Mr. Crawford on Siam and Cochin China. 407 



coast tin is founds all the way from Tavoy in about the latitude of 14° down 

 to Malacca in 1° ; while on the east coast it seems to prevail only as far north 

 as 12° 30'. On the east coast, however, gold is very generally disseminated, 

 but it is not found on the west coast. The most productive tin mines are those 

 of Junk Ceylon, and the richest gold mines those of Pahang and Tringanu. 



Although we coasted close to the great island of Borneo, and had a clear 

 view of its stupendous mountains, we had no opportunity of touching any 

 where upon it. 



The first spot we visited after leaving the Straits of Malacca was Pulo Abi, 

 an island off the point of Kamboja. This is one mass of granite, and 1600 

 or 1800 feet high ; while the main land, which is opposite to it, consists of an 

 alluvial tract, so remarkably low, that at the distance of five miles no beach 

 is visible, and nothing is seen but the trees. 



On our way up the Gulf of Siam, we touched at two small islands in about 

 the latitude of 10° 16' : upon a large island not named in modern charts, but 

 called Quadrol in some old ones, we found the foundation to consist of red 

 sandstone. Here the low alluvial coast of the main land ceased ; and from 

 thence the country, as far as the alluvial tract of the Menam, or river of Siam, 

 continued mountainous. 



In the latitude of 12° 38', I landed on a small island close to the coast of 

 Siam. This I found to be composed of a large-grained granite, and of white 

 quartz rock, with flint and gneiss as incidental materials. We touched for 

 the last time before reaching Siam, at Cape Liant, which is laid down in the 

 marine charts. This, and the islands which lie off it, we found to be com- 

 posed of sandstone. 



At Siam itself, situated in the midst of a rich and wide alluvial plain, we had 

 an opportunity of examining the structure of the mountains. The nearest hills 

 to the north, distant about 100 miles, are calcareous, and furnish the capital 

 with the limestone, from which lime is manufactured for architectural pur- 

 poses. The mountains of Chantibun, on the east coast of the gulf, in the 

 latitude of 12°, afford the precious sapphire, red and blue, but not valuable. 

 Copper, gold, and iron, are found in the mountains to the north-west of the 

 great river, and the latter in such abundance and cheapness, that both in its 

 wrought and unvvrought state, it furnishes the neighbouring nations with their 

 chief supply. 



A group of small islands about 30 miles from the mouth of the Menam, 

 called Sichang, and in older times the Dutch islands, consist principally of 

 granular limestone. On our return down the Gulf of Siam, we touched at 



VOL, VI. 3 G 



