804 
VIEW OF THE TIN MINES ON BANKA. 
In my enquiries after favourable spots for new mines in which the 
original store contained in the earth, might have been exposed to ob¬ 
servation or extraction, the following places were particularly pointed 
out to me: 
1. Dshebu, 
2. Mapur. 
3. Tengkiya and 
4. K&ppu. 
The river of Dshebu passes several miles to the northward of the 
stockade of Klabbet; and its neighbourhood, near the confines of 
the large mining district, is supposed by well informed persons to 
afford an opportunity for opening a large mine of considerable ex¬ 
tent, and in my estimate of an additional produce from the district 
of Klabbet, as well as of new miners to be introduced, I have taken 
into consideration. 
In the district of Mapur, included between Lumut in the west, 
and the northern parts of Sungie-liat in the east, an attempt is made 
at the present period to resume a former attempt which was frus¬ 
trated by the pirates. A number of Chinese miners have associated 
for this purpose: the condition of the strata, as far as regard, a 
store of ore is reported to be favourable, but the neighbouring coun¬ 
try is almost a complete desert, only a small part of the former po¬ 
pulation of mountain-people is remaining, and the settlement will 
require considerable time to recover. In my calculation I have es¬ 
timated the produce which will probably be afforded when the works 
have been properly effected, at 500 Ingots annually, which number 
may be expected to increase from year to year. But no part of the 
Island is supposed to contain a richer store of ores than the districts 
of Tengkiya and Keppu , at the southern extremity of the Island, 
forming part of the larger district of Tubuali: Keppu is situated on 
a river of the same name, which discharges itself into the straits of 
Lipar, and Tengkiya lies not a great distance further east. 
As long as Banka was exposed to the perpetual attacks of the 
pirates, no person ventured to form an establishment in a part so 
exposed and distant; but under the present government and admi¬ 
nistration, the attention is most strongly directed to these two dis¬ 
tricts : their situation is not distant from Tubuali, and they may be 
probably superintended by one person. 
In making an estimate of the probable produce from Tengkiya 
and Keppu, I can be guided alone by the information obtained from 
