1836.] Notes on the Geology, $c. of Maulamyeng. 279 



majestic scenery so bountifully bestowed by nature on this part of the 

 Kayeng-dho. 



A desire to become better acquainted with the geology of this part 

 of the world induced me to pay a visit to the Ayein Kayeng. The 

 following notes, having reference to the geology of that country, are 

 extracted from my journal, with the view of rendering the description 

 of the rocks before mentioned more complete. 



" Leaving my boat at Mye-an, and advancing in a N. E. direction 

 towards the village of Yeng-bien, a mass of regularly stratified limestone 

 makes its appearance on the left of the road ; it forms part of a broken 

 chain extending N. N. W. and S. S. E. The stratification of the 

 limestone is remarkably distinct ; the dip of the strata E. N. E. 



" Proceeding from thence up a dry nullah, covered with fragments of 

 slate and sandstone, the ascent lay over the blue clay-slate that is first 

 seen reposing on the limestone at the Towng-bio rapid. The slate is 

 covered with a forest of fine young male bambus, runs parallel with 

 the limestone, and may be as much as 900- feet above the level of the 

 plain." 



" Bidding adieu to Yeng-bien, and advancing in the same direction to- 

 wards M&ayo, Tigunnty, (Tshangelee,) and Bo-thowng, the rocks are of the 

 same nature as those encountered in route from Maulamyeng to Towng- 

 bio-myo ; viz. limestone, alternating with sandstone and clay -slate ; the 

 sandstone becomes extremely compact and siliceous in the neighbour- 

 hood of Bo-thowng ; the limestone presents itself in the usual broken 

 masses of various extent. But the clay-slate of Bo-thowng differs in 

 colour from that of Towng-bio, being either pink or reddish brown, with 

 a fine silky texture. The route from Tigunnfy to Bo-thowng is diffi- 

 cult and dangerous from the precipitous nature of the rock which is, 

 at the latter place* as much as 2000 feet above the level of the plain. 

 The ascent is also much impeded by the leaves and clay-slate pebbles 

 profusely scattered about, and leaving little footing for the traveller on 

 a path so inclined. Descending on the eastern side of the hill, the 

 path (if it may be so called) lay over masses of the same pink- 

 coloured slate, watered by a stream that precipitated itself over the 

 rock, and rendered the descent a matter of no small difficulty ; after 

 proceeding a hundred yards or more, in that direction, the route lay 

 to the left ; a second ascent was here commenced, and passing a few 

 heaps of stratified limestone alternating with the slate, I arrived at 

 that part of the mountain called Bo-thowng : silver ore is said to exist 

 in a limestone rock at this place, and judging from the numerous 

 excavations that had been made by those in pursuit of the precious 

 metal, no little labour has been used in the endeavour to discover it. 



