CHAP, xxvri. INDIAN ISLANDS. 335 



in China is never used to perform the function of 

 money, but is bought and sold exactly like pearls, 

 diamonds, or other valuable commodities, and 

 exclusively applied like them to purposes of luxu- 

 rious gratification. 



The islands in the Indian Ocean yield some Indian is- 

 quantities of gold. Ceylon is said to have once 

 afforded it, but at present none is extracted; nor 

 are there any authentic accounts of that metal 

 being found in Java. 



Sumatra yields gold, both from the washing of Sumatra. 

 the sand of the rivers, and from small mines in 

 the mountains of Monangkabo. The several dis- 

 tricts of the island are said to produce annually 

 about thirteen thousand ounces of gold of nine- 

 teen carats fine. A small part of this metal is 

 destined to increase the general stock of the 

 world, as the chief application of it is to orna- 

 mental domestic purposes, and especially to 

 gilding. 



Borneo has been long celebrated for its abund- Borneo, 

 ance of gold. It is chiefly found in alluvial 

 deposits, whence it is extracted, both by na- 

 tives and Chinese, but chiefly by the latter, 

 who conduct their operations in a district between 

 Samboss and Pontiana, called, from its chief 

 town, Montradack. The whole tract is alluvial, 

 being intersected by numerous rivers of con- 

 siderable size, flowing from the mountainous 

 interior. The Chinese population in this di- 



