The main object of my journey eastward was the collection and introduction of beautiful new plants to the Veitchian Collection at Chelsea. Botanical specimens were obtained and preserved whenever practicable, as also were birds and other objects of natural history. I was fortunate in adding about fifty new species of ferns to the lists of those already collected in Borneo, and of this number, as will be seen from the following report, about twenty were absolutely new to science. Perhaps the greatest good fortune which attended my exertions was the introduction alive of the Giant Pitcher Plant of Kina Balu (Nepenthes Rajah, Hook. f.). This wonderful plant and its geographical allies were discovered in 1851 by Hugh Low, Esq., C.M.G., and were figured and described by Sir Joseph D. Hooker, K.C.S.I., in Vol. xxii. of the Transactions of the LinnÆan Society. Mr. Low made repeated journeys to Kina Balu from Labuan, but unfortunately failed in his endeavours to introduce these fine plants to European gardens in a living state. Mr. Thos. Lobb, one of the most successful of all Eastern plant hunters, attempted to reach the habitat of these plants in 1856, but was prevented by the natives. These plants are very remarkable, and, so far as is at present known, exist only on this one mountain in Borneo.

Nepenthes bicalcarata, the “Two-spurred Pitcher Plant,” was also for the first time introduced alive, and is very remarkable, its pitchers being armed in a really formidable way, and the swollen stalks of its urns are perforated by a species of ant in a singular manner.

Of palms a beautiful species of areca, having gracefully arched leaves and vermilion-coloured sheaths, was introduced alive, as also a very attractive dwarf species of pinanga (P. Veitchii, H. Wend.), the bifurcate fans of which are purple below and glaucous-green above, blotched with brown. Aroids are plentiful in the shady Bornean forests, the species in some cases being extremely local in their distribution. Of the new genera discovered two have very pretty spathes, and if they can be successfully cultivated will prove very interesting and ornamental stove plants. Piptospatha insignis, N.E. Br., a pretty little “rock arad,” found on sandstone boulders in the beds of mountain streams, has a tuft of lance-shaped leaves and dainty white spathes tipped with pink. Gamagyne Burbidgei, N.E. Br., is a plant of larger growth, being a foot high but otherwise of similar habit. The spathes are of a bright rose colour. This plant grows beside mountain streams in positions where the passing water laves its roots.

Amongst new species of aroideÆ may be mentioned the sub-aquatic Cryptocoryne caudata, N.E. Br., which has heart-shaped bullate leaves of a dark green colour, the spathe being terminated with a long tail, which reminds one of the same appendages in the arisÆmas of the Himalayas. Three or four new species of alocasia were found, the remarkable being A. scabriuscula, A. guttata, and A. pumila. Pothos ceratocaulis, a fresh green climbing species, was also introduced alive, and is a plant of distinct marcgraavia-like habit. Specimens of Schismatoglottis and ChamÆcladon are at present undetermined. A singular new asclepiadaceous genus (Astrostruma spartioides, Benth.), was discovered growing as an epiphyte on forest trees in Labuan, and in dry woods near the sea at the northern point of the last-named island, the remarkable little Microstylis Burbidgei, Rchb. f., was found. One of my first discoveries in Borneo itself was the new zingiberaceous genus Burbidgea (B. nitida, Hook, f.), and other novelties were Dendrobium cerinum, Cypripedium Lawrencianum, and Bolbophyllum Leysianum, a highly curious plant. A fine new Bolbophyllum was introduced alive to Chelsea from the Tampassuk river (B. Petreianum, Burb. MS.), which I propose shall bear the name of my whilom travelling companion, P.C.M. Veitch, Esq.

Rhododendron stenophyllum, and Nepenthes Burbidgei, Hook. f., were two of the more remarkable of the new plants from Kina Balu itself, where also the gigantic moss Dawsonia superba was collected at an altitude of 6,000 feet, these specimens being, as Mr. Mitten informs me, the first obtained northwards of New Zealand,

The three native courts of Jahore, Brunei, and Sulu were visited, and I was enabled to make extended excursions into the interior of the main island of Sulu itself. In Borneo the flora was remarkable for endemic Malasian species, intermixed more especially at high altitudes with Indian (Rhododendra) and Australian (Dacrydium, Phyllocladus, Drosera, etc.) types. In Sulu both the flora and fauna showed, as was to be expected, a marked resemblance to those of the Philippine and Celebes groups. My collections in Sulu comprised new ferns, rare mosses, and several beautiful new orchids, including PhalÆnopsis Marie, Dendrobium Burbidgei (which is mainly remarkable as being similar to the D. d’Albertisii discovered about the same time in New Guinea). Here also the lovely pink-blossomed Aerides Burbidgei, Rchb. f., was obtained, and several other species and varieties at present unnamed.

The Sulu voyage was in many ways enjoyable, but especially as being to a virgin land botanically and ornithologically, and I must here take the opportunity of acknowledging my obligations to Captain W.C. Cowie, of the steamship Far East, who gave me every accommodation during the voyage from Labuan, and while we lay in the little harbour at Meimbong. As will be seen, my ornithological discoveries in Sulu were a new species of jungle cock (Gallus stramineicollis), and a new paroquet (Tanygnanthus Burbidgei). Sarcops Lowii was also obtained in Sulu, and the new Buchanga stigmatops from Kina Balu. No special endeavours were made in obtaining birds, only such species being shot as came in the way while I was searching the forest and mountain sides for plants.

The first expedition to the great mountain of Kina Balu was made in company with P.C.M. Veitch, Esq., who joined me on his return from an extended tour in Australia and the Fiji islands. The journey was a critical and tedious one, as we walked every inch of the way from Gaya Bay to the mountain, and back again to the coast, vi the Koung, Kalawat and Bawang villages. We were successful in finding all the large species of nepenthes in one locality on the mountain for the first time, and in addition a distinct variety of N. Edwardsiana with shorter thick-winged pitchers, which it is possible may prove to be a natural hybrid between N. Edwardsiana and N. villosa.

My acknowledgments are due to Hugh Low, Esq., C.M.G., H.M. Resident in Perak, who, when he heard of my intention of ascending the mountain, very kindly sent me information as to the localities on Kina Balu where the nepenthes and other rare plants are found. To H.E. William Hood Treacher, H.M. Administrator of Labuan, and to the Hon. Dr. Leys, M.B., Colonial Surgeon of the same island, I shall always be grateful for the practical help afforded me during my expedition, and for the open-handed hospitality they extended to a wandering stranger by chance thrown in their way.