72 BRITISH BORNEO. 
distant from Sandakan a thousand miles, and it is a curious 
fact, that though many of the exports are ultimately intended 
for the China market, e.g., edible birds’-nests, the Chinese tra- 
ders find it pays them better to send their produce to Singa- 
pore in the first instance, instead of direct to Hongkong: 
This is partly accounted for by the further fact that, though 
the Government has spent considerable sum in endeavouring 
to attract Chinamen from China, the large proportion of our 
Chinese traders and of the Chinese population generally has 
come to us w7@ Singapore, after as it were having undergone 
there an education in the knowledge of Malayan affairs. 
As further illustrating the commercial and strategical ad- 
vantages of the harbours cf British North Borneo, it should 
be noted that the course recommended by the Admiralty in- 
structions for vessels proceeding to China from the Straits, 
vid the Palawan passage, brings them within ninety miles of 
the harbours of the West Coast. 
As to postal matters, British North Borneo, though not in 
the Postal Union, has entered into arrangements for the ex- 
change of direct closed mails with the English Post Office, 
London, with which latter also, as well as with Singapore and 
India, a system of Parcel Post and of Post Office Orders has 
been established. 
The postal and inland revenue stamps, distinguished by the 
lion, which has been adopted as the Company’s badge, are 
well executed and in considerable demand with stamp col- 
lectors, owing to their rarity. 
The Government also issues its own copper coinage, one 
cent and half-cent pieces, manufactured in Birmingham and 
of the same intrinsic value as those of Hongkong and the 
Straits Settlements. 
The revenue derived from its issue is an important item to the 
Colony’s finances, and considerable quantities have been put 
ino circulation, not only within the hmits of the Company's 
territory, but also in Brunai and in the British Colony of La- 
buan, where it has been proclaimed a legal tender on the 
condition of the Company, in return for the profit which they 
reap by its issue in the island, contributing to the impover- 
ished Colonial Treasury the yearly sum of $3,000. 
