246 COMPENDIUM OF GEOGEAPHY AND TKAVEL 



works completely destroyed. The Peiigaron coal mine, 

 also in the neighbourhood of Martapura, was commenced 

 in 1848, but did not average a larger annual output 

 than about 6000 tons, and was abandoned in 1884, as 

 was also the neighbouring Asahan mine, which had been 

 working fourteen years with much the same results. A 

 mine was also worked in Koti, abandoned, and once 

 more reopened in 1886. In Sarawak the Eaja opened 

 a mine on a tributary of the Sadong river in 1880, the 

 prospects of which are promising, nearly 50,000 tons 

 having been raised in 1886. He also purchased, two 

 years later, a concession for the working of the seams at 

 the mouth of the Brunei river. On the island of Labuan 

 is a mine, till lately abandoned, which has caused the 

 failure of three or more companies, but is now being 

 successfully worked ; while in Pulo Laut, the large island 

 at the south-east point of Borneo, about 5000 tons are 

 yearly raised by the natives and supplied to Dutch 

 steamers. There is httle doubt that petroleum, which 

 has been found in many places, will eventually become a 

 workable and most valuable product. 



Antimony is known both from South and West Borneo, 

 but it is only worked in Sarawak territory, chiefly near 

 Bidi. The average amount of ore raised is about 1500 

 tons annually, but the output seems of late to have 

 fallen off. Mercury, too, occurs in the upper basin of 

 the Sarawak river, existing as cinnabar, and it is mined 

 to an annual value of from £30,000 to £100,000. 

 Platinum occurs, and is obtained in small quantities as a 

 by-product in gold -washing. Lead, tin, zinc, arsenic, 

 copper, and iron have been found in various parts of the 

 island, but none are worked, with the exception of iron, 

 from which the natives make excellent krisses and 

 parangs. A rich vein of silver was discovered in Sarawak 



