Ch. XIV.] DIAMOND-WASHING. 225 



They construct huge pyramidal frames of large and strong 

 bamboos, about three yards square at the base, and by 

 means of heavy stones they sink them upon their claims, 

 so that they may not be carried away by the stream, and at 

 the same time shall point out clearly the working-place of 

 each party. Their most important stock-in-trade consists 

 of a number of large round bowls of wood, extremely shallow, 

 and ingeniously cut, as if with a turning-lathe, deepest in 

 the centre, and shelving all round to the rim. Filling this 

 bowl with gravel, etc., from the river-bed, they (standing in 

 the water) hold the bowl, just skimming the surface, and 

 give the contents a rotatory motion, cautiously and skilfully 

 aUowing the muddy and lighter sandy particles to flow over 

 with the water, until nothing is left at the bottom of the 

 dish but the larger and heavier sandy and gravelly sub- 

 stances, which are then carefully examined for the coveted 

 diamonds. This work can, however, only be carried on at 

 certain periods of the year, namely, during the dry season, 

 for during the rains the river so swells as to render it utterly 

 impossible to make any attempts ; and this will be under- 

 stood when it is mentioned that at the spot where we en- 

 camped, and where was a small settlement of diamond- 

 washers, I was assured that the river at certain periods rose 

 30 feet higher than it stood at the time of our visit. 



Besides diamonds, gold is found in tolerable abundance iu 

 Sarawak, much being obtained from the same situation and 

 By the same means as the diamonds, chiefly by the Malaj^s. 

 The Chinese population find much gold in the alluvial soil 

 — a yellow, clayey loam, — and this is the best and most re- 

 liable source. Altogether, at least a picul of gold (133J 

 lbs.) is procured annually from these sources. Silver, how- 

 ever, has never been found in this district. 



Q 



