332 The Gardens of the Sun. [ch. xvi. 



any case the moral force of firearms is generally sufficient. 

 A good revolver is always a source of interest and amuse- 

 ment (perhaps sometimes of awe) to uncivilised people, 

 and a good douhle breech-loading shot-gun is reaUy use- 

 ful, besides affording some amusement to the traveller 

 who obtains food or natural history specimens thereby. 

 Where there are wild pigs, deer, elephant, or other large 

 game, a rifle is of service, and a Winchester repeater is 

 both handy and effective, weighing about 101b. A shot- 

 gun is the most useful, however, of all weapons, and if 

 fitted with ball or No. 1 shot cartridges is very effective 

 at short ranges with deer, wild cattle, or pigs. It should 

 be of what is called No. 12 bore, as cartridges of that 

 size may be bought nearly everywhere, where ammunition 

 is sold. 



If we except the Sarawak principality and the Dutch 

 possessions to the southward and eastward, Borneo may 

 be called a perfectly wild country — a land where laws, 

 jails, horses, roads, and missionaries are unknown. The 

 futm'e prospects of this tropical island, so rich in natural 

 products, so fertile under rude cultivation, and withal so 

 extensive and beautiful, are deserving of more than a 

 passing notice. A large proportion of the country is 

 hilly, and covered with old forest. Near the coast the 

 land is generally well watered by shallow rivers. On the 

 higher hill ranges which lie a few miles inland from the 

 north-west coast, the climate, which is in the plains sultry 

 and malarious, becomes fresh and salubrious. The 

 natives are few in proportion to the area, and generally 

 peaceably disposed towards strangers, but suspicious of 

 ulterior motives, and remarkably cautious, and now then 

 avaricious in matters of trade and barter. They invari- 

 ably prefer sound useful articles, such as white or black 

 cloth, to ornamental gewgaws. 



