only that the process of mining is carried to ahy
degree of refinement, and that machinery is employed.
The Chinese alone are engaged in working
these, and the average number of hands employed
in each mining operation is from 25 to 30.
The whole of the labourers work on tel’ms of equality
5 the older and more experienced directing;
and the younger and more active performing the
operative part, while all share equally in the profits.
Fortunately it has been found impracticable
to make the Chinese labour bn any other terms.
The whole process for obtaining the metal consists
of mining, ’washing, and fusing: of each of these
I shall supply a very brief sketch in their natural
order. The situation for opening a new mine is
determined by Some indications of the existence of
the mineral, well known to the experienced Chinese,
and by the usual test of boring. The ground
being first cleared of the huge primeval forest
which covers all Banca, the miners begin methodically
to remove the alluvial strata to get at the
ore. In large mines of a superficies of 100 feet by
80, this operation, conducted by 25 or 30 workmen,
will occupy about from three to four months.
The earth it removed by little baskets, a pair of
which are suspended, according to the usual custom
of the east, from a beam or lever across .the
shoulders of the workmen. The rough trunk of a
forest tree felled on the spot, and having steps cut
into it, constitutes the ladder by which the descent
and ascent, into the mine is effected. The smaller
mines, besides being generally more superficial, are
commonly situated upon acclivities, and thus an
accumulation of water seldom incommodes the
mining, hut the larger ones are more frequently
in. vallies, and soon filled with water, which
it. is necessary to remove. This is effected by a
common and cheap hydraulic Chinese machine.
Sometimes a canal is made to pass close to the
mine for the purpose of facilitating the labour of
removing the upper strata of sand and clay, which
are thrown into it as extracted, and thus carried off
by the stream. This is, of course, practicable only
in situations where the fluid has a considerable
impetus. The stratum of tin is pursued by a succession
of pits, following the first opening or
shaft.
The washing of the mineral is performed in a
manner remarkably cheap and easy.. The abundance
of mountain streams, which characterize the
physical aspect of Banca, in common with all the
other considerable islands of this tropical^ region,
are the sources of this facility. When there is
much room for selection it becomes a material object
to choose a mine in the neighbourhood of such
mountain stream which is either itself, or a canal
froin it, directed to the neighbourhood of the mine,
where an aqueduct is, regularly formed, the £ides