50         THE GREAT DIAMONDS OF THE WORLD.
	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