326 Mineral Riches of the Philippines. [J u ty> 



these undertakings, as well as to large agricultural esta- 

 blishments, is the difficulty almost always experienced in 

 getting labourers. Chinese have been tried, but with very 

 indifferent success, as the contract coolies generally become 

 worthless, idle, and dissipated ; while the natives have a 

 strong aversion to anything like continued labour, excepting 

 where they are proprietors. A native will work pretty hard 

 for a week to gain enough to enable him to be idle for a 

 fortnight. They require constant watching and urging, and 

 never do anything thoroughly unless obliged to do so by un- 

 wearied superintendence. In addition to this there is the 

 greatest dislike to mines and subterranean work, though 

 well remunerated. 



The quality of the coal hitherto obtained is not very good. 

 As it contains pyrites it is very liable to spontaneous com- 

 bustion, and in one of the mines the escape of inflammable 

 gas has already caused some accidents, which have in- 

 creased the prejudice of the natives against this kind of 

 labour. The two principal mines in Cebu are situated in a 

 range of mountains, which runs longitudinally through the 

 middle of the island, and are about five miles from the 

 coast. One of the principal expenses has been the for- 

 mation and maintenance of roads, which suffer a good deal 

 during the rainy season. 



The Cebu coals have been found excellent in Hong Kong 

 for the production of gas, though of inferior quality for 

 steamer use. 



Coal is by no means confined to the localities of the two 

 above-mentioned mines, but is seen cropping out at various 

 points of the mountain range. The distance to the coast is 

 an inconvenience, and from the nature of the country, 

 transport can only be made in carts drawn by the 

 buffalo, a very slow mode of conveyance. Work has ceased 

 in one of the Cebu coal mines, and it has been offered for 

 sale : and the other is worked imperfectly, and on a small 

 scale. 



Perhaps as the shafts are deepened veins of better coal 

 may be found, but a great deal of capital and machinery 

 would be necessary, and all things considered it would be a 

 very bold enterprise to attempt ; though from the increase 

 of steam vessels in the Archipelago within a few years past, 

 there is no doubt that large supplies of good coal would 

 find ready sale, that used here at present coming either from 

 England or Australia, and costing proportionately high. 

 Spanish capital is not likely to be employed here in mines ; 

 and until greater security is offered by Government, and 



