nest cave; the next, on the west side, a high one, named Bood Selam. Towards the NW part of the bay, is the river Geeong, where there is much birds' nest, but blackish. There is another river beyond this, named Ling-gang; beyond it there is a pretty large river, and to the eastward a low mangrovy point, which terminates the bay of Geeong.

The south coast of Unsang, from hence to the eastern extremity of Borneo, has many bays and rivers. Salooroong is a small bay, with two reefs at the points, extending a considerable way off.

Babatoo is a small river, where is plenty of wild cattle.

Malaboong is another river adja

cent to it.

Tancoo is the next, and
Seebait the last.

Off this part of Maugeedara are many islands and shoa., which yield baat. The most remarkable of the islands of Po Gaya, which has many deer; and Seeparran plenty of green turtle.

Unsang terminates, eastward, in a bluff point, at the NE part whereof is a small island, named Tambusau, forming a harbour capable of admitting ships of considerable size. The main, adjacent, yields plenty of fine timber, particularly Alexandrian laurel, some trees of which are from two to three fathoms in circumference.

The north coast of Unsang has many bays, but none which afford shelter in the northerly winds.

There are, on this coast, many large rivers, 30 in number, from Tambusan to Sandakan, all (except Maroak) branches of the Kinabatanjan river, which comes from the

lake of Keneey Baloo. The four western branches are the most considerable, and of all the last, Towsan Abai. The bar is very shallow, but within it is said to have depth enough for any ship; and, perhaps, were the country well peopled, this might be brought through the harbour of Mamuyong, which would probably open the bar.

The eastern part of Unsang abounds with wild elephants, which have not reached the other parts of Borneo and Mangeedara, in general, with cattle left there by the Spaniards, who, about a century ago, had got footing here, but relinquished it by treaty with the Soloos.

Opposite to Towsan Duyon, which is said to unite the harbours of Sandakan and Mamuyong, is the island Bahelatolis. On the interior side of the island, it is said a ship may careen, close to the shore, in 8 or 10 fathoms; and that there is a stream of excellent water falling into the sea over the cliffs.*

Sandakan is described to be an assemblage of many harbours, with soundings fit for any ship, and good water. It abounds with baat, and just without it there is abundance of agal-agal.

Doubling a point to the northwestward, is a large bay, named Labook; it has several banks in it, and farther to the north, disembogues.

The river of Soogoot, which (it is said) comes from the lake of Keene Balloo.

Opposite to Sandakan and Labook there is an assemblage of islands; the easternmost, named Baguan, is remarkable for the

great plenty of green turtle, found there in the southerly winds. This island and Leeparun, on the coast of Manjeedara, are the only places where the Poonon, or green turtle are in plenty. The Payookan, or tortoise-shell species is remarkably plenty, in all the Malloodoo islands in particular. Baguum also has plenty of the Palo-Maria, or Alexandrian laurel. The other islands in this cluster, are Taganae Great and Little, Bancoonjan, Lanjaan, Leeheeman, Bo-aan, Papattangal, which is a bank with a tree, Seelinjaan, Goolipan, and Leebarran.

Almost midway between Baguun and Cagayan Sooloo, is Mambehenewan, and between them and the Paitan islands, is Lankayan.

Paitan is a bay and river on Borneo, remarkable for the abundance of camphor: it also yields clove bark, and has plenty of lissang; it is very full of shoals, and the coast on both sides extremely foul. The islands to the southward are named, Billebillean, Great and Little Tagypeel, and Cuya Cuyahan; on the north are Leonau and Kalanjaan. There is a creek from Paitan, leading into a large bay, between it and Mullodoo bay, off which are many islands; but the bay as well as the islands extremely encumbered with shoals; the largest of the islands is Mallawallee, which is high, and forms an agreeable prospect; the others, are Bidalla, Cookooboon, Teegabo, Seepeendong, Tabakkan, Teeheengan, Mandeedara, Paranka, Paraňka, Marantabuan, and Inowsal; between these and Banjuey, there are also many shoals, leaving, however, a navigable passage, and, indeed, as these are detached banks, with deep water, and good soundings between them; was this place minutely examined, there is no

doubt many other passages might be found,

Off the east coast of Banguey there are many islands; but little considerable, except for the plenty of turtle.

Cagayan Sooloo is a cluster of islands, not visible from Banguey. The chief only, of these islands, is constantly inhabited, there is a very good bay on the west side, and there are soundings, between many shoals, to Banguey.

