1840.] on the Tenasserim Provinces, fyc. 179 



together in rafts could be easily floated down, and by way 

 of the sea, the forest trees from several rivers could be collected 

 at one establishment. 



Tin. — In the preceding reports I had the opportunity of 

 speaking about the tin mine to the east of Tavoy, and of the tin 

 found near Mergui. This year having examined the country to 

 the south of Mergui, it was found that the country to the 

 north of the Packchan river is the richest in tin ores of all the 

 districts in Tenasserim. The range of mountains in which the 

 tin ore is found, is a continuation (only divided by the Pack- 

 chan river) of the Siamese tin territory of Rinowng. The tin is 

 found in the debris of primitive rocks, like in all other parts of 

 Tenasserim, but the grains or crystals are much larger (some- 

 times of the size of a pigeon's egg) and the soil in which they 

 are buried, yields 8 to 10 feet of tin ; while at Tavoy the utmost 

 is 7 feet. There is also tin at Domel Island in crystals, still 

 included in the granitic matri, and likewise on the banks of the 

 Boukpeen rivulet in its higher part. In fact tin is of a very 

 common occurrence in the southern parts of Tenasserim, and 

 probably its richest deposits are yet unknown. 



Persons of capital desirous of engaging in the working of tin, 

 cannot select a better locality than in the southernmost parts 

 of Mergui province. Besides being the richest, almost all land 

 transport is avoided, by colonists establishing themselves on one 

 of the smaller rivers falling into the Packchan. 



They would however be obliged to provide themselves with 

 every thing from a distance, for the country is entirely uninha- 

 bited, and the labourers must be brought thither from other 

 parts. 



Were a village under English protection established some- 

 where near the Packchan, there is no doubt that a number of 

 Siamese fugitives would settle in the neighbourhood. They have 

 expressed their desire to do so, if hopes of being protected were 

 held out to them. If we consider the value of tin, it seems pro- 

 bable that this product will be one of the first which will at- 

 tract the attention of Europeans, when it is once known that 

 tin, as it is now ascertained, does really exist in quantities 

 which promise amply to remunerate. 



