358 Notices of Memoirs — Capt. G. A. Strover — 



abandoned. The surface ore is not promising. Most of the copper 

 used in Upper Burmah is imported from China. It is plentiful in 

 the Province of Yunan. 



Iron. — Iron abounds in the Shan States, and the district of Pagan, 

 to the south of Mandalay, is noted for it. A manufactory exists on 

 a rough and ready scale in this district at Pohpah Toung, but the 

 outturn is inconsiderable. To the west of Sagaing, for miles up the 

 Irrawaddy river, the ore abounds — a rich hsematite. His Majesty is 

 now procuring iron works from England, and will before long have 

 a large foundry, with all the requisite machinery, erected and at 

 work at Sagaing. The surface hsematite alone will feed it for years 

 to come, if worked. 



Two mining engineers are now awaiting the arrival of the works, 

 and expect to proceed to Sagaing soon to commence operations. 



Lead is found in abundance in the Shan States, and is extracted 

 from galena. Considerable quantities of this metal could be obtained 

 if such was desired. At present moderate supplies are procured, 

 sufficient for the requirements of the land. It is also imported from 

 Yunan. 



Tin. — This metal exists in the Shan States to the south-east of 

 Mandalay, but the mines have never been worked. The tin con- 

 sumed in the country now is all imported. 



Platinum is said to exist in the Shan States, and it seems probable 

 that it does exist, but I have no reliable information on this point. 



Graphite is found to the east of Nat-taik in large quantities on a 

 low range of hills near the village Nyoke-toke. It is not utilized. 



Goal. — This mineral is known to exist at Thingadaw, about 70 

 miles above Mandalay, on the western bank of the Irrawaddy; at 

 Shuaygoo below Bhamo ; at Meimbaloung in the Shan States east of 

 Mandalay ; to the south-west of Mandalay in the Yaw district, at 

 Yaignaw, east of Nat-taik. It is found at Pagan and Shimpagah, 

 and it is probable that it exists near Meuhla and Yeynangyoung. 

 At Thingadaw the coal has been extracted, but it is of an inferior 

 description and more resembles lignite than true mineral coal. 

 An attempt was lately made here to ascertain the productiveness of 

 the coal-beds. It is nearly certain that plenty of coal exists in the 

 locality, and a few more borings would probably prove this. The 

 coal-bed in the Shan States at Meimbaloung contains true mineral 

 coal, and consequently a valuable coal. It has been inspected by an 

 experienced mining engineer, and highly approved of as equal to the 

 best English coal. There is little doubt that the beds are extensive, 

 but unfortunately the distance inland is great, and no easy means are 

 available for transporting the coal to the low lands ; indeed, the only 

 method at present is by floating it down mountain streams and rapids 

 on rafts, which entails considerable risk and loss of coal. European 

 skill and enterprise would soon make a safe route of one description 

 or another if really required by the Government : it remains at 

 present, with neighbouring wealth, where nature placed it, awaiting 

 development in times to come. 



Jade and Amber. — The quality and extent of these mines above 



