24 ANTIMONY AND GOLD MINES. [1843. 



not, however, free from disagreeables which annoyed us 

 in the form of leeches. 



Having duly equipped ourselves, we proceeded, about 

 nine A.M., on our journey to the Antimony Mines, distant 

 about five miles inland ; the intermediate country does 

 not merit any particular notice, being merely an unin- 

 teresting gently undulating tract, which rises gradually 

 until it reaches the mountains where the ore is obtained, 

 about 700 feet above the level of the river. Here we break- 

 fasted, or rather lunched, and examined the ore in situ, 

 as well as the process by which the Chinese work it ; not 

 by blasting, but simply by making large fires upon the 

 heavy masses, and throwing water on them to cause them 

 to split ; by this rude process, the purest portions become 

 fused and dissipated. As the entire mountain is a mass 

 of ore, any improvement in their modus operandi would 

 not be of much importance to the present generation. It 

 is paid for by contract, at a certain price per picul of 

 1401bs. delivered at Kuching, where the ore is strictly 

 examined and that of doubtful quality rejected. Having 

 refreshed ourselves, and amused the Chinese by practising 

 with rifles at our empty bottles, we continued our march 

 to the Gold Mines at Selingok, which I should estimate 

 at about three miles further inland ; on our arrival we 

 were saluted by several gingals, very much to the risk of 

 all parties, if one might judge from their rude construc- 

 tion, as well as the heavy charges put into them. Here 

 we remained to sleep. 



The Gold Mines are worked by a Chinese party, at a 

 rental, and as it is not their interest to allow any one to 

 ascertain the amount of their returns, the property may 



