Cinnabar and antimony mining in Sarawak, circa 1868
Scope and Contents
A collection of albumen prints, measuring approximately 240 x 180 mm., with detailed captions on the reverse, which are signed 'A.W.I.' The captions have been recorded as found and may contain offensive, inappropriate or outdated terms. They have been retained to reflect the context of the collection's creation. The views show antimony workings in the Jambusan Valley and the cinnabar mining area at Tegora Hill. The detailed pencilled captions on the reverse Cinnabar, the sulphide from which mercury is obtained, was discovered at Tegora by L.V. Helms, the first manager of the Borneo Company, in 1867; mining was begun immediately and exports of the mineral were made from the following year. After a boom period in the 1870s, output was negligible by the 1890s and later ceased almost entirely. The antimony industry was of greater antiquity in Sarawak, having been mined in the Bau area from 1823; the Jambusan Valley was one of the principal sources for the mineral in Sarawak. Output rose rapidly after 1868, peaked in 1872 and remained the leading exported mineral until the mid-1880s. The industry lost all importance about 1916. The dating of these prints relies on the captions to prints 1 and 2, which state that the views show the 'first opening' and 'opening' of the cinnabar mines. The note to print 2 is dated 1880, however, and it is possible that the photographs relate to a slightly later period.
Dates
- Creation: 1868 - 1890
Conditions Governing Access
Unless restrictions apply, the collection is open for consultation by researchers using the Manuscripts Reading Room at Cambridge University Library. For further details on conditions governing access please contact mss@lib.cam.ac.uk. Information about opening hours and obtaining a Cambridge University Library reader's ticket is available from the Library's website (www.lib.cam.ac.uk).
Extent
7 item(s) (7 images)
Language of Materials
English
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
Good condition apart from slight fading.
Existence and Location of Copies
This collection is available on microfiche: South East Asia, number 14.
General
This item level description was entered by NE and MJC using information from the original typescript catalogue.
Originator(s)
Unknown
- Date
- 2004-07-22 14:20:16+00:00
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Cambridge University Library Repository
Cambridge University Library
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Cambridge CB3 9DR United Kingdom
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