75 
to be one of the most advanced of uncivilised raccSj inhabit tlie northern 
interior, along the rivers Kutei, Baram and thu head-waters of the 
liejang and Bintftlti. Thoy are addicted to head-huntiug, and are 
believed to be an intrnding race, which has come from the East coast, 
having originally crossed from Celehcs, They are Uealtiene, and are osnally 
tattooed. 
The Malays are only found in a few centres, nnd those euHrely con^ 
fined to the vicinity of the coast, while the Dyaks occupy the greater 
part of the interior country. The J) yak praetice of takiag heads oh 
trophies was originally common among almost all the Dyak tribes, but 
has now been abolislicd where European iuHuencc is predominant. 
It was observed as a custom, but it did not imply any extraordinary 
barbarism or moral delinquency ; for it is the general opinion that 
the Dyaks are among the best of the class of semi-civilised tribes, 
being kind, truthful, and endowed with many excellent qualitieis. The 
Dyaks cultivate rice, and many kinds of vegetables, and have large 
plantations of fruit. 
Several other races have settled in Borneo, which, from its central 
position, has naturally beeu made a resort for all the surrounding 
islands. The Javanese, it is said^ at one time made a regular Settle- 
ment in South Borneo. This is attested by monuments still existing 
there, and found even as far North as the Kutei valley. The Bugis of 
Celebes have also consideral)le Settlements on thtj South and Kust of Bor- 
neo* Further North are the Settlements of the Sulus, who speak the 
Bisaya language of the Philippines, and who formerly held an extensive 
tract of country around Cape Uusang under the rule of the Sultan of 
Suln. None of the indigenous people of Borneo have invented writing, 
while the Malays all use the Arabic character. 
Among other (Joh>nists who have settled in Borneo, must be men- 
tioned the Chinese, who are to be found iu every town on the island, 
either its tradci;^, miners, me(dianics, or agriculturists. They arc most 
numerous iu the western \n\vts of the island, where gold and diamonds 
are found, and tliere are said to be nearly liiO.OlK.) Chinese in the Dutch 
territories alone. The trade of Sarawak, North Borneo and Labuan is, to 
a great extent, in their hands. But it seems probable, from old records 
of travel, that at one time the North-East part of Borneo was far more per- 
manently settled by Chinese than it has been in modern times, 
PRODUCTS. 
The principal commerce of Borneo is carried on with Singapore and 
B atari a, from the northern and southern coasts, respectively. The most 
iraportaut part of its commeree is composed of itsnafural products, especi- 
ally minerals. Among the mineral products arc gold, which is found to- 
wards the extreme West, in Sarfiwak, Sambas, and Pontianak; diamonds 
chiefly iu the same districts, and at Landak; and antimony whieh has been 
found in great abundance at Sariiwak, and is perhaps the most notable 
of all the mineral products of Borneo. It was the discovery of this metal 
which indirectly led to the occupation of Sariiwak {S^dwnk), for when the 
