Sf. VSl m M. HA Ru 
metallic ftate, does not undergo any procefs of refining, purifying, or fc* 
pnratine;, excf*pt from the whhe rock or marble it fometimes adheres to* 
Th^y firpply beat arid waDi itj and fell it io the Jamps or duft in which they 
find It, Some of the former have been known to weigh as heavy as fix bt 
fevcii ounces j without mixture '; "but they are often joined with an equal 
l3ulk of marblcj and thelc pieces being admired by the Europeans, fell 
for the fanae price, by weight* as »f they w^vc all pure gold. In moft of 
the fpecimens of this fort wbieh I have fecn, the gold might more pro- 
perly be fa Id to enclofe the rock, than the latter to contain the gold* ' 
It doe* not pafg througb any third hand^ before It reaches the Eu- 
ropeans, Of tlKjfe who dig for it, the moft intelligent (diHicguilhcd by 
the name of fmiaigar^ or trader) ar^^ try fed by , the r<?ft, with what they 
<ol]Podt, who carry it to j'amhie^ Pi^mk ug or the We(t cpaft, and bartagr 
it for opium and the fine goods of Bengal ajidM^drafs^ ^^'ith which they 
return, loaded, to their country. From Palembang and Jambee, tt^ey 
have the convenience of water carriage for a confiderable part of the way, 
but it is tedious, being agatnfl the ftream. From other places they 
carry their returns on rhcix backs, to the weight, commonly of eighty 
pounds, through woodis, over rivers, and acrofs oiouatains.. They ge- 
nerally travel in parties of one hundred or more, and have frequent 
occalion to defend their property againft the fpirit of plunder and ex- 
tortion, which prevails among the poorer nations, whofe diftrids they 
,are obliged to pals* 
AVhen brought to our fettlements, it is purchafed at the high rate of 
three pounds, five fliillings ftcrllng tlie ounce; fo that on exportation 
to Europe, it fcarcely affords a profit even to the original buyer; and 
others who employ it as a remittance incur a lofs, after the India Com- 
pany *s duties, and other incidental charges are deducted*. It has often 
been thought furprizing, that the Europeans fettled on the iHand, hsye 
* Eeaulieui in i6ii, fays that gold was purcbaTcd at Achcen for the price It bore iiv France j 
but in fome parEs of the iilaud thirty five per cent, cheaper* 
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