M in e r a l s .
G o ld .
C o p p e r .
T in
I r o n .
C o a l .
diftance inland, and the approach impeded by deep and almoft
impenetrable forefts. Sulphur may be colledted in any quantity
about their iides.
T h e ifland abounds with minerals. It has been long famous
for its gold ; fome is dug out o f the earth; but by reafon o f the
unwholefomenefs of the climate, no 'Europeans dare attempt to
•work, and the natives are too lazy to go to any depth. The
greateft part is taken out of the rivers, and waihed from the fand
and gravel. The amount brought annually to the weftern parts
o f Sumatra, does not exceed ten thoufand ounces. Menanga-
cabow, a central and principal kingdom, has the greateft quantity,
the richeft mines lying within its territory. The Malayes
are moft ikilful artifts in works o f flllagree, in both gold and
lilver. Mr. Marfden* gives an ample account; of the manufacture,
which, with the coarfeft o f inftruments, is carried on to the
moft amazing degree o f elegance and perfection. On mention o f
that gentleman, let me own my obligation to his admirable hif-
tory o f Sumatra, for moft of the articles on the fubjecft o f that
ifland.
I f i n d no mention o f any lilver being found here p but it
produces abundance o f copper, o f theTricheft kind.
T i n is m e t w i t h in v a f t p l e n t y , c h i e f l y n e a r Palambang, o n
t h e e a f t c o a f t , a n d o n t h e i i l e o f Banka; i t is a c o n f id e r a b le a r t
i c le o f t r a d e , a n d , fm e l t e d in t o fm a l l p i e c e s , is e x p o r t e d i n g r e a t
q u a n t i t ie s - t o China.
I r o n is found in Menangacabow, where it is fufed for ufe.
C o a l is a production of Sumatra. Naptba, or earth oil, is
* Sumatra^ p.-141.
a n o t h e r ,
another, and is principally ufed to refift the ravages o f the
termes, or white ants.
S a l t p e t r e is procured in abundance out o f the vaft caverns
With which the ifland is hollowed, and is extrr.ited out o f the dung
o f the fwallows called Layang Layang, which build by thoufands
in the roofs. Thefe feem to be the kind which make the efcu-
lent nefts. The dung extends often twenty feet in breadth, and
is from four to fix feet in depth.
Napal, or the Steatites earth, forms the baiis o f the cliffs, and
often the beds o f the rivers. '/ , .A
I S H A L L now purfue the other parts of the natural hiffory,
begin with the zoology, and treat of it on the authority o f Mr.
'Marfden, flinging it into a fyftematic form.
T h e Horfes are fmall and hardy; the cows and Iheep are alfo
fmall; the laft fuppofed to be of the Bengal breed.
T h e buffalo, or car bow, the moft ufeful animal of the ifland,
is the heaft of draught, and fupplies the inhabitants with milk
and butter. There are none at prefent in a ftate o f nature.
D o m e s t i c goats are common, and are called Cambing. As to
the Cambing Ootan, or goat of the woods, of Mr. Marfden, his
defcription is not fufficient for me to afcertain the fpecies:
“ One,” fays he*, “ which I faw, was three feet in height, and
« four feet in the length o f the body. It had fomething o f the
“ gazelle in its appearance; and, excepting the horns, which
« were about fix' inches long, and turned back with an arch, it
ti ¿id not much refemble the common goat. The hinder parts
« were ihaped like thofe of a bear, the rump Hoping round off
* Sumatra, p. 93*
“ from
H o r s e s , C ows,
S h e e p .
B u f f a l o .
G o a t s .