820 
SKETCH OF THE PROCESS OF MIKING 
lives anil property of the Chinese. Being all persons of the first rank 
and connections, and charged with various other duties, they gene¬ 
rally resided at Plembang, and their affairs on Banka and at the 
mines were conducted by their private agents, distinguished by the 
Chinese denomination of Kongsies, who were vested with authority 
to regulate every thing’ relating to the mines and to the persons em¬ 
ployed in them. 
From a small commencement the administration of the mines 
had gradually enlarged and extended to a regular economy, con¬ 
nected with a considerable establishment and encumbrance. At 
each of the principal districts a stockade was constructed, according 
to a plan of greater or less extent and regularity, and proportionally 
supplied with arms and ammunition : these had become necessary, 
in late years, in consequence of the frequency and boldness of the 
attacks of the pirates. 
The stockads contained, besides the dwellings of the chief or 
Kongsy, and of the principal persons belonging to the establihment, 
storehouses for a supply of necessaries for the miners, for the metal 
successively prepared, and reservoirs for the machiuery and imple¬ 
ments not immediately in use. Several of them were laid out ac¬ 
cording to a more extemsiye plan, and contained the dwellings of va¬ 
rious artificers attached to the mines, besides those of numerous pri¬ 
vate families. 
Each Kongsy was under the necessity of entertaining an establish¬ 
ment of writers, store-keepers and assistants in the different de¬ 
partments of the mines, proportionate to the extent of the works in 
his district: he provided likewise from the funds of his employer 
or Tiko the machinery of various kinds used in mining ; besides 
furnaces, apparatus and implements for the refinement or smelting 
of the ore. He likewise supported artificers of various kinds ne¬ 
cessary in the business of mining, particularly carpenters, black¬ 
smiths, coal-burners and smelters, to each of which was connected 
a proportionate establishment. A considerable fund was also vested 
in a supply or store of necessaries which were monthly supplied to 
the miners, particularly rice, salt, oil and clothing of various kinds. 
Whether it was in conformity to along established custom, or 
whether it was supposed necessary for supporting the particular 
mode of administration which had been introduced on Bankfi, apian 
had in late years been adopted and carried to an almost unlimited 
extent, of granting the miners monthly advances of the articles above 
