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CHAP. XXVII.
Malay pen.insula.
extends over two thousand square miles. It is,however, but slightly worked, and that wholly byslaves belonging to the proprietors of the soil.The individuals who own the land are jealous ofthe interference of strangers, and are themselvesextremely poor; and thus, whatever amount ofmetallic treasure may exist in the soil, very littleof it is brought into circulation h
The Malay peninsula , from having been calledby the ancients Chersonesus aurea, may be pre-sumed to have formerly yielded much gold; butif it produces any at the present time, little ornone of it makes its appearance in the tradingworld, but must be used by the natives as personalornaments.
The notices we have respecting the produce ofgold and silver in China are very few, and thoseby no means definite. It is in general knownthat in the mountains on the eastern frontierthere are mines of silver. In the evidence ofMr. Crawford before the East India committee,it is stated that the province of Sechuen yieldedgold, that of Houansi silver, and those of Kiansi,Gunnan, and Koneicheou both these metals 2 . Ofthe extent to which mining operations are carried,there are no data whatever.