X GEOLOGY. 



and decaying. It is in this range that the tin of Tavoy pro- 

 vince is chief found. 



The dangerous reef called the ' Cows,' near where Tavoy 

 river disembogues itself, is formed of porphyritic granite, con- 

 taining large crystals of flesh-colored felspar. This variety 

 has acquired the local name of 



go8©oqpo8» Nwa-gyouk. 



coriSiSs. loGdiicn. 



• o 



It is probably so called from its resemblance to the color of 

 a red cow ; but tradition says that these rocks were originally 

 a drove of cows which opposed Boodhism, and attempted to 

 cross the river to beat down the pagoda opposite, on Tavoy 

 Point, but the divinity looking out from the pagoda exclaimed, 

 <; Those are not cows, they are rocks;" when they were all 

 immediately changed to stone. 



It is a curious fact that while these ledges, which are con- 

 stantly exposed to the water and the weather, are remarkable 

 for their hardness, rocks of the same composition, at a locali- 

 ty not a mile distant on the shore, are in a complete state of 

 disintegration, so that the crystals composing them may be 

 picked out by the fingers. This fact tends to show that the 

 disintegration of granite, is attributable to other causes than 

 exposure to the weather. 



Passing still farther east and down the Tenasserim, in about 

 lattitude lo* 40', the river runs over a broad belt of granite,, 

 which has the same general features as the preceding. This 

 is the most eastern granite that I have met with in the province. 



On proceeding up the river from Amherst to the head- 

 waters of the Dahgyaing, no indication of granite occurs from 

 Amherst Point to the base of the eastern mountains, where 

 granite boulders appear in the brooks. This granite contains 

 numerous crystals, of schorl but is apparently destitute of tin ; 

 for it is not known that tin has ever been worked in Amherst 

 province. 



Mr. Lonsdale, the editor of the Maulmain Chronicle, says, 

 " Granite is to be seen in abundance on the crest of that high 

 range of mountains which runs nearly parallel with the 

 Thoung-yin river, on the Shan or right bank. In the creeks, 



