848 Report on the Tin of the Province of Mergui. [No. 119. 



One hour's work apart from the above, 8,166 grains of pure tin. 



Specimen No. 5, equivalent to 13 oz. 160 grains of pure tin. 



Total of half a day's work, including the above, 25,406 grains, equi- 

 valent to 2 lb. 9 oz. 232 grains of pure tin. 



Specimen No. 6, contains of the latter, 13 oz. 149 grains. 



The price of labour in this province is 6 annas per day. 



10. The produce of a day's labour of two men would be, according to 

 the above trial, equivalent to 5 lb. 2 oz. 464 grains of pure tin, at 

 the cost of 12 annas, exclusive of the expenses of reduction to the 

 metallic state. This process, from the pure state of the mineral, is 

 extremely simple and inexpensive. The tin collected in the trough 

 would require one more washing to remove particles of sand, &c. and 

 charcoal is the only fuel required for its reduction. 



The pieces or ingots of tin in the shape of the frustrum of a cone, 

 (Specimens Nos. 7 and 8,) which are manufactured at the Rehgnon 

 mines, on the Pak Chum river to the southward, and exchanged there 

 for goods at 4 annas each, weigh 1 lb. 2 oz. 383 grains ; and their value 

 at Mergui, where the average price of tin is 85 rupees per 100 viss, 

 of 365 lbs. 4 annas 4 pie. The value therefore of 5lbs. 2 oz. 464 

 grains, or the day's work of two men, would be 1 rupee 8 annas 4 pie. 

 The cost of collecting being 12 annas, leaves 12 annas and 4 pie 

 for the cost of the reducing process, and for profit on the labour of 

 two men. 



11. On the morning after reaching the Thabawlick, I traced the tin 

 ground for a mile in a N. N. E. direction. The pits are in some parts 

 more abundant than in others ; and I was informed that they occurred 

 and were thickly scattered throughout the entire course of the river 

 between that point and the hills from which it issued, at the distance 

 of an entire day's journey, if the windings of the river are followed. 



12. The pits have not been worked since the Burmese took posses- 

 sion of the country. At the head of the stream, there are said to be 

 the remains of bunds constructed for distributing water for washing 

 the tin, and the posts of a house still standing, which is supposed 

 to have been occupied by a Siamese superintendent of the work there 

 carried on. 



The season was too far advanced to enable me to prosecute my 

 inquiries towards the hills on this occasion, and my attention was 



