io6 



SCIENCE. 



[Vol. XVII. No. 420 



be difiScult to prove any thing except accidental coincidences 

 among the lines of the different elements. Accurate investigation 

 generally reveals some slight difference of wave-length or a com- 

 mon impurity. 



Furthermore, the strength of the lines in the solar spectrum is 

 generally very nearly the same as that in the electric arc, with 

 only a few exceptions, as, for instance, calcium. The cases 

 mentioDed by Lockyer are generally those where he mistakes 

 groups of lines for single lines, or even mistakes the character of 

 the line entirely. Altogether there seems to be very little evidence 

 of the breaking-up of the elements in the sun, as far as my experi- 

 ments go. 



Even after comparing tlie solar spectrum with all known ele- 

 ments, there are still many important lines not accounted for. 

 Some of these I have accounted for by silicon, and there are 

 probably many more. Of all known substances, this is the most 

 difficult to bring out the lines in the visible spectrum, although it 

 has a fine ultra-violet one. Possibly iron may account for many 

 more, and all tlie elements at a higher temperature might develop 

 more. Then, again, very rare elements, like scandium, vanadium, 

 ■etc., when they have a strong spectrum, may cause strong solar 

 lines, and thus we may look for new and even rare elements to 

 account for very many more. Indeed, I find many lines ac- 

 counted for by the rare elements in gadolinite, samarskite, and 

 fergusoniteother than yttrium, erbium, scandium, praeseodymium, 

 neodymium, lanthanum, and cerium, which I cannot identify 

 yet, and which may be without a name. For this reason, and to 

 discover rare elements, I intend finally to try unknown minerals, 

 as my process gives me an easy method of detecting any new 

 substance or analyzing minerals however many elments they may 

 contain. 



The research is much indebted to the faithful and careful work 

 of Mr. L. E. Jewell, who has acted as my assistant for several 

 years. Preliminary publications ot results will be made in the 

 University Circulars. 



Among the latest results I may mention the spectroscopic sepa- 

 ration of yttrium into three components, and the actual separa- 

 tion into two. Heney a. Rowland. 



DUTCH BORNEO. 



Little is known of the interior of the Island of Borneo, and 

 therefore the information supplied by Heer S. W. Tromp in the 

 Tijdschrift van het Kon. Nederlandsch Aardrijkslcundig Genoot., 

 Deel vii. No. 4, though incomplete, is very acceptable. In 1885 

 he steamed up the Mahakam River to Muvara-Pahu; a village 

 about 190 miles from the sea. Near the coast the land is flat, and 

 is being laid out in rice-fields. It would also, in Heer Tromp's 

 opinion, be suitable for the cultivation o£ sugar-cane. Farther up 

 the river, hilly country is entered, covered with a layer of yel- 

 lowish-red soil, of little value for agriculture. After eight hours' 

 steaming from Samarinda, Heer Tromp passed the mouth of the 

 Sebulu River, and two hours and a half later reached Naga- 

 Beulur. Here the hills, which extend from Pelarang (a short 

 distance below Samarinda), suddenly terminate, and the river 

 emerges through a narrow channel from a level tract, stretching 

 northwards probably to the frontier of Berau, which was for- 

 ^merly the bed of a larfre lake. Even now this depression is 

 not entirely filled up. Meres and morasses of large area lie on 

 either side of the Mahakam, and whcQ the water is high, that is, 

 -during the greater part of the year, a lai-ge proportion of the 

 country is submerged. The district of the Upper Mahakam is 

 inhabited by a tribe of Dyaks, known as Bahau-Dyaks in Kutei, 

 and elsewhere as Pari-Dyaks. Their number is estimated at 4,500. 

 Formerly they were notorious head-hunters, and were much 

 dreaded in the Baritu valley, but of late greater security has been 

 established by the interference of the Sultan of Kutei. 



