1841.] Report on the Tin of the Province of Mergiii, 847 



with jungle trees ; but the wild elephants' tracks are open and convenient. 

 During the monsoon, boats carrying 100 bags of rice, can ascend the 

 Thabawlick to the place alluded to, in one day. The tide is felt about 

 six miles from its mouth. 



7. Having arrived at the spot at a point known to my guide, and at 

 which he had the previous year stationed himself for a iew months, 

 for the purpose of collecting tin, I. found numerous pits and old 

 cuttings, from which tin had been formerly obtained. It is found 

 in layers of gravel immediately beneath the soil. The surface is undu- 

 lating, and during the wet season, streams of water could have been 

 conveniently conducted near the excavations, for the purpose of wash- 

 ing the gravel. 



8. The guide stated, that crystals of tin could be in this manner 

 separated by the hand without the usual aid of the washing trough. 

 The rains not being at that time sufficiently advanced for that purpose, 

 I did not succeed in obtaining any tin from the pits. The line of 

 deposit of the richest stanniferous gravel has been probably influenced 

 by many causes, and the chances of finding it are much the same 

 as those to which other undertakings of this nature are subject, A 

 few trials, however, across the low ground through which the hill 

 streams pass, would enable the speculator to follow its course. 



9. The time of the tin washer was, I found, much better occupied 

 in seeking for tin in the bed of the river. He was assisted by one 

 man, who disturbed the sand and gravel with his feet to as great a 

 depth as he could thus accomplish, when a conical and shallow trough, 

 about two feet in diameter and ten inches deep, was filled with the 

 same, and washed in the stream by a circular motion, so as to get rid 

 of the gravel and lighter particles, leaving the crystals of tin to collect, 

 by their gravity, on the apex of the hollow trough. Each filling and 

 washing occupied, on an average, six minutes. 



One washing produced 1041 grains of native peroxide of tin in 

 six minutes. 



Specimen No. 2, equivalent to 1 oz. 335 grains of pure tin. 



One do. do. 1265 grains of do. do. 



Specimen No. 3, equivalent to 2 oz. 31 grains of pure tin. 



One do. do. 1785 grains of do. do. 



Specimen No. 4, equivalent to 2 oz. 430 grains of pure tin. 



