20 Narrative of the Proceedings and Scientific 



markable that it deserves particular mention. Its perpendicu- 

 lar wall confines the Ataran for several hundred yards on its 

 right bank. About its middle it is penetrated by a branch of 

 the river, which flows quite through it by a magnificent arch. 

 This is a highly picturesque object. 



Neither the proper Burman or Talain country appear to be 

 rich in metallic ores, with the exception of those of iron, tin, 

 and antimony. The principal consumption of the country in 

 iron is supplied from the great mountain of Poupa, on the 

 eastern side of the Irawadi, and near the latitude of 21°. Lao, 

 the country of the Shans, as it is denominated by the Burmans, 

 is, on the contrary, extremely prolific in metals. The singular 

 passion of the Burmans for the study of alchemy has brought 

 collections of the ores of Lao into the market of Ava, and this 

 circumstance enabled the gentlemen to make collections of 

 them. The ores thus obtained consisted of those of iron, sil- 

 ver, lead, copper, and antimony. The Shans possess the art 

 of smelting all these, and bring them in their metallic state into 

 th'e market of Ava. The silver ores in the Burman dominions 

 are, however, wrought to the greatest advantage by the Chinese. 

 The mines exist about twelve days journey to the north-east 

 of Bamoo, towards the Chinese frontier. 



The celebrated sapphire and ruby mines, which have always 

 afforded, and still continue to afford, the finest gems of this 

 description in the world, are about five days journey from Ava, 

 in a direction E. S. E., and at two places called Mo-gaot and 

 Kyat-pyan. The diff'erent species of sapphire, both in their 

 crystallized and rough state, and the matrix, or rather gravel, 

 in which they are found, were seen, examined, and collections 

 made. In these mines are found the following gems or stones ; 

 the red sapphire or oriental ruby, the oriental sapphire, the 

 spinelle ruby, the white, the yellow, the green, the opalescent, 

 the amethyst and girasol sapphire, blue with a reddish reflec- 

 tion, with the common corundum or adamantine spar in large 

 quantities. 



The oriental ruby, perfect in regard to water, colour, and 

 freedom from flaws, is scarce and high-priced even at Ava. 

 The blue sapphire is more common and cheaper. One spe- 

 cimen exhibited to us weighed 9-51 carats, but it was not per- 



