NORTH BORNEO. 
O 1 
Ol 
The vegetable growth on the banks and many small islands of the Padas River was 
most interesting to me, this being the first time I had ascended a great tropical river. The 
first few miles are thickly covered with mangrove-swamps ; the mangroves are much stunted 
on the edge of the swamp, but in suitable backwaters they form quite a forest of forty to fifty 
feet in height; these trees only exist in salt or brackish water, where their many-branched 
roots at low water form a most remarkable sight. Mangroves ( Rhizophora) are amongst the 
first rank of the land-reclaimers ; so important is the work performed by them, that the remains 
of old swamps may now be dug up many miles inland ; this I especially noticed on the 
shallow muddy coast of Malacca, which in time will possibly be again joined to the opposite 
coast of Sumatra by the aid of these shrubs ; and wonderfully is their work performed. 
As it would be impossible for the edge of the swamp to encroach much on the sea 
without some special arrangement for its increase, the mangroves drop roots from their 
branches, which soon become firmly fixed in the soft mud, and thus give great stability 
to the trees, that otherwise could hardly withstand the force of wind and tide; the seeds, 
we are told by botanists, “ have the peculiarity of germinating whilst still attached to the 
parent branch, a long thick radicle proceeding from the seed .... extending rapidly 
downwards, till the fruit falls off into the mud, into which its club-like form enables it to 
penetrate.” The root-branches also serve another important function : they collect and 
hold together mud, sand, and any alluvial debris that may be washed amongst them either 
by the river or sea ; by gradual encroachments the tide-way is lessened, and when the water 
is not sufficiently brackish for their need the mangroves die off, giving place to other members 
of the vegetable kingdom that closely follow up the inland fringe of these swamps. 
A mangrove-swamp forms a secure retreat for many species of birds, mostly belonging to 
the two families of Herons and Sandpipers : in the Bornean swamps I noticed several common 
European species—Redshanks, Godwits, Wood and Common Sandpipers, Turnstones, and 
several species of Eastern Plovers ; needless to say they form splendid places for crocodiles, 
myriads of crabs and Jumping Johnnies (Periophthalmus Jccelreutsri), not forgetting mos¬ 
quitoes. The only use to which mangroves are put by the natives is the procuring of salt 
from the seeds and roots by burning. 
JUMPING JOHNNIES. 
Next in order come huge beds of Nipa palms (N. fruticans); this growth continues as 
long as the water is sufficiently brackish, and on the Padas River one might paddle for a 
day without reaching the next or forest vegetation. The roots of the Nipa are firmly held 
