The use of the plough, the harrow, or the buffalo in cultivation is, except by report, entirely unknown in Sarawak; the natives will, I believe, be much surprised at the results produced by a good English plough, which is about to be tried on some fields of sugar-cane in the neighbourhood of Kuching, and it may do much good by showing them the methods employed by other nations. At present the Malays and Dayaks use no other instruments than a long chopper, an axe, and a pointed stick. The soil and the varied heights on the hill-sides, would render Sarawak a fine country for coffee; which grows freely, and so do pepper, tapioca, arrowroot, and almost every product cultivated in the neighbouring islands; but these things are not yet grown in sufficient quantities to render them worth mentioning as articles of export. Of the jungle produce I may name the principal: they are fine timber of many varieties, gutta-percha, india-rubber, wax, and rattans, and the last are to be obtained in the very greatest abundance and of the best quality in the districts lately ceded by the sultan to the government of Sarawak. Sarawak has a very great advantage over many countries, having water communication from the far interior, down to her coasts, and inner channels communicating with many of the outlying districts. The mineral products known to exist in sufficient quantities to be worth working are not numerous; they are coal, antimony, and gold. Coal seams have long been known to exist, but in situations that necessitated a considerable outlay; within the last few months, however, coal has been discovered close to the water’s edge in the districts lately ceded, but I have not yet heard of the result of the examinations which have just been made. Antimony of the best quality can be procured in sufficient quantities to supply any demand, and a new mine has been secured to the Sarawak government by the cession of Bintulu. Gold is only worked by the Chinese, who wash the surface earth in a way which I will afterwards describe. No deep sinkings have been attempted, nor has quartz yet been discovered in large quantities, and it is not likely to be while nine-tenths of the country are still clothed with forest. Indications of many minerals exist, but until found in greater quantities they are scarcely worth referring to, except to encourage a careful examination of the mountain and hilly districts. Sufficient silver has however been found to render it probable that a mine exists not far from the Bidi antimony works. The Dutch beyond the border are said to be working a copper mine to great profit; and in Sarawak indications of that mineral, as well as of lead, have been several times discovered: but no great importance can be attached to them at present. Manganese and arsenic have been found in considerable quantities, but they are not yet worked.