terraneous fires, or is the effect of volcanoes or
earthquakes, I cannot decide; the latter are said to be frequently
felt at Pontiana and at Sambas; and the former are said to exist in
the central mountains of Borneo.

From the slovenly manner in which the diamonds are sought for by
the Dayers, they seldom collect them of a size exceeding three or
four carats weight each. When rough, the Landa diamond has a white
or yellow hue; but none are found of that inky and flinty tinge,
so valuable in some of the Golconda diamonds. But that Landa does
produce them of a very considerable size, the extensive and valuable
specimens in Java, as well as the quantities annually sent to Batavia,
will evince. The King of Matan is at this instant in possession of a
diamond weighing 367 carats: the value of which, according to the old
mode of calculation, would be (367 x 367 x 2 = 269,378_l._) The Sultan
of Pontiana says, however, that a much larger price was offered for it
by the Dutch government of Java. He refused, it is said, twenty-five
laks of dollars, two sloops of rice, fifty pieces of cannon, and
a hundred muskets. Several from twenty to thirty carats have been
dug up. At Mompava there are said to be very rich copper mines;
but from want of population, a vigorous government, and scientific
mineralogists, little is to be hoped from them at the present day. At
Pulo Bongorong, near Borneo Proper, there is plenty of loadstone found.

About one degree north of Sambas there is a country called Sarawak,
belonging to the Rajah of Borneo Proper; there is a vast district
abounding in tin, in veins as rich and as plentiful as those wrought
on Banca: but they have been neglected for a series of years; they
were partially wrought before those of the latter were discovered, in
the beginning of the last century. The tyranny of that government, the
want of hands, and the contiguity of rich and valuable gold-mines, have
together caused their utter neglect; and there is little probability
of more favorable results, except under a change of government,
and a happier order of things.

In the Matan districts there is an extensive and most valuable
iron-mine, producing pure metal without any admixture of ore: it is
fully equal in quality to the best Swedish iron. They run it into
shot, and much of it is exported; but the gold-mines in its vicinity,
and the want of a proper government, are obstacles to its further
productiveness and utility. At Mada