Malloodoo is, in many respects, one of the most valuable districts on Borneo. Few places equal it, in the abundance of provisions, nor is it destitute of valuable articles of commerce.

There are many rivers of fresh water, which fall into the bay of Malloodoo, which is reported to have good soundings to the very bottom. On the east side there is a large shoal, which, by report, forms a fine harbour at Bankoka, where is a very good landing place, and very fine coolit-lawang, or clove bark, is produced here; the opposite, or west side, is remarkable for the pearl banks, which are chiefly found near Longy Basar.

The whole district of Malloodoo abounds with rattans, of which, 10 or 12 feet long, two or three ships load might be had. It also abounds in grain, and inland is very populous. The country to the eastward of Keeney Balloo, as far as Saudakan, is low and plain, with a few hillocks, but no high land, except a ridge to the southward of Bankoka, which seems to run nearly E and W towards Paitan, leaving a gap of low land. At the bottom of the Malloodoo bay, between this ridge and that which runs from the Tampassook mountains towards Lampounmanjeo, through which, from Banguey and Malloodoo bays, the

high

high mountain of the Keeney Balloo is seen to great advantage, rising abruptly on the west to a stupendous height, and falling down on the cast, with a gentle declivity towards the low land of Sandakan. This country cannot fail of being one of the most fruitful in the world, if well cultivated and inhabited by a civilized people; were this the case, there would be an easy land carriage of 40 or 50 miles to the lake of Keeny Balloo, which is represented to exceed in magnitude the lake of Manilla; and to have many islands in it. It is said to be five or six fathoms deep in some places, and to be the source of all the considerable rivers in Borneo, above 100 in number; the water is not limped, but whitish; around its margin are innumerable towns of Idaan; they have a sovereign here, but in other places only chiefs or orankeys. This tribe is extremely numerous, but from their want of foreign communication, and from some remarkable customs, they are less addicted to commerce, than the value of their country would make it imagined. They have, however, an intercourse inland with Benjar, and are well enough inclined to commerce and husbandry, except where their prejudices lend them into war.

The islands opposite to this part of Borneo, and indeed the coast, from Sampaumanjeo to near Paitan, do not properly come under the denomination of the Sooloo dominions, as ceded to the English Company, and require a particular discussion in another place, as the most cligible of all situations for the capital of the Oriental Polynesia.

In the district of Borneo, is Pappal, the limits Sampaunanjeo on the north, and Keemannees river

on 51° N latitude, which by treaty is the limit southward, with the kingdom of Borneo proper.

The productions of this coast, in general, are sago, rice, beetlenut, cocoa-nut oil, camphor, wax, some pepper and cinnamon, particularly the last, in some quantity at Keemannees. The country is very populous, the inland particu larly, which is inhabited by Idaan, as are some places on the coast. It is extremely well adapted for the cultivation of pepper and cinna mon, and in a few years large quantities might be had. It is very well watered, and has the conveniency of many rivers, navigable by boats, and some even by larger vessels. The river of Tawarrau leads to the lake of Keeney Balloo, from whence it is about 10 or 15m: distant, and is accessible for boats, that of Tampassook is said to come from thence also.

The first river is Tambaloosau, the natives of Idaan, though few in number; abreast of this river is a coral tree, five or six fath.oms high, it grows in seven fathoms; but the number of large fish frighten people from diving for it.

Lao, a small river, is the next; Paudasau has few people who are Mahommedans.

Tampassook, Abai, Loobook, and Amboong, are inhabited by Mahommedans, and form one jurisdiction; the first is a fresh water river, with a bar of two fathoms at high water; it is fresh at the bar, and within has three or four fathoms; it is reported to come from the lake of Keeney Balloo, and has a gold mine near it.

The river of Tampassook, a few miles inland, approaches very near that of Abai, which is salt for some miles up, leaving a low narrow isthmus between them. The na

tives have had some thoughts of directing the Tampassook river across this, into the channel of Abai; which is, even now, accessible at all times by small vessels, and would then probably be so by large.

The harbour and river of Abai are superior to any, between Sampemmanjeo and Po Gaya (and indeed is the only place where vessels have shelter from westerly winds) except Amboong, which is near to Abai, and is represented to be a good harbour. The country here abounds with grain, and considerable quantities of pepper and cinnamon would be had in a short time, were the cultivation encouraged.

