222 
COMPENDIUM OF GEOGRAPHY AND TRAVEL 
from the most western point of Borneo. Other ancient 
volcanoes have been described lately (1889) as existing 
in the same district. They appear to occur in the region 
of the Old Slate formation of the Devonian age. Hot 
springs, though not common, exist in many places and 
are widely distributed, being found in South and West 
Borneo and in Sarawak. 
The exploration of the island having been of necessity 
chiefly carried out by the rivers, our knowledge of the 
mountains is exceedingly limited. Land travel is both 
difficult and dangerous. Few travellers have crossed any 
of the great ranges, and details of their height are thus 
almost entirely wanting. Even concerning Kinabalu, 
whose vast mass appears as one of the most conspicuous 
features of the country to those navigating on the 
northern coast, the differences of opinion are very great, 
and of the central mountain group nothing is known. 
Kinabalu, or the “ Chinese widow,” which is situated 
towards the extreme north of the island, is, however, 
almost certainly its loftiest mountain, and possibly is not 
excelled by any other in the archipelago. The results of 
a triangulation by Sir Edward Belcher made its altitude 
to be 13,698 feet. It is an isolated mountain mass, con¬ 
sisting of several peaks forming a vast wall, which is 
higher at the western part. The northern face appears as 
a gigantic precipice, but, owing to the size of the mountain 
and the difficulties connected with its ascent, its exact con¬ 
formation is unknown. Low was the first to attain the 
summit, but it has since been ascended, entirely or in 
part, by Spenser St. John, Bove, Hatton, Little, and 
Whitehead. The view from the higher peaks is said to 
be magnificent, and numerous ranges estimated at 7000 
or 8000 feet in height are visible to the south. 
In a general south-west direction from Kinabalu an 
