346 
CRESPIGNY’S NOTES ON BORNEO. 
[June 14 , 1858 * 
is of an oval shape, near the river Landik, two miles its greatest 
breadth, three fathoms its greatest depth; both are fresh- water 
lakes. The river Bongan itself, rising in the mountainous region 
of Kinibalu, is at its mouth not wider than 100 yards, and at full 
and change the depth is lj fathom, which is maintained more 
than a mile out to sea, when the water deepens, so that small 
vessels only can enter the river. Within its mouth it is navigable 
for eight miles. The tide is felt about two miles from the em- 
bouchure, and the water is fresh at ebb tide half a mile from it. 
The mountains on the west of Maliidu are also sandstone. In one 
hill are masses of iron pyrites. Above Limbong Batu the hills on 
the left bank are of sandstone, and presented the same appearance 
as those first described. To the east of them runs the Bongan, here 
a mountain stream tumbling over the masses of rock that at various 
times have fallen down the side of the mountains into the river. 
The valley of the Bongan is from two to five miles wide. Beyond 
that river are the Natu Hills, beyond which flows the Natu River, 
which joins the Bongan a little above Limbong Batu. To the west 
runs the Buam River, which joins the Maludu a little below. Be- 
yond it the Buam Hills are 2500 feet high. 
At Marak Parak I first observed granite, large masses of which 
lay in the bed of the river, together with syenite, serpentine, and 
sandstone. The banks of the river, in some places 20 feet high, 
were composed of a conglomerate consisting of large round pebbles 
of sandstone, and other stones of the above description, embedded 
in a hardened clay, now indeed as hard as the stones themselves. 
This conglomerate was evidently in former ages deposited by the 
river itself, which has since worked its way into a deeper channel. 
The Dusuns brought me pieces of crystal, of mica and of green 
soapstone, but, as they set a, to me, fabulous price upon them, I 
did not purchase any. 
Marak Parak is situated at the foot of M. Kapokan, 8000 feet 
high. I did not ascend it very far, but in all probability the granite 
formation here first shows itself, as, although the base was sand- 
stone, the mountain did not present the same appearance as those 
of the north. By observations and cross-bearings I found myself 
much to the east of where I should have imagined the river to run, 
Mount Kinibalu bearing from me w.s.w. I had thus, as it were, 
got on the other side of the mountain, as it appears from the sea, 
and here I received information of the lakes. The appearance of 
Kinibalu from this vicinity is that of a huge mountain rising 
abruptly in the west, its crest sloping away gradually to the east, 
until it is lost sight of behind the tops of the nearer hills. Between 
