CHAP. XXVII.

INDIAN ISLANDS.

337

In the island of Timor, gold was formerly Timor ,yielded both in grains and lumps, but the inhabit-ants are said to have an aversion to search for it,or even to touch it, and at one period assassinateda party of Dutchmen who had been sent into theinterior to collect it. It is now found in copperore, but the whole quantity does not exceed onethousand ounces 1 .

The Philippine islands are stated to yield annu-ally about fifteen thousand ounces of gold 2 , whichis chiefly found in combination with copper.

According to the accounts of those who visited Japan .Japan at an early period, that kingdom must haveabounded in gold. Marco Polo relates that “ theyhave gold in great abundance, but as it is notallowed to be exported, few merchants visit thecountry. The entire roof of the palace is coveredwith a plating of gold in the same manner as ourchurches are with lead. The ceilings of the hallsare of the same precious metal. Many of theapartments have small tables of pure gold consi-derably thick, and the windows have also goldenornaments.” (P. 569.) P. Amiot, whose narra-tive is of a later date, says, “ Le Palais du Poi sefait remarquer par la maniere singuli^re dont il estconstruit. II a neuf Stages, et presente de touscotes un exterieur brillant de l’orle plus fin.”

1 Description de Timor, par Van Hogendorp, dans les An-ri ales des Voyages, t. vi. p. 280.

2 Hassel, vol. xv. p. 820.

VOL. II.

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