Factory Records: Borneo

The Company was attracted to Borneo because of the diamonds, camphor and other products of high commercial value that could be obtained there. In 1612 and 1614 factories were established at Sukadana and Sambas on the island's west coast, but they were short-lived. At the end of the seventeenth century a factory was established at Banjarmasin to the south but after attacks from the native population, it was closed in 1707. The factory was re-opened in 1738 but was closed again in 1747 following conflict with the Dutch. In 1761 a treaty was made with the King of Sulu that gave the island of Balambangan, off the north coast of Borneo, to the British and in 1771 an expedition was sent from Bombay to take possession of the place. The fort, however, was recaptured by Sulus in 1775 and the factory was removed to Labuan, an island off the north-west coast. The Company briefly occupied Balambangan again between 1802 and 1803. The single volume in this sub-series is made up of papers that were erroneously grouped together by Danvers thinking that they originated at factories in Borneo. In fact they are home papers relating principally to the Company's defence against threatened legal action over its attempts to settle Balambangan.

Unrestricted

Java Factory Records (G/21)