The next river Sulaman, which is inhabited by Islam. Tawarran is inhabited by Idaan; there are many goats in this district; it is very populous. About sixty Chinese, who left Borneo many years ago, settled amongst them. The river is reported to be navigable for boats, to the lake of Keeney Balloo. Mancaboong river is inhabited by Islam; it is populous; there is a sand bar with two fathoms at high water, at low large Sooloo boats cannot enter within three or four fathoms; there is a salt lake about 3m: from the bar, it has two fathoms, and in some places one fathom. The river above the lake is rapid, and full of rocks, so that it is not navigable but by canoes; some say it comes from the lake of Keeney Balloo; but Dato Saraphodin thinks otherwise. This place and those before mentioned, produce some pepper. To the southward of Mangcaboong lie Po Gaya, and some other islands, they, with some shoals, form a convenient harbour,

but of difficult entrance on account of those shoals; into this harbour disembogues the river of

La Batuun, Inanam, Mangatal, Poolatan, and Keenaroot, the inhabitants are Islam. The country is populous, and produces sago, rice, beetle nut, cinnamon, and cocoa-nut oil.

The next river is Pangalat, and to the southward of it Pappal, which is a large barred river, disembogues by two branches, the western named Benonee. The country is very populous, the natives Islam, it produces camphor, as well as the other articles.

Keemannees is the last river of the Sooloo dominions; the inbabitants are Idaan, and very numerous. They carry on an extensive trade, in their own proas to java, &c. the country, besides a considerable quantity of cinnamon, and the other articles above mentioned, produces tenjoo, which is the gum of a certain tree, found also in Palawan and Mangeedanao.

There are few islands off this coast, Po Teega adjacent to Keemannees, is not remarkable for any thing, Mangalloom abounds with fresh water, though a low island, it yields also much Agal-agal, and a delicious root resembling turnips.

Mantannané, which is opposite to Paudasan, is in the district of Abai; there are three islands which produce some bird's nest, but of a red colour.

Such are the Sooloo dominions on Borneo. This imperfect sketch of them may afford some satisfac tion, since, hitherto, we have been. in absolute ignorance of this quarter.

A par

"THE distance from Astrachan to Yerkie is 60 English miles; the channel for the most part pretty good, except just below Iwan Chuk, where, at low water, it is scarcely eight feet deep. Ships formerly entered and cleared out at Yerkie; but that place being now almost overflown, the customs are removed to Sadlistova, about two leagues to the northward.

"Near Yerkie is the island Caraza, where all imports are landed during quarantine, warehouses are built for their reception, and ships lay off for the same purpose. There are generally 7 feet water on Yerkie bar, but upon extraordinary winds the surface rises to nine or ten feet. In order to sail over Yorkie bar, and down to Chetericbogorie, steer when you get to the lower part of the river below Yerkie, and are past the reeds, a little westerly; or if the weather be clear, and shews Chetirie-bogorie, keep the land open; then sailing over 74 feet water, you find a bottom of hard sand for near half a mile, when it deepens to 2 and 2 fathoms. If you come to anchor in 2 fathoms, run it about two cables length to the west, towards a little red cliff on the island Tooleena, where there are three fathoms water, and good holding ground with black mud and sand.

"All the coast is very low and marshy; the air over it being generally hazy, it is difficult to distinguish places. All vessels take their departure from Yerkie, and this

place they also make when homeward bound.

"Goufna-serotka lies about nine leagues to the southward of Yerkie, and near it there are generally two fathoms water; but on the middle sand, which lies off Chetirie-bogorie, from SSE to SSES at the distance of near eight leagues, there are only eight feet water. It must be remarked, that as low as Chetirie-bogorie there is usually fresh water, except after a gale of southerly wind. On leaving the bank of Goufna-serotka, the sea deepens so much you cannot find a bottom with any line.

"In this sea there are no tides; but hard gales of wind, either from the north or south, raise the water three or four feet, and sometimes more; and when these gales cease, the water returns to its ordinary depth, with a prodigious current and turbulent sea. It must also be observed, that it is the same on the Persian as on the Russian coasts; but rendered stronger and more irregular on the latter, by the streams which issue from the Volga, Jamba, and Yaeik. This occasions the loss of many vessels; for the force of these currents is apt to deceive. Captain Woodroofe, after his first voyage, instead of heaving the log, made use of deep sea-lines, and the heaviest lead; for the lead remaining steady, dis covered his course more exactly. It is also to be noted, that on the north coast, the soundings begin before you enter much into these contrary currents, which are gene

rally