204 t)efcrlptlon of the IJland of Bornc6. 



proceed to give the reader fome account of the diamond ana 

 gold mines. ' 



In working the diamond mines great care is required to 

 examine the ground intended to be dug. The places where 

 diamonds are to be found may be known by certiiin fmall 

 flints, generally of a black colour, which lie on the furface, 

 and alfo by the yellow colour of the ftony foil. The furell 

 method, however, is to follow the direftions of the people 

 who refide in the neighbourhood of thefe mines, and to 

 whom fuperftition afgribes the fame wonderful power as the 

 fo called divining-rod of the Europeans was fuppofed to pof- 

 fefs formerly. It is faid -that at certain periods of the day, 

 fuch as four o'clock in the morning, twelve at noon, and 

 four in the afternoon, they have the faculty of feeing the re- 

 flexion or fliining of the diamonds through the earth. Thefe 

 mountaineers point out to the diamond-miners a certain fpot 

 \v]j,ere they ought to dig ; but they receive no payment till it 

 aftually' appears that it contains diamonds. A pit about fix' 

 feet fquare is then made in the place with a kind of pick-axe, 

 for in fuch ftony ground (hovels and fpadcs cannot be em- 

 ployed. The earth when loofencd Is taken up in bafkets, 

 formed into heaps, and afterwards fifled by people, who fit 

 in water-pits dug for the purpofe, firft with coarfe and then 

 with finer fieves. The remaining fand Is then wafiien with 

 the water, amidfl. which the labourers fit, and examine it once 

 more. If nothing is found, the ftones and cartli are thrown 

 on one fide ; but if any diamonds appear, the overfeer, who 

 is always prefent, watches with great care till the good ftones 

 are colletbed and formed into a heap. The workmen receive 

 but very moderate pay for their labour. All thofe ftones 

 that weigh above five carats muft be immediately delivered 

 to the fovereign prince or the fultan. But this law is made 

 only for the fimple, as nothing is eafier than to fwallow fuch 

 ftones, and in that manner to carry them away. 



The mines are dug, in a perpendicular dire&ion, fome- 

 times to the depth of ten fathoms. The labourers, however, 

 are totally unacquainted with the art of mining, and there- 

 fore when the leaft difficulty occurs they are entirely at a 

 lofs. The fides of the pits are prevented from falling in by 



bundle* 



