...The Inhabitants are Siams, about 2000 Soules, and about 2 or
300 black Chrisitans who call themselves Porteguese. It is under the
Goverment of the King of Siam, who sends two Chinese Govern[ors] every
3 or 4 years to rule them, by which meanes 'tis greatly oppress'd,
allmost depopulated, and the trade ruined. Often vex'd with
discents and depredations by the Malay Piratts. Lying so farr from
Court that it is little regarded. The people inexpressibly lazy, all
property being perfectly precarious; beggars to a man both Govern[or]s
and Governed. Yett notwithstanding it is at present such a scene of
misery and want, it needs nothing but a good Governm[en]t to make
it a very happy place and the Inhabitants very rich. They would be
glad to joyn or come under any foreigners for their protection, knowing
they would live much happier, and not be oppress'd as they at
present are
…The Commodities the Island affords and can afford
are as followeth.
Tin. All the south parts are full of Tin Mines lying high and near
the surface of the earth, which however the Natives for want of
the Art our European miners are masters off, find difficult enough
to come at; which added to their naturall sloth and the just fear
they live in of being rich (which would render 'em liable
to greater inconvenience then living just from hand to mouth) Are
the causes that very little Tin is dug. When they gett into a hole
five or ten foot deep (which is what they call a mine) if they meet
with any water they leave off immediatly and goe no further let
the vein be never so rich (because they can not drain the water
off). They never goe under ground to follow a Vein, but poke what
they can with a stick of hard wood, or some poor ill contrived Iron
tool as farr as they can reach round them, and then leave of and
goe and sink a hole in some other place till they find a Vein. And
of such places as these they have hundreds for all the south parts
of the Island are like so many gravell pitts. Even in melting the
oar they are very wastfull, very inexpert and Tedious. They often
give 25 per cent for melting, and this intirely for want of art
in making furnaces, contriving bellowes and other melting conveniences,
for they have charcoal enough for little or nothing. Yet for all
this they gett above 100 tonns a year. So that any person may judge
what a vast quantity may be gott by a few expert miners and slaves
that may be had very cheap from Madegascar the Coast of Chormandell
and Bengall.
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