1862.] Literary Intelligence, Sfc. 297 



As to the China side of Bamo, my former letters to you will have 

 shown you that nothing is to be expected from there either commer- 

 cially, or as welcome for a scientific expedition for a long time to 

 come. Yunan is in short yet in anarchy. 



The Chinese, themselves in constant communication with Bamo, 

 inform me that no commerce of any kind is to be hoped for a long 

 time. The country is still in the hands of the Moslem Chinese who, 

 like their brethren all over the world, have imbibed with their faith 

 a love of the sword and its work. They are but a handful among 

 their countrymen but play sad havoc with its tranquillity. 



I am just at present in great popularity here. The great people 

 profess for me the most cordial feelings and the heir-apparent, the 

 renowned " War Prince" after the many times he has expressed him- 

 self so graciously towards me, sent for me the other day to spend the 

 day in conversation with him. His royal Highness reiterated his 

 request for me to teach one of his Secretaries chemistry, saying the 

 king had promised him the post of At ween Woon (Minister of the 

 Lower Council of four) as soon as he had acquired the science. We 

 got on the subject of stones and a little museum grew up before me, 

 containing several mineral ores, that the Prince said he had obtained 

 by sending his men over the country to seek for them. 



These ores he sent tome for analysis and now while I write several 

 of his people are in my garden working a forge and bellows, reducing 

 some iron ore under my directions in order to my analysing it. It 

 is a rich magnetic iron ore, similar to that which produces the best 

 Swedish iron and steel. It was brought in about a year ago, but 

 its virtues have hitherto been disbelieved in, and it has never been 

 reduced. There are immense quantities of it two days from this. 



Another I have found to be almost pure bismuth. The ore 

 having a specific gravity of 8.1 



A third was an iron pyrites also abundant, but of no use except 

 for sulphur and sulphuric acid, both of which, the prince assured 

 me, they make from it. 



The bismuth ore I do not yet know from where it comes or whe= 

 ther it is in plenty : I am afraid not. If it is, this ore, the steel pro- 

 ducing magnetic iron, and cinnamon, and tea that will be produced 

 from Burmah, will amply reward me for my series of annoyances and 

 vexations suffered here. There ought to be found some tin ore 



2 q 2 



