m 
records are in existence. There m in I'act coiisitkrable doubt as to how many 
Gollections are made each year on the island : even recent reports vary. 
2. It should be noted that existing nesting colonies are situated in a great 
variety of situations. Small coastal islands are always possibilities but in direct 
opposition to this the nests may be found in jungle many miles from the sea. 
Extensive flat areas may be left out of account but isolated hills should be re|^arded 
as promising. 
Exclusive of the caves on Gomantong Hill which are the most importimt in 
the country the known nesting colonies are roughly gi-ouped together in Sehedulen 
II and III of Ordinance XII of 1914, To these should also be added the Berhala 
Island caves vide G. N. 325/28. 
Taking advantage of this published information the follovting uncritical list 
is obtained. It is almost certainly incomplete : — 
1. The Madai, Segalaong and Baturong group of caves. 
2. The Segama Oaves. 
S. Gaya Island ( East Coast ). 
4. Kelumpong Eiver. 
5. The Benobong Caves, including Pengharapan and Lingutan. 
6. The Melikop Caves. 
7. Mantanani Island. 
8. Pahun Batu (Interior). 
9. Kuamut. 
10. Melohong, 
11. Bod Tai Caves. 
12. Materis Caves, 
13. Batangan Caves. 
14. The Berhala Island Caves. 
15. The Gomantong Hill Caves. 
IX, THE GOMANTONG CAVES. 
From the commercial point of view the caves in the limestone hill of 
Gomantong are the most imjwrtant in the territory. Gomantong Hill is situated 
in the middle of the forest reserve of that name and, in a straight line^ less than 
twenty miles south of the town of Sandakan. 
The caves have often been visited and several descriptions have been published. 
The height of Gomantong Hill has been variously estimated Hp to a maximum 
4>£ 1/200 feet. The difficulties of its ascent have been exaggerated by one author : 
from base to summit the hill presents no trial greater than a steep walk or an 
easy scramble over boulders. From the summit there is a good view of Sandakan 
Bay and Pulau Berhala and, if visibility is good, Mt. Kinabalu can be seen. The 
caves, in tiie main, consist of two large chambers, one " above the other, It has 
been said that the floor or the upper cave forms the roof of the lower cave and 
this may well he so. There seems some doubt as to whether the two main 
