MINER A LOG! CAL DESCRIPTION OF THE ISLAND OF BANKA, 7^7 
rious other situations about the stockade of Layang t Tlie fracture 
of some of these resembled those of Jebus, others consisted of con¬ 
centric bands, and were more compact and ponderous. 
The appearances exhibited by this valley and by the whole neigh¬ 
bourhood were very interesting, they shewed plainer than I had yet 
remarked the conjunction of the Red-Iron-stone with substances de¬ 
rived from decomposed rocks of the primitive portions of the Island; 
but the conclusions will be made in another place. 
In proceeding from Layang on a course varying east, and east- 
north-east, the tract is low and many parts are occasionally over¬ 
flowed : these require, to admit passage, some assistance, which is 
afforded, as in other parts of the island, by means of bridges con¬ 
structed by the natives of long slender poles placed near each other 
and united by rattans. The country is covered with woods and the 
soil is black and deep. A short distance beyond Layang I noticed 
detached fragments of Red-Iron-stone; these were followed at inter¬ 
vals of various distances by extensive fixed veins of the same kind of 
stone, alternating again with tracts on which all the fragments were 
loose, and rounded on the surface like those of the purely alluvial 
districts. The hill Gunong Pantja is observed north, a little east 
from the road. The country continues low and marshy, the road 
crosses various rivulets flowing into the large river of Layang ; this 
I also passed near its source. 
Pure white sand is occasionally observed, and the country gradu¬ 
ally rises as one approaches the vicinity of the mines of Kdttd; large 
fragments of siliceous stones (resembling those of Layang &c.) are 
now found on the surface, alternating with loose fragments or fixed 
veins of Red-Iron-stone, and this succession continues to the neigh- 
3 
bourhood of Lampur. Beyond the districts of Katta the forests 
have mostly been destroyed, the country is open and the hills are 
plainly observed : there is, indeed, a constant alternation of vallies 
and elevations, producing a waving surface, similar to that between 
Jebus and the district of the Lower-furnace. 
The mountain of Bettung is observed in the east, the hill Sam- 
bong-Gero nearly south-east, and the mountain Marass occasionally 
in the west. 
Having arrived in sight of the village and furnace of Lampur, I 
observed a steep hill, about half a mile north of the road, partly co¬ 
vered with verdure. On examination it was found to consist of a 
pile of large rocks rising on the whole perpendicularly above 50 feet. 
