February 2 , 1891 .] 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST, 
597 
SAMBAS IN WESTEEN BOENEO. 
( Translated from the “ Indische Mercuur" for 
the“ Trojpical Agriculturist,'’ by Mr. John 
Dent- Young.) 
Searching for Gold — Sambas and its Descrip- 
tion — Connexion of Netherlands ’with 
Sambas — the Sultan — Agricultural Un- 
dertakings. 
There was » time when the very name of 0 alifornia 
caused excitement. Huzza ! for California ! the cry 
gold ! gold ! resounded on every side. Later on 
Australia was the ceutve to which all eyes were turned. 
There again was gold, the attraction which drew vast 
crowds to that part of the globe. And now whenever 
we take up a journal, we find gold to be the great excit- 
ing cau'e of the multitude. 
Numerous are the associations which are now work- 
ing gold mines with more or less success in South 
Africa, and multitudes are pre'enting requests to the 
Resident of West Borneo for permission to set on 
foot scientific examinations of sites for gold mines. 
No less thin thirty-three such applications have been 
tendered in Sambas alone, whilst in other parts of 
the Residency 60 concessions have been applied for. 
Public attention bad hardly been turned on Sambas 
before requests poured in for such concessions. Thanks 
to the ready co-operation of the Resident and the 
Sultan, but little formality is necessary in making those 
requests. Frequently the simple mediation of a friend 
has been sufficient. As a preliminary, the application is 
made for permi.ssion to institute a scientific search for 
gold, for the Government iusi.sts on this, and it is 
only after the lapse of three years that the permission 
is exchanged for a notarial contract. In this way the 
danger of sinking capital in a bottomless pit is greatly 
diminished if not altogether avoided. During these 
three years there is surely time to make such an in- 
spection of the ground as can establish proof of its 
being able to repay the cost of working or not; if 
unfavourable, no further loss is incurred, than the 
outlay for making the inspection, a risk inseparably 
connected with all such undertakings. 
But we are speaking of the district of Sambas as if 
it was a well-known locality to each and all, whilst 
some of our readers may be desirous of know- 
ing more about the posses.sion, for which 
reason we propose to give the following brief 
sketch of it : — Sambas is under a Sultan dependent on 
Netherland, situated at the northern extremity of 
West Borneo ; it is bounded on the north by Sarawak, 
on the east and south by Landak, on the south 
by Mampawa, and on the west by the sea, or to be 
more precise it stretches from Tandjoug Datu in the 
north-west to the Duri river which forms tho 
southern boundary, to the north and north-east it 
is bounded by tlie mountain chains of Kriuabang- 
Semadju and Kewai, whilst on the south and south- 
east it is separated from Sanggow and Landak by tho 
Kurum, Bajang, Mint and Pandang mountain ranges. 
Sambas comprehends the basin of the river of the 
same name, from its mouth to its confluence with the 
Sambas Kiri and Kanan.* The Sambas river takes 
its rise in the above-named southern chain of meun- 
tains, and falls into the sea at Pemangkat after 
traversing the Oliiue ‘6 settlement of Larak, becoming 
navigable at Ledo. To the north of the iSambas river 
rises the mountain of Palo, well-known for the iron 
of superior quality that it used to furnish. 
Sambos, the chief town of the State, lies at the con- 
fluence of the abovenained two branches. It presents 
to the visitor but little beauty fur his ao'miration. 
It contains however a good place of entertainment, so 
that anyone wishing to make some stay thera 
will find no difiiculty in obtaining a lodging. Sambas 
is at the same timo of ea.sy access. Every month a 
steamship belonging to tlio Ned. Ind. Steam Navi- 
gation Company haves ’J’jandjoug (Chanjong) Piiuk 
for Pontiaiiak via Biliton. Soon after the arrival of 
this ship, a stoamer belonging to the transport con- 
* Kiri and Kauau are tho Malay words for right 
and left. 
75 
tractor leaves the port according to the terms of the con- 
tract for Siutang, whilst one of the ships belonging to 
the Indian Marino loaves for Sambas rirr Singkawang. 
