65 
become incorporated with the mainland.) The largest is Pulau 
Laut at the South- East comer of the East Residency and only 
separated from it by a few miles. Carlmata Island, on the 
South- West, is about lo miles long, and lies 50 miles from the 
coast of Borneo: it is uninhabited, though visited by itinerant 
Malays who collect tortoise-shell, tripang and edible birds' 
nests. The Tambelan islands lie of? the western extremity 
of Borneo, at the distance of nearly 100 miles. Off the north- 
western point, is the island of Great Natuna, with several smaller 
islets around it and nearer the coast. The inhabitants are 
Malays, and are under the authority of the Sultan of Lingin, 
and therefore under the protection of the Dutch. 
The only other islands worth noting are Balambangan and 
Banggi (Banguey) lying 10 or 12 miles from the north-eastern 
extremity of Bomeo. Their principal interest is historical, the 
East India Company having made on Balambangan its earliest 
Settlement in 1768, some 20 years before the settlement of 
Penang. 
The Sooloo, or Sulu, Archipelago is a group of neighbouring 
islands, said to be more than 150 in number, w^hose inhabi- 
tants have borne an evil reputation for piracy. They are all 
Mahomedans of Malay race, ai^d their Sultan has put 
forward claims to sovereignty over part of North Borneo and 
the island of Cagayan Sulu. Sulu itself is now held in 
dependence by the Spaniards. The pearl fisheries in its 
neighbourhood have long been renowned. 
Mfiunfains. — Two extensive chains may be traced, with 
many breaks, outlying spurs, and table-lands* The higher 
and more northerly runs from Cape Datu in 25° 5' North, 
through the length ,of the island. Its different parts are 
