SUMATRA. 
21 
the water acquires in its defcent through the fiffures or pores of thefe 
mountains, a confiderable force^ which exerts itfelf in every diredioii, 
lateral and perpendicular, to procure a vent. The exiftcnce of thefe 
copious fprings is proved, in the facility with which wells are every 
where funk ; requiring no choice of ground, but as it may refpeS: the 
convemence of the proprietor; all fi tuations, whether high or lo^v, being 
prodigal of this valuable element. Where the approaches of the fea 
have rendered the clifis abrupt, innumerable rills, or rather a continued 
moilture is feen to ooze through, and trickle down the fleep. Where, 
on the contrary, the fea has retired and thrown up banks of iand in its 
retreat^ I have remarked the flreams of water, ar a certain level, and 
commonly between the boundaries of the tide, effecting their paffage 
through the loofe and feeble barrier oppofed to them. In fliort, every 
part of the low i-^^t-ry Dr^asi^tnt with fprings that labor for the Inrtb ; 
and thefe continual ftruggles, this violent activity of fubterraneous wa- 
ters, gradually undermine the plains above* The earth is im perceptibly 
excavated, the furface fettles in, and hence the inequalities we fpeak of- 
The operation ts flow, but unremitting, and, I conceive, fully capable 
^ the etfed. 
The earth is rich in minerals and other fofSl produdttons. No coun- Mineral anr 
try has been more famous in all ages for gold, and though the Iburces f-^^^'^ produc 
from whence it is drawn may be fuppofed in fome meafure exhaufted, 
by the avarice and induftry of ages, yet at this day the quantity pro- 
cured is very ^^"^Iderable* and doubtlefs might be much encreafed,. 
were the limple labOT of the gatherer aflifted by a knowledge of the arts 
,©f mineralogy. There are alfo copper mines, whole ore is very rich, q^^^^j. 
and refembles the Japan copper in the appearance of a mixture of gold. 
Iroa ore is colle^ed, fmelttd, formed tnco metal and worked up in the imn* 
country of Menangcabow, That it abounds in many other places is evi- 
dent, from the color it is perceived to communicate to the foih On 
■many parts of the coaft, the fand of the beach is of a ftrong fliining 
bUck, and is attracted by the loadilone. The fteel manufa£tured at 
the abovementioned place, has a peculiar texnperj and a degree of hard-^ 
G nefs 
