76 
existence of this ore was firit heard of in Singftpare, it was what was then 
called "the Dyak Town of SerawaTf " that sent it. The Sambts Chiefs, 
who at first got the trade, in a short time desputcheti 1,400 tons of ove. 
But when it was learned that it fetched a good price in Singapore^ the 
Bmnei Chiefs, from whom Mr. Bhooke afterwards obtained Sarflwak, 
settled there; and antimony ore has since been a regular article of export. 
Mercury, iron and coal are ako found ; the latter in several places, mines 
having been worked at Labnan, Sadong, i%c., and at Banjer-Masin. Tliis 
ift the only island of the Archipelago which has yielded diaroouds, the 
largest known bein^ one of 307 carats. The principal diamond mines are 
those of Landak, about 50 miles froDi the Chinese territory of Pontianak. 
Coal is worked in several partsof the Dntch territory, and promitiing beds 
occur in Mja Brooke*s territory aud in British North Borneo. 
The vegetation of Borneo is exceedingly luxuriant, the whole island 
being, with few exceptions, one vast forest. It is especially rich in palms 
and forest trees, few oF which have yet been hotanically described. Tiie 
vegetation is, of coui-se, thoroughly Malayan, pnjducing pepper, niai/e, riee, 
s»go,yanis, cotton, opium, delicious frniU, such as mangosteensand dnrians ; 
fine woods, as iron-wciod, sandal- wood, and ebony ; rattans, cassia, thc 
gutta-percha tree, camphor, benzoin, eajeput oil, indigo, iJcc, Pepper is 
also produced. 
The most remarkable feature in the Zoology of Borneo is the absence 
or rarity of many large iinimals, found in the adjacent islands. Thus, the 
tiger and the le()pard of Juva and Sumatra are imknown, their place being 
hiupplied by a snuiller species, the Ftlla Mtn^ro.-ti^eib. Hardly less rcnnirk- 
able is the absence of both the eli^phant and rhinoceros fnnn l)y far the 
greater part of the couulry. The most intfrcsting of the hirge suiiinals 
are the orang-outang (u^xt to the gorilla the largest liiing ape), the wild 
cattle, and the probo^icis monkey. Sqnirreln, deer, and wild swine are 
throughout most abundant. 
In its birds, this island agrees very closely with Sumaira, the peacock 
being absent, while the argus ami Hre-bfickcd phcusants idjouud. 
IIISTOIIV. 
The growth of European influence in Borneo has been less steady 
and more intermittent than was the case in the Straits oi- in Java. 
The Europeans who first visiteil this island, early in llie 16th century 
were Lorenzo de Gomez in 1518, and Piuafetta, with the -ships of 
Magellan's expedition, in 1521. Both named it Bnniei, fropi tht? 
port and principal town on its N.W. shores, at which^ taking the most 
open course, they happened to touch. This name, written by the Malays 
themfielves 3rmi or Burnij is obviously the Sanskrit Bharni or IJfiOorni, 
("land"). Its conversion into Borneo, and its application to the whole 
island, came into use among Europeans in the 17th century. Some writers 
have stated that the island^ in its whole extent, is cfdled by the natives 
Tanak Kelamantftn. The .Malays, in the Dutch portions of the island 
especially, use this name. But those wiio have had more intercourse with 
the native tribes of BorueOj deny that they have, or ever had, any general 
