22 ABOUT KXNTA. 



is first separated from the pig dirt and is then subjected to a 

 second washing, when a quantity of gold dust is obtained. The 

 amount is variable in different mines, and it is impossible to get 

 trustworthy statements on the subject from the Chinese ; there is 

 no doubt, however, that the quantity is considerable, the quality is 

 inferior ; I imagine it is alloyed with the tin with which it is found, 

 being of a very pale colour; extracted simply by washing, no doubt a 

 good deal is lost ; were mercury used no doubt more would be 

 obtained. 



Leaving Tapa, travelling in a south-easterly direction through 

 the gold fields, we reached the Bidor in a day. This is another 

 navigable stream which joins the Batang Padang a short way 

 before they fall into the Perak river at Durian Sebatang. 



There is not much tin worked on the Bidor, and it is not more 

 than half of the volume of the Batang Padang, and dividing into 

 two streams of about equal size just above where we crossed it. I 

 do not imagine that it can drain nearly so extensive a tract of 

 country. 



On both these rivers (the Batang Padang and the Bidor), but 

 more especially on the latter, we saw large numbers of the Sakeis 

 living in comparatively speaking permanent houses, and to a great 

 extent conforming to the customs and habits of the Malays. 



From Bidor it took us two days to reach the Songkei, the last 

 important tributary of the Perak river in this direction. 



The output of tin from here is not large, as compared with the 

 rivers further West, but the quantity of gutta is proportionally 

 greater ; the supply, however, in the more accessible districts is 

 beginning to fail. It is a matter worthy of careful consideration 

 whether cultivating the better class of gutta-producing trees would 

 not be a profitable undertaking, the first cost of planting would be 

 the only outlay, as once started the trees would be able to take care 

 of themselves. 



The Songkei district is noted for the quantities of fruit grown 

 there, the groves of durians were the most extensive I have ever 

 seen. It is but thinly inhabited at present, but appears at one time 

 to have been a populous place. 



