320 Mineral Riches of the Philippines. [July, 



scales, generally in the sand. In the province of South 

 Camarines there is a gold-bearing quartz which, even with 

 the imperfect appliances of the Indians, has produced good 

 results ; but as their operations are confined to sinking pits 

 which soon fill with water, which they are unable to get 

 rid of, the works are on a very small scale. Some years 

 since a Spanish Company — the Golden Anchor — projected 

 a tunnel into their hill of quartz, with a view to drainage, 

 but after expending some 20,000 dollars (a very inadequate 

 sum) the project was abandoned, and the money wasted. The 

 impatience of the shareholders induced them to give up the 

 speculation I think prematurely. With the modern crush- 

 ing machines it is not improbable that the Camarines gold- 

 quartz would yield handsomely, especially if proper means 

 were taken to drain the mines, in order that they might be 

 worked at all seasons of the year. A curious crystallised 

 variety of native gold is brought from Misamis and Cugayan, 

 in Mindanao, but the gold from that quarter is said gene- 

 rally to be of an inferior quality to that found in Luzon. 

 Small pipitas are also brought thence, though persons who 

 discover mines are compelled, in case they wish to work 

 them, to " denounce " them, as it is termed in Spanish 

 mining phraseology, to the Inspector of Mines, who grants 

 a privilege which is forfeited in case the works are not com- 

 menced within a specified period. I have never heard of any 

 of large size being found. 



One of the obstacles to progress is the enormous over- 

 legislation in all departments of the state. Innumerable 

 regulations restrict almost every kind of enterprise, and 

 many of the laws are allowed to become a dead-letter for 

 years, when they are suddenly revived, to the dismay of 

 those who have proceeded in the supposition that their 

 operation was really suspended. This is one of the causes 

 why mines have languished in the Philippines. A permis- 

 sion to work can almost always be obtained, but the process 

 is very frequently tedious, and to a mere Indian who has 

 made a discovery, it is a somewhat formidable affair to 

 obtain permission to profit by it before some unscrupulous 

 person has taken advantage of it. The consequence is that 

 all the gold produced in the Archipelago is the result of 

 small washings in the rivers, or a pit sunk in the rock, 

 which is soon filled by water, and then abandoned. The 

 washing process is perfectly simple, the auriferous sand 

 being scooped up, and washed in a peculiar kind of basket 

 made of bamboo. The gold produced from ore is generally 

 sent to market melted and cast in a shell, or any simple 



