any case the moral force of firearms is generally sufficient.
A good revolver is always a source of interest and amusement
(perhaps sometimes of awe) to uncivilised people,
and a good double breech-loading shot-gun is really useful,
besides affording some amusement to the traveller
who obtains food or natural history specimens thereby.
Where there are wild pigs, deer, elephant, or other large
game, a rifle is of service, and a Winchester repeater is
both handy' and effective, weighing about 10 lb. A shotgun
is the most useful, however, of all weapons, and if
fitted with ball or No. 1 shot cartridges is very effective
at short ranges with deer, wild cattle, or pigs. It should
be of what is called No. 12 bore, as cartridges of that
size may be bought nearly everywhere, where ammunition
is sold.
I f we except the Sarawak principality and the Dutch
possessions to the southward and eastward, Borneo may
be called a perfectly wild country—a land where laws,
jails, horses, roads, and missionaries are unknown. The
future prospects of this tropical island, so rich in natural
products, so fertile under rude cultivation, and withal so
extensive and beautiful, are deserving of more than a
passing notice. A large proportion of the country is
hilly, and covered with old forest. Near the coast the
land is generally well watered by shallow rivers. On the
higher hill ranges which lie a few miles inland from the
north-west coast, the climate, which is in the plains sultry
and malarious, becomes fresh and salubrious. The
natives are few in proportion to the area, and generally
peaceably disposed towards strangers, but suspicious of
ulterior motives, and remarkably cautious, and now then
avaricious in matters of trade and barter. They invariably
prefer sound useful articles, such as white or black
cloth, to ornamental gewgaws.
The products of the island may be tabulated as
follows:—
P r o d u c t s o f B o r n e o .
A n im a l . V e g e t a b l e . M in e r a l .
Pearls.
Mother - of - Pearl
Shell.
Trepang, Beche de
Mer, or Sea Slug.
Edible Swallows’
nests.
Tortoise Shell.
!Ivory.
} Hides.
Pish in abundance.
j Bees’ Wax.
¡The large animals
! are elephant, rhinoceros,
deer, pigs,
! wild cattle, alligators.
|<1
Sago.
Camphor.
Dammar.
Benzoin.
Gambier.
Pepper.
Cloves.
Ginger.
Cinnamon.
Rattan canes.
Timber.
Lamba fibre.
Cotton.
Coffee.
Tobacco.
Indigo.
Cocoa.
Vanilla.
Spices.
Cocoanut oil.
Fruits [tropical
of nearly all
kinds, many indigenous.]
Vegetables [principally
Chinese
varieties, edible
ferns, bamboo
palm cabbages,
&c.]
Gutta-percha.
Caoutchouc, or
India-rubber.
Tapioca.
Rice.
Maize.
Musa fibre or
Manilla hemp
(Musa, textilis).
Coal.
Iron.
Tin.
Copper.
Cinnabar.
Antimony.
Gold.
Diamonds.
1 Plumbago.
The vegetable products are mostly indigenous, and obtainable
in the primaeval forests. Some few, however,
such as cotton, tobacco, coffee, and cocoa have been
introduced, and are only cultivated by the natives in a
desultory manner. Under systematic culture, and with
Chinese coolie labour, nearly all the vegetable products
of tropical’countries might be grown.
The mineral products are known to exist, but it is not
as yet determined whether the lodes áre workable, or if
the metals exist in remunerative quantities. A great
drawback to mining operations is the enormous rainfall.
The want of British protection, and the difficulties of
travel or transit inland, are against colonisation. The