Page:History of the Indian Archipelago Vol 3.djvu/508

 49'2 COMMERCIAL DESCRIPTION OF from those of Hindustan, are usually designated. It is the same country that is most remarkable for the production of gold in which the diamond is found. The working of the diamond mines is suf- ficiently simple. A perpendicular shaft is first sunk, and the stratum containing the diamond is pursued in a lateral direction, the superincumbent earth being supported by piles or posts of timber, and at imminent risk to the miners, from the fre- quent falling in of the incumbent soil. The geological situation of the diamond in these mines is as follows : — The first stratum, from one to two fathoms in depth, consists of soil and yellow- coloured clay ; the 5ecowc? of sand and small stones or pebbles ; the third of disintegrated sandstone ; and the fourth of stones of a very hard nature, differino; in their character from those of the two last, and most probably quartz. The diamond mines are wrought only by the Dayaks or Aboriginal savages of Borneo, and, from their uncivilized state, we may believe, with little skill or industry. Diamonds are in no repute among the Chinese, else, through the industry of that people, we should, without doubt, have long ago found the produce of the mines of Borneo, which are described as fertile, greatly multiplied. The Bugis resident merchants are the great deal- ers in diamonds. They usually purchase them from the miners at the rate of from five to ten