization 

 from our new settlement ; but those above named are 

 selected on account of their great size. Between the 

 province of Sarawak and the town of Bruni are 

 upwards of twenty considerable mouths of rivers, with 

 settlements frequented by Malay boats, for the pur- 

 poses of trade ; indeed, it is probable that, with the 

 exception of the west coast of Africa, no country in 

 the world is better watered than this island. The 

 purposes of navigation will be greatly facilitated in 

 these rivers by tides, which, for a great distance, flow 

 up the larger of them ; those of the greatest size being 

 found in the flattest parts of the island. This is the 



