NORTHERN BORNEO.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1666, 23 June 1879, Page 4

NORTHERN BORNEO.

A question, it may be remembered, was asked in the Home of Commons last session respecting the rumored cession of a large tract of country in Northern Borneo to a British association, and papers on the sub ■ ject were promised, but, so far, hare never been issued. “The association,” states the “ Academy ” of April 12th, “however, have mot been so reticent; for though they give no clue to the means employed to induce the Sultans of Brunei and Sulu to grant the concession, they have just printed privately a very interesting volume, giving a sketch of the country, in which they have already formed three establishments, on the Pappar and Tampassuck Rivers on the northwest coast, and at Sandakan Harbor on the east coast. The ceded territory is described somewhat concisely as nearly the whole northern part of the [Sultanate of Borneo, known to the natives by the name of Sabah, together wilh part of the northeast coast hitherto tributary to the Sultan of Bulu, and comprising a total area of 78,000 square miles. This tract of country has a coast line of more than 500 miles, extending from the Kimonis River on the north-west coast to the Sibuco River on the east, and having four capital harbors, one of which, Sandakan Bay, is a magnificent sheet of water about fifteen miles long by five miles broad. A great part of the interior of this territory is absolutely unexplored by Europeans, or, at least, was so until the company took possession of it, and there is no doubt that we shall gradually obtain through their instrumentality some very interesting geographical information respecting it. _ For instance, tbe precise position of the Kim Balu Lake has yet to be determined. On the shores of this lake the natives say there are many Tillages of Idalan, or aborigines, who cultivate cotton, tobacco, and other produce. Sabah is known to be rich in vegetable and, to some extent, in animal productions, and there appears to be good reason to believe that it possesses great mineral wealth. Tho soil is everywhere rich and fertile, and in many localities of superior quality, suited to most descriptions of tropical produce ; and it is to this source mainly that the company look for the development and prosperity of what has been styled “ New Ceylon.” With this end in view they have had it examined by an analytical chemist, besides obtaining tho Opinion of an experienced Ceylon planter who visited the country last year for the purpose of ascertaining whether the land was suitable for coffee.”