Eastern Islands.] 



ORIENTAL COMMERCE. 



413 



N, N. W. direction, to 3° 46' N., of an oblong form ; broadest towards the 

 N. end, and tapering small towards the S.» having several good bays. 

 The principal town and bay are about the middle of the W. coast, and 

 called Taroona, in latitude 3° 28 N., and longitude 125° 44?' E. The 

 anchorage is within a mile of the shore, in 60 fathoms, near a small river or 

 watering place. There is also another town, called Tabockang, nearly 

 opposite on the E. coast. On anchoring, the canoes come oft" in great 

 numbers with goats, fowl*, yams, coco-nuts, and various fruits and 

 vegetables, for which they prefer white metal buttons to any other com- 

 modity ; of money they have scarcely an idea. This and the neighbouring 

 islands abound with coco-nuts; a fathom of brass wire will purchase 100; 

 an ordinary knife 300; and four knives, a ballet, or 60 lbs. of coco-nut 

 oil, and other articles in proportion. Water is procured from the river, 

 but must be rafted off, which requires great caution, as the tides run very 

 rapidly near the island. The inhabitants are numerous, and appear mild 

 and benevolent ; many of them are habited like Chinese. 



The island of Siao bears about S. by W. from Sangir, distant from 13 

 to 13 leagues. 



BORNEO, one of the largest islands in the world, stretching from the 

 4th deg. of S. to the 8th dcg. of N. latitude, and from 150 to 158 degrees of 

 E. longitude, abounds with rivers and harbours, of which the following are 

 those chiefly frequented by the English: — Banjar Massin, Succadana, 

 Pontiana, Momparva, Sambass, Borneo, and Passier. There is a place 

 called Sinkawang, between Pontiana and Sambass, peopled with Chinese in 

 considerable numbers, which has lately been much resorted to by our ships ; 

 but the Dutch, to whom it belongs, have interdicted foreign intercourse. 



By recent advices, it appears that the Netherlands Government, having 

 subjected several native states, have become undisputed masters of all that 

 part of Borneo, from the Eastern confines of the state of Banjar Massif! to 

 the Northern boundary of that of Sambass ; which includes all the gold and 

 diamond mines of the island. The ports which are now open to European com- 

 merce, are said to be Banjar Massin, Pontiana, Momparva, and Sambass only. 



The latest and most authentic account of this vast island may be found 

 in the late Dr. Leyden's Sketch of the Island of Borneo. 



BANJAR MASSIN is situated a considerable way up a river, which 

 empties itself into the sea some distance from Point Salatan, the S. extreme 

 of Borneo, which is in latitude 4? 10' S., and longitude 114° 42' E. There 

 was formerly a town of that name, about 12 English miles from the sea ; 

 hnl it is now removed about six miles higher up, and called Tattas. 

 The mouth of the river is shallow, which obliges vessels of burthen to 



