Banka, or Bangka, an island off the east coast of Sumatra, and separated from it by the Strait of Banca. It lies between Lat. 1. 30. and 3. 7. S. and Long. 105. 9. and 106. 54. E. It varies from 8 to 20 miles in breadth, and has an area of 3560 geographical square miles. Its mines of tin, which were discovered in 1710, are remarkably productive, and in 1844 yielded no less than 70,289 peculs, or 4183 tons 18 cwt. of that metal. Iron, copper, lead, silver, and arsenic, are also found there. The soil is generally dry and stony, and the greater part of the island is covered with forests, in which the logwood tree especially abounds. Its mountains, which scarcely exceed 2000 feet in height, are covered with vegetation to their summits. They are of granitic formation, containing felspar, quartz, mica, and tourmaline. Pop. in 1840, 35,000, including 18,000 Chinese. Muntak, the capital, has 3000 inhabitants, and a fort garrisoned by 200 men. There are several other forts on the island. It belongs to the Dutch.