L ife at Labuan.
although the mine had, I am told, only two 14-inch
lifts to combat this difficulty. I t was proposed, when
the pits were in full swing, to make nine miles of
railway through dense jungle to Labuan, to convey
the coal, instead of bringing it round the coast in
lighters, as had previously been done; and, indeed, a
tunnel was commenced through one of the tree-covered
THE DESERTED COLLIERY WORKS AT LABUAN,
(From a Sketch by Frank Hatton. Drawn by Helen H Hatton. )
hills, and was carried within eight feet of completion,
when the ruling powers at home sent out orders to
abandon the works. Traction engines were also tried
along roads on which there was no possibility or probability
of their ever running. I t is a melancholy
thing to see a deserted pit at any time; but here, in
these out-of-the-way regions, where labour is so scarce
and transport so expensive, it is very depressing to see
K
