8 RIVERS 



case particularly with the Rejang on the north-west, 

 and the Banjar on the south, side of the island : the 

 same applies also to the Sambas and Pontianak, 

 together with all the other rivers which, as on the 

 north coast, do not immediately descend the moun- 

 tains to the sea. These have frequently fresh water at 

 their mouths, not having to traverse any level country 

 before they disembogue. 



Lakes of considerable extent are asserted by the 

 natives to exist in the interior of the island. One 

 called the Danau Malayu, or Malay Lake, situated on 

 the head waters of the river of Pontianak, was visited 

 by an expedition from that Dutch settlement in the 

 year 1823. It ascended the river to the distance of 

 250 miles, when it was found to open out into a lake 

 of twenty-five miles in length, and nine in breadth, 

 but of no considerable depth, the average being three 

 fathoms. It was abundantly stored with excellent fish, 

 and in the centre were two islands, to which European 

 names were attached by the expedition ; one being 

 that of the Baron Van der Capellen, the then governor 

 of Netherlands, India. Before arriving at this lake 

 they had passed many falls, one of the height of 

 twenty-five feet ; the lake itself was not estimated to 

 be situated more than 100 feet above the level of 

 the sea. The great river Batang-Lupar, of which the 

 Sakarran is a branch, takes its rise very near this lake, 

 on the banks of which one or more Malay states are 

 established, with which, if the disturbances of the 

 Sakarran river were settled, a lucrative commerce would 



