360 Notices of Memoirs — Minerals of Burmah. 



shit-gyee, Enidjme Tua (Kyouksay, S.E.), East of Pagan (Yoongdaw 

 Toung-). 



The yearly average outturn is about 40,000 viss. The manufac- 

 ture is not prohibited as with sulphur, and considerable quantities 

 are used in the preparation of fireworks. 



The manufactures at Toungthoo Einlay, Eindyne, Kyouksay, 

 Yoongdaw Toung, and Sameet-koon can produce very largely if 

 required. 



At Toungthoo Einlay the Toungthoo Shans in former times used 

 to make from 20 to 25,000 viss of saltpetre per annum, but emigra- 

 tion to British territory has considerably reduced this. 



The price of saltpetre is Rs. 50 per 100 viss. Many parts of 

 Upper Burmah are well suited for its manufacture, the ground being 

 well supplied with nitre. 



Rubies, Sapphires, Garnets, etc. — These are found in abundance at 

 Mogouk, Kyat-pyeen, to the north-east of Mandalay near Momeit. 

 The ruby ground extends over a large area of hilly country. The 

 gem sand is found from 3 to 15 feet below the surface soil, and the 

 beds are then followed up. The method of working is primitive 

 and rough, the consequence being that large rubies are seldom 

 extracted intact. 



Some years ago, a Mr. Bredamajee, a German Mineralogist, was 

 located at these mines for the purpose of developing them, but, after 

 a short stay, he got into trouble with the people, and was dismissed. 

 He declared that, with careful working, rubies as large as pigeons' 

 eggs could be extracted, and that the mines were very rich. At 

 Mogoung also ruby mines exist, and very fair rubies have been found. 

 The Sagyeen or marble hills, a short distance to the north of 

 Mandalay, contain the gems as well, but they are of too light a 

 colour to be valuable. They are, however, mixed with other rubies 

 and disposed of. 



Salt. — Extensive salt-fields exist at Shimpagah, a short distance 

 above Mandalay, on the western bank of the Irrawaddy river. It is 

 also obtained at other places in Upper Burmah on a small scale. 

 Large quantities can be manufactured at Shimpagah, but imported 

 salt is fast taking its place in the market. The hill people, though, 

 appreciate to a certain extent the Shimpagah salt and mix it with 

 European salt. 



Petroleum. — This mineral oil is found at Yeynangyoung and Pagan, 

 but information regarding it is so complete that it is hardly necessary 

 to allude to it further. I will, however, make a few brief remarks. 

 There are at present about 150 wells worked at Yeynangyoung ; 

 the quantity of oil estimated as deliverable from these wells is 15,000 

 viss daily, of which 10,000 viss is taken by the contractor who 

 supplies British Burmah, and 5,000 viss by the contractor who 

 supplies Upper Burmah. The total yield of these wells is 6,000,000 

 viss per annum, or 9,375 tons. There are many abandoned wells, 

 and wells that produce very small quantities of oil. At Pagan there 

 are about 50 wells : they yield daily 1,500 viss of oil, which the 

 earth-oil contractors, at present the Lay-myo-woon and one Moung 



