88 Geological and Statistical Account of the [Feb. 



any other part of the island. There were no appearance of the fossil 

 remains sometimes found in this rock s such as fresh-water shells, &c. 

 The limestone is split into several large fragments by means of fire ; 

 these are again broken into smaller pieces, and the whole conveyed in 

 baskets to the lime- kilns constructed on the banks of the Saayre-kyong 

 creek, which at full tide has sufficient depth of water to admit of the 

 approach of large boats. The whole of the lime used in Rambree 

 Island, either for architectural purposes, or for the preparation of the 

 edible chunam, is obtained from this rock. I was told that the lime, if 

 taken in large quantities, was sold on the spot for 3| maunds per rupee, 

 and tbat there were generally from 100 to 200 maunds collected. 

 Crossing the creek at low water, I observed a few boulders of lias clay 

 and calc spar imbedded in its banks. Proceeding from thence by a 

 neat Kioum and grove of mangoe trees, I arrived at Seppo-towng, a 

 village situated at the foot of a high hill covered with forest trees, and 

 diversified with a few spots of ground cleared for the cultivation of 

 the plantain tree. The tall Girjuns, with their white trunks divested 

 of branches, were eminently conspicuous amidst their more graceful but 

 probably less serviceable neighbours. The Girjun yields the oil that 

 bears its name, and is used for combustion as well as for admixture 

 with paints, varnishes, &c. (See Jour. As. Soc. II. 93.) 



These trees are very abundant upon the island, and are farmed by 

 Government. The mode of extracting the oil would appear to be as 

 follows : a deep notch is cut in the trunk of the tree by means of a 

 dhao or other instrument, and to this fire is applied until the wood 

 becomes heated, and oil is seen to exude upon the surface. In the 

 course of three or four days perhaps as much as a seer or a seer and a 

 half of oil is collected within the cavity, and the tree will continue to 

 afford a certain quantity of oil for five months or more, the collections 

 being generally made every fifth day. "When the oil has ceased to 

 flow the tree is again cut in the same place, so that the whole of the 

 wood which had been consumed or scorched is removed ; fire is once 

 more applied, and the oil collected as before. The notch has after re- 

 peated cuttings become so deep as would render any further attack 

 upon the trunk, in this particular spot, destructive to the tree ; in 

 which case the dhao is laid upon another part of the trunk, and the 

 same process observed as before mentioned. The tree is said to yield 

 oil at all seasons of the year, precautions being taken during the rains 

 to exclude the water. A large Girjun tree has been known to pro- 

 duce oil for 12 successive years, and as others are constantly supply- 

 ing the place of those destroyed, there is no falling off in the amount 

 of the several years' collections. The oil is sold in Rambree at the 



