802 
VIEW OF THE TIM MINES ON BANKA. 
3. Mines in the third or south-east division. 
In the south-east division of the Island I have visited only the 
districts of Pangk&l-pinang and Tir&k. The former is, next to Je¬ 
hus and Sungie-liat, the most important and productive portion of 
Ban kit. It contains at present 18 mines dispersed through the sub¬ 
divisions of Messu, B&kung, K&yu-Bessie, Ayer-m&nkok and Bang- 
kw&ng in which 63 miners are employed. Although the districts 
in which these mines are situated have been worked nearly thirty 
successive years, they still contain a considerable store of ore. It 
is supposed by the best informed persons that, with a careful su¬ 
perintendence of the mines and the necessary direction of the la¬ 
bours of the miners, the aggregate annual produce will amount 
agreeably to a moderate computation to 4000 Ingots. 
The mines of Tirdk were formerly under the superintendence of 
the chief of Mar&wang: and have been opened within the last 10 
years. They have during several seasons been neglected, but if pro¬ 
perly administered the former annual product of 400 Ingots may be 
expected from them a ain. 
Before I enumerate the districts next in order in this division of 
the island which supported mines in former periods, I shall mention 
Tubuali near the extremity. This district, although it has greatly 
participated in the common disasters of this part of B£nka, (which 
will be detailed in another place) has not like most others been 
completely ruined and depopulated. In Tubuali the chief business 
Of mining has hitherto been carried on by the mountain-people; but 
a number of Chinese miners have lately been introduced, a regular 
mode of mining is attempted, and an increase may soon be expected 
in its produce. Considerable improvements are however still to be 
made, and a large additional number of Chinese miners can be em¬ 
ployed with advantage. Much of the future produce of the Island 
must he expected from this and from the neighbouring districts. 
I have estimated the annual produce of Tubuali including Nyiry 
and Ulim at present, at 1000 Ingots. The latest accounts of the 
former annual produce do not indeed amount to that number, but as 
the business has hitherto been carried on very imperfectly by moun¬ 
tain-people alone, I have taken into consideration the introduction 
of the Chinese and the general improvement and extension of the 
process of mining. The additional quantity (above the 1000 Ingots 
mentioned) to be expected in future from Tubuali will be stated 
below. 
