The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-01-20

Very little being known regarding
hesc Borneo diamontiferous regions,
the subjoined particulars may be found
suteresting. Those of Landak are among
the oldest and most productive in the
world and have been worked, though
not very systematically, ever since the
establishment of Malay settlements on
the coast. Here diamonds are found
net only in the river beds when dry, but
eisedn their original sites at the foot of
the mountains. The diggings are usually
carried TO depth of from ten to thirty
feet. aud constant experience has shown
that the deeper they are dug the gems
are beth more plentiful and of larger
size and finer quality. AT Landak there
are Gen parts or mines, each employing
from twenty to thirty laborers. So far
back as 1888 the Dutch annually OK
ported from this district diamonds to the
vaiue Of from 100000 to 100000.
With Che decline Of the Dutch Gov
ernmcnt, however, the demand has de-
creased and the mines are now much
neglected, the numerous diamond-cut-
terS not being able to obtain livelihood
Forncrly, when more Chinese were en-
pioyed in the mines of Landak, diamonds
fromte 10 thirteen carats were COM
mon ia Che public markets. The Pan
gerau (Raiah) of Landak now wears one
of eighteen and another of fourteen and
onG-half carats.
The mines in this part of the island
have beea worked for over century,
chiefly by the Chinese. But in 1912 the
t'CeloStials" were set upon and either
massacred or driven out of the country
by the Dyaks, as the aborigines are
called. The cause of this outbreak was
the iutolerable tyranny of the Chinese,
who appear to have treated the Dyak
Laborors employed by them with the
most atrocious cruelty and oppression.
AZ was one Of these Dyaks who found
the large diamond under considera-
tion. as fully related by Sir STAN
ford Raffles." Among the larger dia-
monds which these mines have produced
IL may not be uniuteresting to mention
shat Gie great diamond now in the pos
session of heSutan of Matan. which has
been seen and examined by Europeans,
weighs 3S7 carats; it is of the shape of
an egg, indented on one side. 1t is,
however, uncut. and ON this account it
may lie difficult to say whether it will
become the largest cut diamond ever
known; for the famous diamond of Aur-
ung-sob, called the Mogul, in its rough
state weighed 1876 Carats, and was then
valued at 100000. but when cut was
reduced TO 279 carats. This celebrated
diamond, known by the name OF the
SfMatan" diamond, was discovered by q
Dyak, and claimed as a droit Of royalty
SY heSultan Of the country, Gurn-Laya,
bat was handed over to the Pangeran of
Landak, whose brother, having got pos
session of il. gave il as bride to the
Sultan of Suksdana, in order that he
might be ptacedon the throne OF Landak
The lawful Prince, however, having fled
10 Bantam, by the aid Of the Prince of
that country and the Dutch, succeeded
In regainlng possession of his district,
and nearly destroyed Sukadana. 1t has
remained as an heirloom in the family
Tor four descents, and is almost the only
eppendage of royalty now remaining.
Although il has brought little but
trouble TO its owners, this gem is looked
upon by them as q sort of tftelar deity
and held in the very highest esteem on
account of the astonishing healing virtues
with which tho popular Imagination has
endowed it. That such superstitious
zdeas should still be prevalent among the
Eemi-civilized races OF the east need not
surprise us when we remember that the
grestiuminsry of the church. st. Jerome,
author Of the Latin Vuigate. attributed
all kinds of wonderful virtues to the
sapphire. solemnly declaring that it Sc
cairod 10 its owner the favor of Princes,
nisarmed his enemies, baffled the wiz
ards arts, liberated captiyes and even
hppeased the wrath of the Deity Him.
self, The Malays of Landak are firmly
persuaded that the water in which the
Mstaph has been dipped is specific for
all disorders; and, no doubt, this very
belief has occasionally produced good re-
suits, especially ia cases of nervous COM
plants. Similar effects are constantly
Witaessed among the devout pilgrims to
ahe various shrines and holy wells
Hugh Low tells us that the Matan sis
as yet uncut and weighs 376 carats, so
that if cut and polished il would be re-
duced 70 1881 carats. Its value is esti-
mated by Mr.. Crawford to be EGGS, 1873,
being less by E34,822 than that of the
Russian diamond, and G119,730 more
thar chat of the Pitt diamond. l have
been informed by q person who sup
posed himself to be a good Judge of dia-
EnCnds that the Sultan possesses the real
Etone, which he had seen; but that a
crystal is shown TO strangers, as the Sui