i873-] Mineral Riches of the Philippines. 321 



mould. Much of this fused metal abounds in sulphur, which 

 the natives are said to mix with it, and it thus becomes ex- 

 ceedingly brittle or short, breaking up when rolled. The 

 Manila mint very properly refuses this sulphurous gold, 

 which is sent to China, and purified there by a tedious pro- 

 cess. The gold dust is generally free from adulteration, but 

 since the introduction of galvanic gilding the greatest care 

 is now necessary in purchasing. 



Gold is common in many parts in the Philippines, and 

 there is scarcely a stream in which it is not found in greater 

 or less quantity. I have seen a gold-seeker at work in one 

 of the numerous branches of the river which intersect the 

 suburbs of Manila. The metal was washed out of the 

 sand in minute spangles. 



Gold is also collected by the various tribes of independent 

 savages which still inhabit the centres of the larger islands, 

 and occasionally curious ear-pendants are obtained from them, 

 made to represent deer and other wild animals. No reliable 

 statistics of the total production of gold in the Philippines 

 can be had, as there are no means of ascertaining how 

 much of the quantity found is used in the islands for jewelry 

 and ornaments, while a good deal of that which comes 

 to market is carried away by Chinese, who say nothing 

 about it. 



In order to supply the demand for the new gold coinage, 

 it has been necessary, after exhausting an immense amount 

 of Mexican and South American doubloons (the former gold 

 currency here) to import large quantities of this metal from 

 China, California, &c. 



Gold has occasionally been found accumulated in certain 

 parts of mountain streams in considerable quantities. An 

 old friend of mine who was for some years governor of one 

 of the southern provinces related to me the history of a 

 rich find of this kind. Three Indians, professed gold-seekers, 

 went into partnership for the purpose of exploring the upper 

 part of a river in which they were in the habit of washing 

 for gold. One, the uncle, furnished the supplies for the ex- 

 pedition, and his two nephews were his associates. They 

 found in a deep hole where the stream fell from a height, a 

 large quantity of gold dust, washed down by the river, and 

 which from its gravity had settled in this spot. On their 

 return a quarrel ensued as to how it was to be divided — the 

 uncle claiming the largest share, as having provided the 

 means. A lawsuit was the consequence, and meanwhile 

 the treasure was deposited with the Governor, who assured 

 me that the metal was of the finest touch. Subsequent 