The development of the country, however, has not been accel- 

 erated thereby, for, with the festivals held on the bringing-home 

 of heads, has also disappeared the stimulus to industry. Large 

 sums were formerly expended in gala-dresses for the women, of 

 silk adorned with beads; and tobacco and rice were provided in 

 ' From the Scottish Geographical Magazine for February, 1891. 



abundance. Moreover, the Buginese dealers, as they have circu- 

 lated more freely through the country, have introduced hazard 

 and cock-fighting, with the most disastrous consequences. The 

 steamer in which Heer Tromp travelled was unable to ascend the 

 river beyond Muvara-Pahu, but he himself advanced some dis- 

 tance farther in a rowing-boat. As far as Juhalang the river is 

 easily navigable; but beyond, the current is too strong, except 

 when the water is abnormally low, and at Kapala-kiham a series 

 of waterfalls practically limits the navigation. 



Hence the difficulty of extending Dutch rule into Upper Kutei. 

 Indeed, communication with Sarawak along the Seliku, one of 

 the mos5 important affluents of the Mahakam, which rises in the 

 Batu-Tibang opposite the sources of one of the tributaries of the 

 Batang-Rejang, seems to be more feasible than with the Lower 

 jNIehakam. It is also possible to reach the Upper Kayan by the 

 Boh River, which enters the Mahakam above the first fall; but it 

 necessitates a journey of eight days on the river, and three over 

 uneven and stony country to the highest navigable point of the 

 Laya, a tributary of the Kayan. In the last-mentioned river an 

 obstruction is said to exist even more formidable than the falls on 

 the Mahakam. This remote country is inhabited by a number of 

 Dyak tribes, which, as well as the Bahau-Dyaks of the Malakam, 

 the Kenyas of the Upper Kayan, and others, had their home 

 originally near the sources of Kayan. Since sucri insurmountable 

 obstacles to communication exist on the routes already discussed, 

 Heer Tromp turns his attention to the Kapuas River on the west. 

 He passes over the lower course of the river up to Bunut with 

 only a few cui-sory remarks, as it has been already described by 

 Professor Veth in his Borneo's Wester afdeeling. The town of 

 Bunut, at the mouth of a tributary of the same name, is the 

 capital of the last Malayan kingdom. 



Several affluents enter the main stream before the next town of 

 any importance, Putus-Sibow, is reached. Here the Dyaks carry 

 on a considerable trade with the Malay dealers, bartering the 

 products of their forests against copper utensils, salt, tobacco, 

 linen, crockery, etc. In 1888 Heer Tromp ascended this river, 

 the Kapuas, in a steamer as far as the mouth of the Mendalam, a 

 distance of 400 miles from the sea. It will be seen at once that it 

 possesses a great advantage over the Mahakam, on which naviga- 

 tion is possible only for a distance of 250 miles. 



Moreover, the Mendalam can be ascended by steamer, and Heer 

 Tromp continued his journey in a boat up the Kapuas itself as 

 far as Lunsa. Hajji Achmet, a native clerk, ascended the Bougan 

 River, which enters the Kapuas at Lunsa, and its affluent the 

 Bulet, to a point whence, he heard, the Seputan, a tributary of 

 the Kaso, which flows into the Mahakam, could be reached in a 

 day's march. This appears probable, for nowhere in this country 

 are elevations of any great height to be seen. The Taman-Dyaks, 

 who dwell on the Upper Kapuas, are more civilized than the 

 Bahaus or the Kayans. Their women wear tasteful sarongs 

 ornamented with beads and shells, and do not tattoo themselves, 

 like the Kayan women. 



EDUCATION IN GERMANY. ' 

 The resolutions arrived at by the Conference on School Reform 

 in Berlin may be summed up as follows : — 



(1) Only two kinds of high schools are to survive, — gymnasia 

 and non-Latin or non-classical schools (oberrealschulen and hohere 

 biirgerschulen). A common lower school for gymnasia and non- 

 Latin schools, so warmly advocated by many, is considered un- 

 desirable. The change from the one school to the other will be 

 facilitated in every possible manner. 



(2) The over-pressure, which is one of the most crying evils at 

 the present time, is to be greatly reduced. A diminution of the 

 hours devoted to Latin and Greek is considered possible, without 

 any risk to the supremacy of classics. The Latin essay is to be 

 abolished, as well as the Greek translation in the written exami- 

 nation for remove into the prima. German is to become the chief 

 subject of instruction. Contemporary history is to be more 

 thoroughly studied, without, however, adding to the hours as- 

 signed to history. 



» From the London Journal of Education. 



