BRITISH NORTH BORNEO. 325 



cannot be overrated, and it follows, that it is of the highest 

 importance that they should not be in the hands of any foreign 

 and possibly hostile power. 



The value of these harbours, in addition to their strategical 

 importance, is enhaned by the rich country lying at their back. 

 This is especially the case w r ith regard to Sandakan, into which 

 flow some fifteen rivers, taking their courses, for the most part, 

 through a country which is without doubt a field for large 

 sugar and tobacco plantations, and containing a supply of 

 timber which, from its easy access, should be a great source of 

 revenue to the Government. 



Rivers. 



The principal rivers in the territory are the Kimanis, 

 Papar, Putatan, Abai, and Tampasuk, on the West Coast, 

 Paitan and Sugut on the North, and Sibuco and Kinabatangan 

 on the East. Most of these rivers are navigable for steam 

 launches of light draught, for although, as a rule, deep water is 

 found inside the entrance, all the rivers are more or less barred. 

 The Kinabatangan is navigable for some 200 miles. Rising in 

 the ranges south of Kin a Balu, it takes its course to the sea, 

 emerging some twenty miles south of Sandakan harbour, after 

 passing through a very thinly populated country covered for 

 the most part with virgin forest, varied by occasional native 

 plantations, or patches of secondary jungle denoting where 

 former clearings have been. The quantity of floating timber 

 met with, in the rivers, renders careful navigation necessary. 



North Borneo as a field for the Planter. 



North Borneo as a new field for the crowded-out planters 

 of Ceylon and Sumatra, is not to be surpassed, for in its hills 

 and valleys will be found soil suitable to almost every tropical 

 product. Hapion in the Xeir Ceylon writes as follows, and his 

 remarks are confirmed by experts from personal observations : — 

 " The spurs and slopes of Kin a Balu are peculiarly fitted for 

 " ^rowing coffee, tea and cinchona, while the rich plains that 



