hour I have spent in this manner, slaughtering the
buzzing little demons, and wondering for what special
purpose such insects are created. I have mentioned
the most common of the insects which infest houses
in Labuan; among the rarer ones are large spiders,
five or six inches across their extended leg s; an occasional
centipede, large moths,5 various kinds of beetles,
which fly in the room at night and put out the candles
in an objectionable, if not alarming, manner.
One of the pleasantest and coolest places in Labuan
is Tanjong Kubong, or Coal Point, on the north-east
side of the island. Here coal-mining operations on an
extensive scale were formerly conducted; here are
four seams of coal, and a most expensive plant is on
the ground; but the apparatus, machinery, buildings,
and: engines are now all going to ruin. At one time
the mines were leased to the Oriental Coal Company
of London and Leith at a yearly rental of 1000Z. In
1876 as much as 5800 tons were turned o u t; and in
1877 a larger output than this was made. In 1878
the colliery was given up, the miners were sent away,
the Europeans left the place, and now, in 1881,
jungle covers a large portion of the houses and plant.
The great drawback to successful mining was water;
5 Colonel Harington writes, “ The moths are marvellous. I wonder
if Trank kept any of the specimens we got at Labuan: one, a
beautiful fawn-coloured moth, had a wonderful luminous eye, the
colour of a fine ruby.” A specimen of this moth and a number of
remarkable beetles came home among some other curious things, but
more or less damaged by the damp of the tropical atmosphere, which
had penetrated even into tin-lined cases and trunks. The accompanying
illustration shows the moth referred to. Its two wings
measure six inches across. The beetle in front of the box is about
the size of a canary.