an island of Asia, in the East Indies, and one of the three great Sunda islands. It is thought to be the largest island in the world, next to New Holland; being 1500 miles in circumference. It is seated under the equator, that line cutting it almost through the middle. It is almost of a circular figure; abounds with gold; and the finest diamonds in the Indies, are found in its rivers, being probably washed down from the hills by torrents. Here are also mines of iron and tin, and loadstones. Birds nests* are to be had in this island, which are eatable, and reckoned a great delicacy. The beasts are, oxen, buffaloes, deer, goats, elephants, tigers, and monkeys. This island has fine rivers, especially towards the west and south. In their monsoon from April to September, the wind is westerly; and they have continual heavy rains, attended with violent storms of thunder and lightning. The rainy season continues for eight months of the year; and as during that time all the flat country near the coast is overflowed, the air is rendered very unhealthy, and the inhabitants are forced to build their housetops on floats, which they make fast to trees. The housetops have but one floor, with partitions made with cane; and the roofs are covered with palmetto leaves, the eaves of which reach within four or five feet of the bottom. The west and north-east sides of the island are almost deserted, and the east is but little known. The inland parts are very mountainous; and the south-east, for many leagues together, is a slinking morass, which, being overflowed in the wet season, is very unhealthy.

The Portuguese, who first discovered Borneo, had arrived in the Indies above 30 years before they knew anything of it more than the name, and its situation, by reason of their frequently passing by its coast. At last one Captain Edward Corral had orders to examine it more narrowly; and being once acquainted with the worth of the country, they made frequent voyages thither. They found the coasts inhabited by Malayan Moors, who had certainly established themselves there by conquest; but the original inhabitants still remain in the mountains, and are styled Beajus, which in the Malayan language signifies a wild man. The most authentic account of these people is the following, which was extracted from the papers of Father Antonio Ventimiglia, an Italian missionary. He was sent to Borneo from Macao, on board a Portuguese ship, converted great numbers to Christianity, and died on the island about the year 1661. The Beajus have no kings, but many little chiefs. Some are subject to the Moorish kings, and pay them tribute; but such as live far up the country are altogether independent, and live according to their own customs. They are generally very superstitious, and much addicted to augury. They do not adore idols; but their sacrifices of sweet wood and perfumes are offered to one God, who, they believe, rewards the just in heaven, and punishes the wicked in hell. They marry but one wife; and look upon any breach of conjugal faith, either in the man or woman, as a capital offence. The Beajus are naturally honest and industrious, and have a brotherly affection for one another. They have a notion of property, which yet does not render them covetous. They sow and cultivate their lands; but in the time of harvest, each reaps as much as will serve his family, and the rest belongs to the tribe in common; by which means they prevent necessity or disputes. With the Moors on the coasts the Portuguese for some time carried on a considerable trade, and at their request settled a factory there; which, however, was afterwards surprised and plundered by the Moors, who put most of

the people to the sword. The most considerable river in Borneo is called Banjar, at the mouth of which our East India Company have a factory.