AND GEOLOGY OF THE MALAY PENINSULA. 103 
ty, of its plutonic character, warrants the inference that ores found 
plentifully in many different and distant localities where they have 
been sought for, exist also in the intermediate tracts which have not 
yet been examined. At the two extremities of the Peninsular zone of 
elevation, Junk-ceyloi* and Banka, tin sand is diffused in such quan¬ 
tity that its collection has never had any other limit than the num¬ 
ber of persons employed in it. In Junk-ceylon and Phunga, under 
a barbarous government, about 13,000 piculs are annually dug out of 
the soil. In Banka, under a European government, but without any 
improvement on the usual Chinese modes of excavating, washing and 
smelting, the production lias increased from 25,000 piculs in 1812, 
when it was a British possession, to 60,000 piculs.* 
At numerous intermediate localities throughout the Peninsula tin 
is obtained ; and when we consider the despotic, rapacious and too 
often remorseless character of the native governments, the conse¬ 
quent failure of all attempts to introduce European or Chinese capi¬ 
tal and system into the tin mining, and the robberies and massa¬ 
cres which from time to time terrify and scatter the little communi¬ 
ties of needy Chinese in whose hands it has remained, the won¬ 
der is that so much metal should hud its way to the market. In 
the Siamese countries north of Kedah and in Kedah itself, which has 
been so long in a state of anarchy, it is sparingly extracted. From 
Perak 9,000 piculs per annum were formerly exported, but the pro¬ 
duce has now greatly diminished owing to the miserable state of the 
country. Salangor and the adjaeent inland states yield about 9,000 
piculs. The eastern countries from Kalantan to Pahang yield about 
11,000 piculs. The present produce of the whole Peninsula includ¬ 
ing Sinkep and Linga, the only two islands of the Johore Archipe¬ 
lago where it is now sought for, is probably above 40,000 piculs. 
The produce for many years past has ranged between that quantity 
and 30,000. The Peninsular range, therefore, including Banka, yields 
upwards of 100,000 piculs, so that it equals or exceeds that of Corn¬ 
wall (6,000 tons) and may be expected to increase steadily. 
Seeing that tin is procured in all parts of the Peninsula where it is 
* Dr, Epp, Schilderingen aus Ostindiens Archipd p. 183> 
