342 
CRESPIGNY’S NOTES ON BORNEO. 
[June 14, 1858. 
by the several States. It also shows 26,000 miles of railway in 
operation in the United States, and nearly 3000 in Canada, and 
some 8000 or 10,000 more in process of construction, and about 
6000 miles of canals. 
The President. — I need not say that we are very much obliged to 
Mr. Poor for his very lucid explanation of this large and valuable map. 
When he tells the geographers, who have just adjudicated their gold medal of 
the year to his distinguished countryman, Professor Bache, that this map is 
founded in great part on the coast survey, we know what value is to be 
attached to it. 
2. Notes on Borneo . By Lieut. C. A. C. Be Crespigny, r.n., f.r.g.s.* 
a. Ascent of the River Limbong. 
Labuan, Sept. 7, 1857. 
Dear Dr. Shaw, — I enclose you a map or plan of the Limbong River, 
for the information of the Royal Geographical Society. May I beg 
you to send a copy to the Admiralty, as my time runs so short that 
I shall not be able to make one. 
With regard to the Limbong, but little can be said of interest. 
I ascended it in preference to any other river, because it runs 
through a less elevated country than the others in the neighbour- 
hood, and therefore its ascent at this time of year would be 
comparatively more easy, and because the late irruption of Kyans 
into the country about its upper parts created a desire to inspect the 
scene of their devastation. 
I found the country on either side of this fine stream thinly 
peopled, and the inhabitants very poor. In the upper villages, 
among the Bisayans, the people lived, in addition to their rice, 
upon wild hogs and snails, principally the latter. The Malays near 
the mouth of the river, and for 50 miles up, cultivate rice and sago, 
but not much, for fear of becoming rich, when they would fall the 
prey of one of the numerous Bruni pangerans (feudal chieftains). 
The formation of the country appears to be sandstone, slate, clay 
containing iron, blue clay, fine loam, and decayed vegetable matter. 
I passed two rapids, the lower running over large pebbles of 
sandstone; the upper, sand and snags. I passed also the ruins 
of two villages destroyed by the Kyans, who, in number 3000, had 
taken 100 heads, and two others deserted by the inhabitants, who 
had moved lower down the river. In front of one of these was 
a rude wooden statue in honour of taking a Murut chief. I arrived 
* See Proceedings, Royal Geographical Society, vol. i. p. 205, &c. — Ed. 
