History About the Exploration of Borneo and the Star of Sarawak

THE STAR OF SARAWAK.

Bornean Gems--Exploration of North Borneo--Difficulties to be overcome--Indications of Success--A Genuine Bornean Stone--The Treasures of Sarawak.

Though we have seen some notable and fine diamonds hailing from the little-known and wonderful island of Borneo, we have had reason, as will already have been observed, to question the reality of the great gem, which is offered to the world as an example of Bornean treasures.

The truth is, that neither in the Dutch region of Borneo, nor in the territories of the Rajah of Sarawak, has anything like systematic exploration for gems been conducted. Hunting for precious stones is known to be of so speculative a character, that mineral explorers in Borneo have been encouraged rather to seek for coal, iron, copper, antimony, and gold, than for diamonds. There are traditions of mining for precious stones, and without doubt, in past days, many diamonds have been found, but recent investigations have shown that the quantity exported has been exaggerated, though their quality can hardly be excelled.

It is to be hoped that Borneo is entering upon a new era of exploration and prosperity. In spite of the tremendous obstacles of jungle and other difficulties, Mr. Frank Hatton, F.C.S., one of the most successful students of our Royal School of Mines, has already made great headway in the scientific exploration of the northern regions of Borneo, under the chartered company, whose cessions in the Malay Archipelago, have recently been so much discussed. Although he only started on his interesting journey of exploration in the autumn of 1881, his investigations lead to encouraging hopes as to the mineral resources of the country, notably in the way of coal, iron, and antimony, besides a suggestion of an excellent mineral oil. It is too early as yet for the explorer to have arrived at anything like definite results. His travels belong at present as much to the history of geography as to possible mineral deposits. Adventures of river and jungle, experiences of natives who have never yet seen white men, incidents of sport, accidents of travel, variations of climate, and a hundred other matters that belong to first visits to new worlds, must naturally tend to interfere somewhat with a concentrated hunt for minerals. Nevertheless, Mr. Hatton is sending home encouraging reports, and in one of them, we venture to think, he shows that he has been within the possible pale of a diamantiferous region, though it seems to us he is more intent upon what the company would regard as the greater commercial importance of metals. His researches are, as we have already said, attended with many difficulties, not the least being that of a climate which, attractive to the tropical planter, must be very trying to the physical powers of the mineral explorer. The operations of the young scientist, are supplemented by the aid of a chemical laboratory with furnaces for the assaying of metals at Labuan, whence he has already sent home analyses of certain mineral specimens submitted to him, as well as examples of his own discoveries. Caution is evidently one of his characteristics, and travel in a tropical country is a slow business; we must, therefore, be content to wait, but we have great hopes that the spirit of exploration once roused in Borneo, we shall soon have a real knowledge of the value of the information which has come down to us from ancient times, describing Borneo somewhat grandiloquently, it must be confessed, as an island of precious stones and treasures of gold.