Labuan

Labuan, an island 30 sq. m. in area, lying 6 miles from the north-west coast of Borneo. Besides possessing a good harbour (Victoria), it has an extensive bed of excellent coal, which has been worked, though not with commercial success. Labuan is an active market for the products of the neighbouring islands (Borneo and the Sulu Archipelago)—sago, edible birds'-nests, camphor, gutta-percha, india-rubber, rattans, pearls, tortoiseshell, and beeswax. Sago-flour is manufactured. Average value of exports, £83,800; of imports, £81,000. The island became British in 1846, and since 1891 is administered by the British North Borneo Company. Pop. 6000, mostly Malays and Chinese. See BROOKE (SIR JAMES).