1897- PLIOCENE FLINT-FLAKES IN BURMA. 235 



usually called Minlintoung, " toung " being Burmese for " hill ") to a 

 place where the ferruginous conglomerate rises to the surface, in 

 other words forms part of the beds that crop out on the plateau. 

 For details I must again refer the reader to my Memoir on the 

 Yenangyoung petroleum-field, as it is impossible to explain the rather 

 complicated stratigraphy without a map and numerous sections, and 

 in the meantime the above statement must be taken on trust. At 

 this locality I had previously found some similar, but not so well 

 shaped flints, which I had, however, disregarded for the following 

 reasons : 



1. The specimens were lying loose, and I was not so absolutely 

 sure that they were in situ when discovered, as I was with those first 

 mentioned. 



2. Being on the plateau, I admitted the possibility of an ancient 

 settlement at this locality. 



As both these exceptions might be raised, I thought it more 

 prudent to disregard for the moment the second locality until I had 

 learnt the views expressed by authorities in such matters about the 

 nature of the flakes described in my first paper, as to the position of 

 which I was perfectly sure. If these specimens were not regarded as 

 artificial, it was useless to mention their occurrence at a second 

 locality, but if they were thought to be artificial, there was plenty of 

 opportunity to mention and describe this second occurrence, particu- 

 larly as I found at a third locality a remarkably polished femur of 

 which I shall have presently to say more. Mention of this femur 

 was withheld, as I wanted to ponder the matter before expressing an 

 opinion. 



To my great surprise, Mr. Oldham has in Natural Science for 

 September, 1895, (vol. vii. pp. 201 and 202) given an account of the 

 occurrence of the flakes, so incorrectly stating the facts that a reply 

 and restatement of them appears necessary. I have unfortunately 

 partly been detained by more pressing work from replying at an 

 earlier date ; partly I wished to wait for the publication of my Memoir 

 on the Yenangyoung oilfield, because I am now, while on furlough, 

 obliged to write from memory. If therefore some of the figures given 

 below do not quite correspond with those in my Memoir I must ask 

 the reader to excuse these discrepancies in minor matters ; but the 

 chief facts will be found to be correct. 



I think it best to give first a short description of the country 

 around Yenangyoung, as it is of some importance with regard to the 

 objections raised by Mr. Oldham. 



The town of Yenangyoung, famous from the oldest ages of 

 Burmese history for its petroleum wells, is situated on the left bank 

 of the Irrawaddi in Lat. 20° 21' N. and Long. 94° 56' E. The 

 country on this side of the river is for miles and miles a barren and 

 almost desert low plateau about 100 to 150 feet above the level of the 

 river, rising gently inland, i.e., towards the East. Seen from a distance 



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