612 NOTICES OF THE CHINESE INTERCOURSE WITH BORNEO. 
their nation who reigned in Brun£ at some ancient date. But the ac¬ 
count of their tradition given by the writer of the Notices in the Chi¬ 
nese Repository (Aug. 1838) is probabiy the correct one. Accord¬ 
ing to him they trace their origin to three stocks—Johore Malays, 
Chinese and Serips (probably Arab Serifs). 
The tradition in question is confirmed by the large Chinese po¬ 
pulation and trade which Europeans found in Borneo during the 
17th and 18th centuries. Mr. Hunt indeed says, “ when the Por¬ 
tuguese [Spanish] first visited Borneo in 1520 [1521] the whole 
island was in a most flourishing state. The number of Chinese 
that had settled on her shores was immense; the products of their 
industry, and an extensive commerce with China in junks, gave her 
land and cities a far different aspect from her decayed appearance at 
this day, and their princes and courts exhibited a splendour and 
displayed a magnificence which has long since vanished.” Mr. Hunt 
does not give his authority for the first part of this statement. The 
translation of Pigafetta’s narrative which we have, does not mention 
the Chinese, although the flourishing state in which the port was 
found by the Spaniards,* implies the existence of a large trade in 
which the Chinese must have taken a part. The circumstance of 
van Noort in 1600 employing a Chinese to open an intercourse with 
Brunet seems to shew that Chinese were well acquainted With 
the customs of the place and probably established there. During 
the 18th century we have more accurate statements respecting 
the extent of the junk trade with Borneo. In almost every port 
frequented by Europeans we have from time to time a notice of the 
junks which regularly visited them. Thus when the English were 
at Banjermassing in 1702.J four junks arrived during the mon¬ 
soon, each 15 fathoms long and 4 broad, with cargoes of porcelain 
ware, China silk, tea pots, umbrellas, &c., which were bought by 
the Javanese merchants and by the Chinese from Samarang. These 
junks took return cargoes of pepper.§ In 1712 an embassy was 
sent from Banjermassing* to invite the Dutch to trade there. It 
* ante p. 498. f ante p. 505. * ante p. 508. 
§ Valentyn, vol. iii. p. 248. “ At Banjermassing a very large trade is 
carried on by different nations who resort to this place and other villages 
of the island, amongst whom the Chinese, Siamese, Johorese, Javanese, 
Palem-bangers, Portuguese, English and Nethe landers are the principal, 
but the Chinese form a large portion ofthe inhabitants of Banjermassing.” 
Ouden Niew Oost Indien vol. III. p, 237. Ten or Twelve junks came 
annually from China, Siam and Johore. 
