Through Central Borneo | Page 9

of the vast jungles, except in case of thunderstorms,
which are rare, there is no wind, but on the coasts one may encounter
storms in the time of both the northeast and the southwest monsoons.
Though Borneo and the central mountains of New Guinea have the
greatest rainfall in the Malay Archipelago, there is a distinct dry season,
which is mostly felt during April, May, and June, but is less noticeable
in the central parts. As regards the distribution of rain and dry weather,
some difference was experienced as between the two years, and a
planter of several years' experience in the south told me that one year is
not like another. In spite of the general supposition to the contrary the

climate of Borneo is quite pleasant, and probably less unhealthful than
most equatorial regions, particularly in the central part where malaria is
rare and prickly heat does not occur.
Borneo has very many useful trees, notably hard woods. Rubber is still
a source of income to the Malays and Dayaks, and the rattan and
bamboo, on which the very existence of the natives depends, grow
everywhere. The sago-palm and a great number of valuable wild fruits
are found, such as the famous durian, mangosteen, lansat, rambutan,
and others. The climate seems to be specially suited to fruit, the
pineapple and pomelo reaching their highest perfection here. The
coconut-palm thrives on the island. Borneo is famous for its orchids
and most of the species of pitcher-plants (_nepenthes_) are found here,
the largest of which will hold two "quarts" of water.
The elephant, rhinoceros, tapir, wild cattle, and many other kinds of
smaller animals of Asia are found in Borneo. No Indian tigers are in the
country, though many varieties of the cat family are there, among them
the beautiful large felis nebulosa. Wild pigs of many species roam the
jungle in abundance. Several kinds of mammals are peculiar to the
island, among which may be mentioned the long-nosed monkey
(_nasalis larvatus_). There are over 550 species of birds, but the
individuals of the species are not numerous; the pheasant family is
especially gorgeous in form and colour. The rivers and the surrounding
sea swarm with fish of many kinds, furnishing an abundance of food,
although generally not very palatable. The djelavat, in flavour not
unlike salmon, and the salap, both of which I met in the upper courses
of the rivers Samba, Barito, and Mahakam, are notable exceptions.
The mineral resources of Borneo are very considerable; coal, gold, iron,
diamonds, tin, and antimony are among the most valuable. Anthracite
coal is not found in the country, that which is in evidence being from
the tertiary period. Gold is everywhere, but thus far is not found in
sufficient quantity to pay. Formerly the natives of the upper
Kotawaringin district had to pay the Sultan gold as a tax. A mining
engineer told me that in Martapura, the principal diamond-field, one
may find gold, platinum, and diamonds while washing one pan.

The total population of the island is probably 3,000,000. As regards the
South and Eastern Division of Dutch Borneo--roughly half of the
island--to which my travels were confined, the census returns of 1914
give in round figures a total of 906,000 people, of whom 800 are
Europeans (470 men and 330 women), 86,000 Chinese, 817,000
Dayaks and Malays, and 2,650 Arabs and other aliens. Of these peoples
no less than 600,000 live in a comparatively small area of the southeast,
the districts of Oeloe Soengei and Bandjermasin. These are nearly all
Malays, only 4,000 or 5,000 being Dayaks, who probably do not form
the majority of the 217,000 that make up the remainder of the native
population of the Division.
On account of the small white population and insufficient means of
communication, which is nearly all by river, the natural resources of
Dutch Borneo are still in the infancy of development. The petroleum
industry has reached important proportions, but development of the
mineral wealth has hardly begun. In 1917 a government commission,
having the location of iron and gold especially in view, was sent to
explore the mineral possibilities of the Schwaner Mountains. In the
alluvial country along the rivers are vast future possibilities for rational
agriculture, by clearing the jungle where at present the Malays and
Dayaks pursue their primitive operations of planting rice in holes made
with a pointed stick.
The early history of Borneo is obscure. Nothing in that regard can be
learned from its present barbarous natives who have no written records,
and few of whom have any conception of the island as a geographical
unit. Although the Chinese had early knowledge of, and dealings with,
Borneo, there seems little doubt that the country was first colonised by
Hindu Javanese from Modjopahit, the most important of the several