ÖÖI 8x 3 ^c- 0 - Acehbooks.org

i3 6 S U M A T R A .
metallic ftate, does not undergo any procefs of refining, purifying,or fe.
parating, except from the white rock or marble it fometimes adheres to.
They fimply beat and waïh it, and fell it in the lumps or duft in which they
find it. Some of the former have been known to weigh as heavy as fix or
feven ounces, without mixture ; but they are often joined with an equal
bulk of marble, and thefe pieces being admired by the Europeans, fell
for the fame price, by weight, as if they were all pure gold. In moft of
the fpecimens of this fort which I have feen, the gold might more properly
be faid to enclofe the rock, than the latter to contain the gold.
'It does not pafs through any third hand, before it reaches the Europeans.
Of thofe who dig for it, the moft intelligent (diftinguilhed by
die name of fotidaogar, or trader) are trufted by the reft, with what they
collect, who carry it to Jambec, Palembang or the Weft coaft, and bartar
it for opium and the fine goods of Bengal and Madrafs, with which they
return, loaded, to their country. From Palembang and Jambee, they
have the convenience of water carriage for a considerable part of the way,
but it is tedious, being againft the ftream. From other places they
carry their returns on their backs, to the weight, commonly of eighty
pounds, through woods, over rivers, and acrofs mountains. They generally
travel in parties of one hundred or more, and have frequent
occafion to defend their property againft the fpirit of plunder and extortion,
which prevails among the poorer nations, whofe diftridts they
are obliged to pafs.
When brought to our fettlements, it is purchafed at the high rate of
three pounds, five Shillings fterling the ounce; fo that on exportation
to Europe, it fcarcely affords a profit even to the original buyer; and
others who employ it as a remittance incur a lofs, after the India Company's
duties, and other incidental charges are deducted*. It has often
been thought furprizing, that the Europeans fettled on the iiland, have
* Beaulieu, in 1612, fays that gold was purchafed at Acheen for the price it bore in France;
.but in fome parts of the. ifland thirty five per cent, cheaper.
not