850 Report on the Tin of the Province of Mergui, [No. 119. 



friable, white sand-stone rock, the upper portions of which are de- 

 composed and irregular. The surface gravel does not contain tin. 

 It is found in the crystallized form, interspersed in decomposed granite, 

 forming a vein about three feet wide, which is enclosed by the white 

 sand-stone rock, and dips down at a high angle with the horizon. 

 Specimen No. 10, if its form be preserved, illustrates well the tin 

 crystals imbedded in the decomposed granite, which are easily detach- 

 ed from the matrix. The Specimen No.' 11, from the same vein, of a 

 yellow colour, is considered the surest indication of the presence of 

 the mineral, and lies below the white. No. 10. Large scales of chlo- 

 rite occur with it, which as they are generally found where the tin 

 is most abundant, is called by the natives the mother of tin. The 

 face of the hill is in one spot scattered over with these, which appear 

 to have been brought down from the vein, with other matter from 

 which the tin has been separated by the usual mode of washing. It 

 will be noticed, that the granite is completely decomposed, and that 

 the crystals would be easily separated by washing. No tin has been 

 raised here since the country came into our possession, but the loca- 

 lity has been known. It was worked during the Burmese rule, and 

 valued as supplying the richest ore of tin. A Burmese residing near 

 the spot, pointed out the place where his operations had ceased. He 

 had followed the direction of the vein alluded to, as well as he was 

 able, and had driven a gallery underground in an inclined direc- 

 tion upwards, till the bank above fell in, when the mine was abandoned. 

 He stated, that he had procured considerable quantities of tin daily, 

 and that he often found it in large masses mixed with the yellow 

 ground above mentioned. Arriving at the spot where his work had ter- 

 minated, I set people to excavate and find, if possible, the vein which 

 had been described. It was reached after about two hours digging, at 

 the depth of five feet from the surface of the cut in the hill, in which 

 we stood. In about a quarter of an hour, a few baskets of the decom- 

 posed granite were removed down the hill, from which 3,900 grains 

 of the crystallized peroxide of tin, equal to 63,176 grains of pure tin, 

 Specimen No. 12, were collected; and the next day 23,400 grains, 

 equal to 2 lbs. 6 oz., and 100 grains of pure tin were found in the 

 same manner by one man's labour in excavating ; one carrying down to 

 the water, and a third washing. 



