PONTIANAK, a town in the Island of Borneo, at the mouth of a river of the same name on the W. coast, 391 miles E.S.E. of Singapore, almost under the equator, in E. Long. 109. 20. It is the seat of the governor of the Dutch possessions of the W. coast of Borneo, and of a tributary sultan. Though built on marshy ground the climate is healthy; and the town is chiefly remarkable for its commerce. There are many Chinese here, who export diamonds, gold-dust, birds' nests, and other articles. Pop. of the town, 3000; of the district, 19,115, chiefly Malays. Pontianak was settled in 1823.