332 CHINA. CHAP. XXVII. 



extends over two thousand square miles. It is, 

 however, but slightly worked, and that wholly by 

 slaves belonging to the proprietors of the soil. 

 The individuals who own the land are jealous of 

 the interference of strangers, and are themselves 

 extremely poor ; and thus, whatever amount of 

 metallic treasure may exist in the soil, very little 

 of it is brought into circulation l . 

 Malay pen- The Malay peninsula, from having been called 



insula. 



by the ancients Chersonesus aurea, may be pre- 

 sumed to have formerly yielded much gold ; but 

 if it produces any at the present time, little or 

 none of it makes its appearance in the trading 

 world, but must be used by the natives as personal 

 ornaments. 



China. The notices we have respecting the produce of 



gold and silver in China are very few, and those 

 by no means definite. It is in general known 

 that in the mountains on the eastern frontier 

 there are mines of silver. In the evidence of 

 Mr. Crawford before the East India committee, 

 it is stated that the province of Sechuen yielded 

 gold, that of Houansi silver, and those of Kiansi, 

 Gunnan, and Koneicheou both these metals 2 . Of 

 the extent to which mining operations are carried, 

 there are no data whatever. 



1 See evidence of East India committee, ordered to be 

 printed, April 2, 1830. 



2 Parliamentary Paper, ordered to be printed, March 25, 

 1830. 



