474 COMMERCIAL DESCRIPTION OF this part of the countiy amounts to 36,000, of whom 4000 only are women. Part of the latter only are of the mixed Chinese and native race, and the greater number natives of the place, pur- chased or kidnapped. Six thousand of the whole of this population only are directly engaged in the working of the mines, the rest being occupied in trade or agriculture, or in branches of industry subservient to the working of the mines. This Chinese population is nearly independent of any native authority, governing itself through its chiefs, and the tribute paid to the raja of Sambas, in whose territories the mines are situated, is very trifling, amounting to no more than l60 bungkals, making 399^ Spanish dollars ; or, in Sterling money, L. 898, 4s. Like the tin mines of Banca, the economy and circumstances of which they very closely resemble in many particulars, the gold mines oi Montr adak are divided into large and small. Of the first there are thirteen at present wrought, and of the second fifty-seven. The principal dif- ference in these consists, not in the amount of the fertility of the ore, but rather in the greater or smaller capital which is employed in working them ; and, of consequence, in the principle and extent to which the mining operations are conducted. The great mines are wrought by companies of persons of property and capital, who employ monthly labourers. The smaller mines, on the other hand, are worked
