SKETCH OF THE PROCESS OF MINING &C. 811 
stream of water. The island is abundantly supplied with rivulets 
and rivers, which circumstance has doubtless contributed to assist 
in furnishing* those copious supplies in former times, when the ore 
was collected from the richest beds, with a labour and expense very 
trifling if compared with the working of mines in other countries. 
The mines are of two kinds, large mines, which, on account of 
their depth, are called Kolongs by the natives, and small mines which 
are called Knlits or shells, from their superficial situation. 
Of the former kind there are at present worked on Banka, those 
mentioned in the previous view of the mines and the table, where 
the number of hands employed in each has likewise been pointed 
out. The large mines are of various extent, the average number 
of miners is from 25 to 30; the largest mine employs at present 42 
and the smallest 10 hands. 
There is,, in general, no difference of rank or condition among the 
workmen at one mine; the work is undertaken in fellowship and 
they share equally in the produce ; the labour connected with the 
process of mining is performed by all indiscriminately. In the dis¬ 
trict of Lumut alone, three large mines are undertaken each by a 
chief miner who engages so many coolie^ as his work may require. 
Having selected a spot which affords a favourable prospect for 
mining, the ground is cleared from the ancient forest which covens 
every part of B&nka, the pit is sketched out, a canal is conducted 
from the nearest rivulet or river, and the miners begin to remove 
the layers which cover beds of ore. The superficial extent of a pit 
is various: I found several more than 100 leet long and nearly as 
wide : the usual depth sufficiently appears from the preceding mine- 
ralogical details : if it exceeds the measure there stated, the work is 
generally neglected unless the miners are indulged according to a 
former custom, with a gratuitous advance, the principles of which 
w ill be described in the sequel. 
The excavation of a pit having been carried on to a certain depth, 
an accumulation of water often takes place from rains or from wells 
accidentally encountered in the progress of the work. lo remove 
this a well or water mill is employed, of Chinese invention (a des¬ 
cription of which is found in various travels in China.) It is turn¬ 
ed by a branch of a neighbouring stream or by one ol the workmen 
who, supporting bis arms ©n a frame placed for the purpose, moves 
the wheel by treading with his feet. The construction of the ma¬ 
chine is simple. It consist of a number of small oblong planks of 