The vessel of the transport contractor leaves Pontianak 
on the last day of every monih for Singapore via 
Singkawang and returns by the same course. 
Should the traveller not with to go direct from 
Bjtavia. he should take his passage on board one of 
the fine steamships built expressly for this service, 
the “Ban What Soon” ortho “Ban What Hien,” 
the former of these two has plied for years between 
Bill ton and Pontianak, and the latter has for some 
months taken her course via Sambas. The development 
of the mining and cu-tivating operations on the con- 
ces.'-ions will <lecide if steam communication can be con- 
tinued. As tho two lastnamed vessels are bound by no 
contract, they do not adhere to any particular time, 
and therefore the transit via Batavia is to be preferred, 
as well as on account of the necessary formalities 
■ which have to be fulfilled. Let us then select this 
route, go over to Pontianak, and thence make our way 
to the Sambas river. As we enter its mouili, we see 
what appears to be a vast lake, as the river for some 
distance inland is of great breadth. Eotli sides are 
bordered by thickly-wooded hills, amongst which the 
lofty Peribangan rears its head, overtopped in height 
by the more distant Bukit Pemongkat, whose dark 
summit and light-green sides are recognized at a great 
distance. On the right bank towers on high the 
Kalimbu, a so-oalled saddle mountain. To the left 
of us is the Chinesa settlement, while in our 
front, to the north-east the Bukit Raja extends its 
crown towards the heavens, whilst its foot stretches 
away like a tongue of land ending in the rocky Kalimbu. 
But let us make way for the words of the admirable 
writer on Borneo’s West Coast: — “Further eastward 
a noble panorama opens to the view, endless forests 
fringed on the seaside with tjemaras (chimara trees) 
and extending beyond the Kume and Batoug Moun- 
tains, which appear like grey masses defined in sharp 
outline against a cloudless sky, with the Sambas river 
shiuing through occasional openings like a silver band. 
Here bright green rice-fields and gardens, next 
clumps of coconut palms and other fruit trees, lie 
like islands spread about in this of sea green. 
In the midst rises the Bukit Pemangkat. Its sum- 
mit is clothed with heavy timber, its slopes are 
p'anted with enau palms, or are terraced for rice culti- 
vation. From all parts flow rivulets ; here, rushing 
wildly over bare crags whence they are led to water tho 
neighbouring rice-fields ; there, wiuding gently amongst 
magnificent orchids, and laicturesquely intwined, 
climbing plants which serve to protect man and beast ; 
westward lies the boundless sea before us, always in 
motion, always full of life. And through the green 
waters shiue huge stones and rocks rvith which the 
coast is strewed.” 
A sandbank in the embouchure of the river, alas I 
prevents the entrance of ships of greater draught thau 
12 feet ; higher up the Sambas presents no features of 
imporiance except to the lover of the picturesque. 
“Besides the Chinese Settlement at the base of the 
Pemankat,” thus continues the Heer Veth, “nothing 
beyond the town is to be met with, as a sign of habi- 
tation not a speck of cultivated ground. Ail is morass 
and wiliiernoss, amongst which trees of amazing 
height fores their way upwards, and the silence of the 
forest is [leldom disturbed by the traces or presence of 
animal life. The small river (a branch of the Sambas) 
presents at its frequent windings most lovely prospects 
often not Itss remartable for their fantastic forms 
than for their tropical luxuriance. There is the home 
of the orangutan (Malay — oraiii/ man, jiiafi forest), and 
of thousands of smaller apes, here the buzzing of 
myriads of insects unites with the song or divers 
noises of birds, whilst dangerous crocodiles lurk for 
their prey amongst the walor-plaiits on tho bank.s.” 
The country between the river Eamhas and the 
already mentioned river Duri is intersected by' 
numerous small .streams, most of them haviug their 
sources iu the Mandor di.stricts. 
Amongst the.se and further inland tlia Ohiuese 
Settlements are spread about, the inhabitants of 
