158 Coal-fields of the East Indian Archipelago. 
rienced during both monsoons on the coast of Borneo than 
on the other side of the China Sea, a point of importance to 
auxiliary screw steamers when making the passage against the 
monsoon. But the spirited proprietors of the Labuan mines 
do not seem disposed to await the course of events, and the steam- 
collier they have sent out to run from Labuan to this port and 
Hongkong, (a vessel of 1,000 tons burthen and peculiarly adapted 
for the service,) is likely soon to settle the question as to whether 
the produce of the mimes of Borneo can compete with British 
coal at the Eastern depots. Sail-vessels are not well adapted for 
service as colliers in these seas, where the periodical winds blow 
for six months together in opposite directions, except when it 
happens that the mines and market are so situated with regard 
to each other that the passage can be made both ways with a fair 
wind, as is the case with Sourabaya and the coal fields of South 
Tmeo. 
The last overland mail brought intelligence that a company 
had been organized for working a coal field in Sir James Brooke's 
territory at Sarawak. Very little seems to be known about it 
Sarawak mine, however, from its inland situation, will not be so 
well adapted as a coaling station for steamers as that of Labuan, 
which lies on the shore of a navigable strait, so that passing ves- 
sels can load their coal from the pit’s mouth without diverging 
from their course. 
Banjur-Massin and Koti—The island of Borneo appears to be 
one great coal field, for every large river intersects a coal-bec 
and it seems only necessary to seek and mineral is found. Thus 
as its mines more or less convenient. Labuan, Bruni 
and Sarawak, on the north coast, the banks of the Kapuas on 
the west coast, Banjar-Massin and the banks of the Great Dyak 
River on the south coast, and Pulo Laut, Pagattan and Koti on 
the east coast, each has its coal-field, although those only which 
we notice are worked at present for other than local purposes. 
he mines of Banjar-Massin, which lie about 70 miles above the 
town, on the banks of the Batu-Api River, are the most import- 
ant of those at present worked within the Dutch-Indian territo- — 
ries, not on account of the superiority of the coal-measures, a 
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