540 Account of Sungie Ujong [Oct. 



little of the tin passes down the river, in consequence of the feud 

 existing between the Rumbowe chiefs and those of Sungie Ujong 

 and Lingie. 



The Malays and Chinese employed in the mines were liberally paid. 

 The rate of their wages will shew the difference of value set upon 

 the services of the two classes ; — a Chinese being paid at the rate of 

 5 to 8 dollars per mensem ; and a Malay from 3 to 5 only. 



From day-break to 7 a. m., they are employed in clearing the mines 

 from the water which accumulates during the night. From 7 to 8, 

 they rest and breakfast. At 8, the process of digging out the 

 earth and ore is commenced. At 1 1 , they go to dinner, and return to 

 work again about 1 p. m. 



At 5, their labours cease for the day. No work is done at the 

 periods of new and full moon. 



Like their Cornish brethren, the Malay miners are very superstitious. 

 They believe in the existence of a spirit (Kummang), who watches 

 over the mines, and whose wrath they are particularly careful not to 

 provoke by work or deed. They have " wise men," or Puwdngs, who 

 pretend to be able to ascertain the most favorable spots for sinking a 

 mine, by various spells and charms ; these may be compared with 

 the charlatanic wielders of the virgula divinitoria in our own " en- 

 lightened country." 



Previous to a description of the mines, a short outline of the 

 principal geological features of the peninsula, as far as present imper- 

 fect information! extends, may not wholly be out of place. 



The southern part of the Malayan peninsula and Banca assimilate 

 in geological formation. Dr. Horsfield, in his observations on the 

 mineralogical constitution of Banca, observes, that " the direction 

 of the island being from north-west to south-west, it follows not 

 only the direction of Sumatra and the Malayan peninsula, but 

 the large chain of Asiatic mountains, one of the many branches 

 of which terminates in Ceylon, while another traversing Arracan, 

 Pegu, the Malayan peninsula, and probably Sumatra, sends off an 

 inferior range through Banca and Billitou, where it may be considered 

 to disappear." 



This chain of mountains may be considered as the termination of 

 one of those beams or pillars of lofty hills, spoken of by M. de 

 Guignes, in his work on the Huns, as supporting the stupendous 

 edifice, to which he compares the elevated regions of Tartary, compre- 

 hending the lofty ranges of Imaus and Caucasus ; and the dome of 

 which is represented as one prodigious mountain, to which the Chinese 

 give the epithet of celestial, down the steeps of which numerous 

 broad and rapid rivers pour their waters. 



