BORNEO 
225 
look-out in order not to lose himself, for should this 
happen, he would he compelled to lie by until the 
following morning. In the dry season the district bore 
quite another aspect. The immense sheet of water had 
disappeared, its place being taken by a black soil, tra¬ 
versed by numerous canals and filled with clear dark- 
brown water. During the dry season, between Barabai 
and Amuntai, I could clearly distinguish the districts 
subject to periodic floods. The vegetation consists en¬ 
tirely of thickly tangled bushes, while the boundary was 
marked by the gigantic trees of the virgin forest.” 
Few countries are so plentifully furnished with rivers 
as Borneo, and, although in most cases the existence of 
bars prevents the entrance of large vessels, small craft 
can navigate them for a very large portion of their 
course. The rivers of the north-west are necessarily the 
smallest, from the proximity of the mountain range to the 
seaboard. Taking them in their order from the north, 
the first of any importance is the Limbang, better known 
as the Brunei river. From the absence of nipa palm and 
mangrove, and the bareness of its banks, it differs greatly 
from the majority of the rivers of tropical Malaysia, 
and the plentiful outcrop of coal visible in ascending the 
stream renders it still more peculiar. It is supposed 
to admit vessels of 20 feet draught, but the entrance 
is very intricate and dangerous. The Bejang, a large 
stream which rises near the central mountain mass, and 
debouches by two mouths, is of more importance, and 
much forest produce descends its stream. It is the 
largest river in Sarawak, and will admit vessels of 1000 
tons. The fort, where a Besident of the Sarawak service 
is stationed, lies 25 miles from the entrance, and ships 
can anchor off it in 7 fathoms. A small Government 
steamer ascends the river for 200 miles. The Batang 
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