18 



DISTRIBUTION OF MINERALS IN SARAWAK 



The quality of Sarawak gold varies with the locality in which 

 it is found. Thus Marup gold at $32 to §34 per bongkal 

 according to the supply, Sadong* gold at §26, whilst Paku gold 

 is quoted at §28 per bongkal, the difference being estimate by 

 the whiteness of the metal which is dependent on the amount 

 of silver existing in natural alloy with it. No scientific analysis 

 has been made of Sarawak gold so far as I am aware, but it 

 would doubtless be very similar in result to the analysis of Bor- 

 nean gold given by Crawfurd, which I have taken the liberty of 

 transcribing below, as his valuable work has long been out of 

 print. 



Name of gold taken Country In 100 parts. 



of gold dust. Silver 



from the district which where a ° ld ' Sllver ' C0 PP er and 



produces it. 



sitviated. 



Dross. jMetal. 









copper 



Oold of Ombak 



Borneo. 



3.75 



96.25 



88.19 



8.51 



3.30 



11.81 



„ Sanga 



ditto. 



4.96 



95.04 



90.97 



3.65 



3.38 



9.03 



„ Lara 



ditto. 1 



3.83 1 96.17 



86.11 [ 



5.90 



7.99 



13.89 



,, Ban jar Laut ... 



ditto. 1 



2.66 | 97.34 



90.45 ' 



4.34 



5.21 



9.55 



„ Pontianak 



ditto. 



14.05 , 85.95 



82.99 



16.14 



0.87 



17.01 



,. Jambi 



Sumatra 



5.47 ; 94.53 



91.84 







8.16 



„ Sambas 



Borneo. 



9.00 ' 91.00 



83.68 







16.32 



., Palembang 



Sumatra 



2.11 j 97.89 



98.75 







6.25 



„ Montradok 



Borneo. 



12.02 87.98 



84.09 







15.91 



The dust brought to market in Kuching is generally unadulterat- 

 ed, as the mysteries of galvanic gilding are as yet unknown 

 there. There is little risk in purchasing if ordinary ^are be 

 exercised. 



With regard to the annual produce of gold in the Territory, 

 there are no reliable data for even approximating the total 

 amount produced. Mr. Low of Labuan — whose work, in spite of 

 its being somewhat out of date, is the most trustworthy yet writ- 

 ten on Sarawak — places the } r early export of gold from the 

 Territory at 7000 ounces. Although nominally all gold carried 

 out of the country must be declared, it is beyond doubt that 

 quite as much leaves Sarawak in a private way as is declared to 

 the Export Office in Kuching, while a still more considerable 

 portion of the annual out port is bought up and remains in the 

 country, without in any way showing in the trade returns. The 

 same remark will apply to the produce of diamonds ; and in the 

 " Summary of Exports" given below it must be borne in mind 

 that the figures are purely nominal, and represent amounts cer- 

 tainly far below the minimum value of even the annual export 

 of these two minerals — much more so of the net annual produce. 



