Iuka reporter. (Iuka, Miss.) 1888-1894, 1892-03-17
DUTCH BORNEO.
An Interesting Island of Which Very Lit
tie Is Known.

Little is known OF the interior of
the Island of Borneo, and therefore
the information supplied by Heer S.
w. Tromp, though incomplete, is
very acceptable. In 1885 he steamed
up the Mahakam River to Muvara-
Pahu, village about 100 miles from
the sea. Near the coast the land is
flat, and is being laid out in rice
fields. 1t would also, in Heer
Tromp's opinion, be suitable for the
cultivation of sugar-cane. Further
up the river hilly country IS entered,
covered with layer of yellowish red
soil of little value for agriculture.
After eight hours steaming from Sa-
marinda, Heer Tromp passed the
mouth of the Schulz River, and two
hours and half later reached Maya
Beulur. Here the hills, which ex-
tends from Pelarang,(a short distance
below Samarinda), suddenly termin-
ates, and the river energies through q
narrow channel from level tract,
stretching northward probably to the
frontier of Berau, which was former
ly the bed of large lake. Even now
this depression is not entirely filled
up. Meres and morasses of large
area lie on either side of the Maha-
kan, and when the water is high
that is, during the greater part Of the
year-a large portion OF the country
is submerged. The district of the
Upper Mahakam is inhabited by a
tribe of Dyaks. Their number is es-
timated at 4,500. Formerly they
were notorious head-hunters, and
were much dreaded in the Baritu
Valley, but of late great security has
been established by the interference
of the Sultan of Kutei.
The development of the country,
however. has not been accelerated
thereby, for, with the festivals held
on the bringing home of heads, has
also disappeared the stimulus to IN
dustry. Large sums were formerly
expended in gala dresses for the wo-
men, of silk adorned with beads; and
tobacco and rice were provided in
abundance. Moreover, the Buginese
dealers, as they have circulated more
freely through the country, have in
troduced hazard and cock fighting
with the most disastrous consequences
The steamer in which Heer Tromp
Travelled was unable to ascend the
river beyond Muvara- Pahu, but he
himself advanced some distance
farther in a rowing boat. AS far as
Juhalang the river is easily nayigable;
but beyond, the current is too strong,
except when the water is abnormally
low. and at Kapala-kiham series of
waterfalls practically limits the navi-
cation.
Hence the difficulty of extending
Dutch rule into Upper Kutei. In
deed, communication with Sarawak
along the Seliku, one of the most i'm
portant affluents of the Mahakam,.
which rises in the Batu-Tibang oppo-
site the sources of one of the tributa-
ries of the Batang Rejang, seems to
be more feasible than with the Low
er Mehakam. 1t is also possible to
reach the Upper Kayan by the Bob
River, which enters the Mahakam
above the first fall; but it necessitates
a journey of eight days on the river,
and three over uneven and stony
country to the highest navigable
point of the Laya, a tributary Of the
Kayan. In the aforementioned river
an obstruction is said to exist even
more formidable than the falls on
the Mahakam. This remote country
is inhabited by number of Dyak
tribes, which, as well as the Bahau-
Dyaks Of the Malakam, the Kenyas
of the Upper Kayan, and Others, had
their home originally near the sources
of Kayan. Since such insurmounta-
bic obstacles to communication exist
on the routes already discussed, Heer
Tromp turns his attention to the
kapuas River on the west. He passes
over the lower course Of the river up
to Bunut with only few cursory re-
marks, as it has been already de-
scribed by Prof. Veth in his ''Bor-
neo's Westerafdeeling The town of
Bunut, at the mouth of a tributary
OF the same name, is the capital of
the last Malayan kingdom.
Several alliuents enter the main
stream before the next town of anv
Putus-Sibow, is reached.
Here the Dyaks carry on considera-
Bile trade with the Malay dealers,
bartering the produce of their forests
against copper utensils, salt, tobacco.
linen, crockery, etc. In 1888 Heer
Iromp assembled this river, the Ka-
puas, in a steamer as far as the mouth
OF the Mendalam, a distance of 400
miles from the sea- 1t will be seen
at once that it possesses a great adj
vantage over the Mahakam, on which
navigation is possible only for dis
lance of $50 miles.
Moreover the Mendalam can be as
by steamer, and Heer Tromp
continued his journey in a boat up
The Kapuas itself as far as Lunsa.
Hajji Achmet, a native clerk. ascend
sd the Bongan River which enters
bhe Kapuas at Lunsa, and its affluent
inc Bullet, to point whence, he
heard, the Septutan, tributary of
Jhe Kaso, which flows into the Maha-
KAN, could be reached in a davis
march. This appears probable, for
nowhere in this country are eleva-
a.