1836.] on the extreme N. E. Frontier of Bengal. 203 



of the Brahmaputra ; hut the gathering it is but a poor trade, and is 

 now hut little followed. The place most celebrated for its precious 

 stones is Mung-kung or Mogaum. 



Precious Stones. — On a range of hills near it, a great number of deep 

 mines are dug, and the working of them affords occupation for many 

 thousand inhabitants. When a stone of moderate weight is found, it 

 is hoisted to the mouth of the shaft by a windlass erected for the pur- 

 pose. But they frequently meet with large masses, which they have 

 not the power of moving : these they contrive to break to pieces. 



Mining. — The workmen begin by kindling a strong fire all over and 

 around the precious stones, till it is well heated ; they then mark off 

 with some powerful liquid, the piece they wish to break off, a large 

 stone is suspended from the top of the shaft perpendicularly over the 

 piece to be broken off, and when all is ready, the stone is cut away, 

 and falling with great impetus upon the mass below, breaks off 

 the fragment exactly according to the line drawn with the liquid. It 

 is difficult to account for this mysterious liquid being able to prevent 

 the whole mass from being splintered, and how it should preserve such 

 a line of separation ; yet such is the native belief, and it is not impro- 

 bable that its effect is merely imaginary, or that is practised from some 

 superstition. 



These stones are afterwards cut into convenient pieces by means of 

 a bambu bow with a string of twisted wire, the string being applied 

 to the stone and used as a saw, while its action is assisted by some sort 

 of pulverized mineral*. As might be expected, much bloodshed is 

 frequently the consequence of finding these hidden treasures. When 

 any doubt arises about the party who first discovered one, or about the 

 right of possession, bloody battles ensue with short swords in hand be- 

 tween whole villages. Large emeralds are allowed to lie around the 

 pits unclaimed by any one : no one venturing to carry them away, lest 

 every one should fall upon them in vengeance. These precious stones 

 are afterwards carried on mules to China, and are sold at very high 

 prices, some of them bringing 7 or 800 seers weight of silver. The 

 Burmese governor levies a tax of two seers on every 10 that are 

 exported. These mules are driven along in gangs of 20 to 30 ; the 

 drivers go armed with swords and matchlocks, and guide their beasts 

 of burden by word of mouth. The route they pursue to China is via 

 Catmow or the Irawadi, and the overland journey from Mung-kung 

 to Catmow occupies about nine days. 



Amber. — Besides the mines of precious stones, there are several 

 amber mines in the province of Hukung, which are wrought to con- 



* Doubtless corundum : this is the common mode of cutting hard stones. — Ed„ 



