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.