The Matan
Exploration of the Land of the Matan--Traditional Wealth of Borneo-The "Reputed largest--known Diamond in the World"--Exportation of Diamonds by the Dutch--The Ladies of Batavia--Sir Stamford Raffle's Account of the Matan--Found by a Labourer, claimed by the Rajah--Regarded as a Talisman--Appearance of the Gem--Offers of Purchase in Gold and War--ships BORNEO is no longer a terra incognita. The Dutch at one point and Rajah Brook at another have already dissipated for us some of the legendary terrors that have induced travellers and traders to give the coasts of Brunei and Sabah a wide berth. Recently two important works on Borneo have been published, the first by Carl Bock, who has explored most of the Dutch territory, the second by Joseph Hatton, who, in possession of the private letters and explorers' reports of the British North Borneo has given us some interesting revelations about Sabah, and the mysterious regions of Kina Balu. These current volumes, written upon authoritative data maintain to some extent the traditional character of Borneo as "a treasure house of gems," though it is plain that the mineral wealth of the country has been overrated. The habit of one writer copying from another previously referred to, has been peculiarly in vogue as touching the history of Borneo, the truth being that until within the past year no white man has ever crossed the island from shore to shore. Even now this work of exploration has not been carried out at the widest point. The company which, chartered by the Queen, revives memories of the association which gave us our Eastern Empire, is now exploring the most interesting part of Borneo, the mountainous regions of the north. Expectations of mineral discoveries are justified, and whether they are realised or not all who are interested in the history of the world's famous gems will watch with curiosity the new developments promised in the land which is known to have produced many splendid stones, but which is more particularly associated with the history of the Matan diamond.
Since the reduction of the Great Mogul by Borgio, the Matan (commonly, but incorrectly, written Mattam), takes rank as "the largest genuine diamond of which there is any record." We are not in a position to express a definite opinion upon the genuineness of the stone. There are travellers who are as emphatic in their belief as to its reality, as others are in denouncing it. The question is who among them have seen the original stone, and who only a model of it; for it is alleged that the Sultan only exhibits the latter under very special circumstances. It was found apparently in the year 1787 in the Landak mines near the west coast of Borneo. The town of Landak, the centre of this rich mining district, which is said to abound in gold, diamonds, and iron, lies to the north-east of Pontianak, a little north of the equator, and in 109 degree 53 E. long. The district is comprised within the territory of the Rajah of Matan, which stretches along the west coast, between Pontianak and Sarawak, and which has long been subject to the Dutch. The diamond takes its name from the Rajah of the territory, in whose family it has remained ever since its discovery.