146 



The Coal Localities, 



[No. 110. 



mile, from the spot where the indications of coal were observed, and the 

 laborers had got perhaps ten feet;* but no effectual effort is likely to be 

 made, nor indeed, is it possible under existing circumstances, for it ap- 

 pears that no expense is permitted to be incurred, while of machinery— 

 not even a whim for raising the rubbish or water is erected. 



Every disposition exists on the part of those in authority at Kyok 

 Phyoo, to carry out the investigation, but they say, and say justly, that they 

 have no funds placed at their disposal for doing so, and, out of their own 

 pocket, it is too much to expect that they should defray the charges. The 

 consequence is, the poor laborers are left to go unpaid, and great dissa- 

 tisfaction is felt accordingly. 



To leave this subject. After visiting the localities now mentioned, a 

 proposal was made to sail across the harbour to the eastern point of the 

 island, and proceed to the summit of a lofty hill which stood about three 

 mile sinland, and on which is the cone of an active volcano. The suggestion 

 was immediately acceded to, and at four o'clock in the afternoon our 

 party began to ascend the rugged path which conducted to this interest- 

 ing object. I had heard that two or three other Europeans had already 

 visited the crater, and that at the close of last year it was emitting smoke 

 and ashes. Our companions were several boatmen, and each man, more 

 from habit than singularity, carried, the never failing accompaniment of 

 a mug a dhow, which is a large powerful knife in shape about the size 

 of a regulation sword broken of in the middle. 



After various humorous adventures, in the midst of the dense jungle, and 

 traversing the crater of a small dried up volcano, we succeeded in reaching 

 the anxiously sought hill,and when we reached the top,most amply reward _ 

 e d w r e were. Never did 1 behold a more delightful piece of scenery. Tha 

 view commanded the whole of the northern portion of the island, and 

 that extensively sheltered anchoring ground, before alluded to, under the 

 name of Fletcher Hayes' Straits. 



But to the immediate objects of our visit. The cone was beautifully 

 formed of the erupted mud, and covered to the very brink of the centre 

 w r ith thick verdant grass. Out of it grew luxuriant Casuaiina trees. And 

 here I cannot avoid mentioning a very remarkable circumstance connected 

 with the appearance of these trees. Nowhere, as far as I could learn, do 

 they appear, except on the cones of the volcanos, of which there are 

 several, to be found on the island of Ramree. More than once when hid 



* 1 have since heard from Captain Lumsden that the work has been abandoned as 

 hopeless. 



