Page:History of the Indian Archipelago Vol 3.djvu/470

 454* COMMERCIAL DESCRIPTION OF only that the process of mining is carried to any degree of refinement, and that machinery is em- ployed. The Chinese alone are engaged in work- ing these, and the average number of hands em- ployed in each mining operation is from ^5 to 30. The whole of the labourers work on terms of equa- lity ; the older and more experienced directing, and the younger and more active performing the operative part, while all share equally in the pro- fits. Fortunately it has been found impracticable to make the Chinese labour on any other terms. The whole process for obtaining the metal consists of 7niningt Xicishhig, iind Jhshig : of each of these I shall supply a very brief sketch in their natural order. The situation for opening a new mine is determined by some indications of the existence of the mineral, well known to the experienced Chi- nese, and by the usual test of boring. The ground being first cleared of the huge primeval forest which covers all Banca, the miners begin metho- dically to remove the alluvial strata to get at the ore. In large mines of a superficies of 100 feet by 80, this operation, conducted by ^5 or 30 work- men, will occupy about from three to four months. The earth it removed by little baskets, a pair of which are suspended, according to the usual cus- tom of the east, from a beam or lever across the shoulders of the workmen. The rough trunk of a forest tree felled on the spot, and having steps cut