Janus: Cinnabar and antimony mining in Sarawak, circa 1868

RCS contains:
<-- See earlier
Y30333A	Views in the Dutch East Indies (Java and Sumatra), 1880s-1890s
Y30333B	Photographs of Macassar, circa 1900
Y30333C	Reception for Queen's Day, 1952, Djakarta [i.e. Jakarta]
Y3034A	Buchanan-Smith North Borneo [i.e. Sabah] photographs 1903-09
Y3035A	Descriptive album of the country and people of Sarawak
Y3035B	Cinnabar and antimony mining in Sarawak, circa 1868
Y3035C	View of Kuching and Labuan, 1890s
Y3035D	Photographs of Sarawak, circa 1960
Y3035E	General photographs of Sarawak, 1960s
Y3035F	Helen Wallis Collection on Sarawak
Y30377A	China, Hong Kong and Siam [i.e. Thailand]
See later -->

More information

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Cinnabar and antimony mining in Sarawak, circa 1868

Title	Cinnabar and antimony mining in Sarawak, circa 1868
Reference	GBR/0115/Y3035B
Creator	Unknown
Covering Dates	circa 1868-circa 1890
Extent and Medium	7 images; good condition apart from slight fading.
Repository	Cambridge University Library: Royal Commonwealth Society Library

Content and context

A collection of albumen prints, measuring approximately 240 x 180 mm., with detailed captions on the reverse. The views show antimony workings in the Jambusan Valley and the cinnabar mining area at Tegora Hill. The detailed pencilled captions on the reverse are signed 'A.W.I.'. 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.

Access and Use

Please cite as Cambridge University Library: Royal Commonwealth Society Library, Cinnabar and antimony mining in Sarawak, circa 1868, Y3035B

Further information

Indexed

This item level description was entered by NE and MJC using information from the original typescript catalogue.

This collection is available on microfiche: South East Asia, number 14.

Index Terms

Asia

Malay Archipelago

Malaysia

RCS/Y3035B contains:

Tegora Hill, Upper Sarawak, Borneo, first opening of cinnabar mines. Two Chinese coolies at work. 239 x 182 mm. View looking across partially cleared jungle on the slope of a hill, with a thatched hut in the background and two Chinese (blurred) posed beside an uprooted tree in the left foreground.

1868–1890

Opening of the cinnabar mines on Tegora Hill, Upper Sarawak, about 60 miles from Kuching, the capital of Sarawak (Borneo). 240 x 187 mm. View looking down onto the thatched huts of the coolie labour force, with partially cleared jungle on the hillside beyond. The note on the reverse continues: 'Showing Chinese gardens and coolie house. Those raised off the ground are Malay houses. The large tree in the centre of the picture is a Tapa tree & supposed to be upwards of 200 ft high with parasitic pine in branches. The Malay gardens are at the back & full of bananas or pisangs'. Duplicate at Y302B/50.

1868–1890

Tegora cinnabar mines, Upper Sarawak, Borneo, office and retort sheds. 248 x 189 mm. General view of the workings, with the mines office in the left foreground and the retort sheds in the valley below. With jungle covered hills beyond.
Fair condition, some overall fading and fold across centre of print..

1868–1890

Tegora cinnabar mines, Upper Sarawak, Borneo, 'Panhalan' or landing place. 240 x 183 mm. View looking along the river at Tegora, with dugouts in the foreground and thatched houses on the rise beyond. The note on the reverse continues 'showing Malay sampans or boats in which the bottles of mercury are sent down to the coast in. Chinese mandor and family are seen at their door & Malays are in the boats'.

1868–1890

Jambusan Valley antimony workings, Upper Sarawak, Borneo, limestone mountain in background. 249 x 191 mm. View looking along the valley, with the thatched huts of the mine labour in the foreground and jungle beyond. The 'limestone mountain' has faded into invisibility.

1868–1890

Jambusan Valley antimony workings, Upper Sarawak, Borneo. 240 x 183 mm. View showing coolie labour standing beside the wooden trolleys of the makeshift mine railway. See also Y3035B/7.
Fair condition, some fading in from edges..

1868–1890

Tramway of 'Billian' or iron wood rails, Jambusan Valley antimony workings, Upper Sarawak, Borneo. 249 x 188 mm. Showing two labourers posed beside a truck loaded with antimony ore collected from the surface of the workings. With a thatched shed containing winding gear in the right foreground. The railway trucks seen here are considerably larger than those seen in Y3035B/6.

1868–1890