REPORT ON THE ISLAND OP BANKA. 
311 
roinistrators, The verbal reports obtained from the old inhabitants, 
have therefore in this sketch been the only sources of information. 
From Belo the enterprizes were directed to the districts bounding 
the Bay of Klabbet, which in former periods was favorably situated 
for the navigation of the vessels commonly employed by the natives, 
and was important as long as the mines in the neighbourhood were 
productive. Mines were opened on both shores of the bay ; on the 
east side those of Sumut and Belinyu have been worked to the pre¬ 
sent period, while those of Sayang and Pand-jee have been exhaust¬ 
ed ; along the western shores, the ancient mines were situated in the 
districts of Klabbet (now called Klabbet-lama) and of Anten, whence 
the operations, as the ground was exhausted, were successively car¬ 
ried on westward to Mam pang and Tinga, in the centre of the Pe¬ 
ninsula, where the most productive mines of the whole Island are 
still worked in the vicinity of the establishments of Klabbet-baru 
and of Jehus . As the Chinese, eager to participate in the labor and 
profit of the mines, increased and exceeded in number the demand 
for hands in the districts above mentioned, the enterprizes were di¬ 
rected to the Eastern coast. Sungie-liat the nearest district to Sa¬ 
yang (which is situated at the southern extremity of the Bay) was 
first attempted, and, according to the accounts of the old inhabitants, 
the mines in this tract, afforded in the commencement, in particu¬ 
lar spots, an almost incredible produce. 
From Sungie-liat the operations were carried along the whole 
eastern coast to Tanjong Merikat, the furthest eastern point of the 
Island north of the straits of Sipar, and the mines of Pangkal pe- 
nang, Marawang and Kdba were successively opened, with many 
others of less importance which will be particularized in the account 
of the mines. The operations in all these districts were conducted 
almost exclusively by Chinese, according to the regular method em¬ 
ployed in the northern peninsula and at Belo, but the disposition of 
the beds containing the ore afforded in many instances a facility in 
the distiicts of Sumut, Klabbet and Anten. The strata were often 
found superficial and highly productive in circumscribed spots, which, 
though not extensive, consisted in some instances almost purely of 
