1843.] Analysis of Iron Ores from Tavoy and Mergui, 8fC. 237 



The nullah can convey boats of three to four tons, half way through 

 the rice fields. The same description answers for the whole extent of 

 the range of low iron hills, having here and there small nullahs, com- 

 municating with the river. This ore was once worked by the Burmese 

 during the time of an expedition against Siam, for iron to make swords, 

 knives, spears, and other weapons. People were sent from Ava to 

 smelt it, but the process appears unknown to the Tavoyers. There 

 are still to be seen the pits in which it was smelted, with the scorise 

 around the edges. The quantity of the ore appears inexhaustible. 



Limestone is procurable in the province, and no doubt many locali- 

 ties of it will be discovered. The only one yet properly ascertained 

 exists about fifteen miles to the Eastward of Tavoy, accessible by 

 water to within a distance of two miles by small boats of half ton 

 burthen. Between the locality and the stream, the land is level 

 and high, affording facility for a road. The quantity is abundant. 



Charcoal may be made with ease, owing to the abundance of excel- 

 lent wood in the country adapted to it. 



No. 1. — Pieces of ore knocked off the large rock mentioned by Dr. 

 Heifer, in page 28 of his Report. 



No. 2. — Pieces of ore dug up in the neighbourhood of the above 

 large rock. 



No. 3. — Rolled masses of iron ore picked up on the high ground, 

 between the hill and the rice field. 



Mergui. — About 10 miles S. W. of the town of Mergui, is an 

 island, comprising a hill about 200 feet in height, formed apparently 

 of iron ore. The island is perfectly accessible to boats of every 

 description, and you land on large masses of rock, which prove to be 

 the iron ore from which the soil has been washed away. The hill 

 rising abruptly from the water, may be about a mile in circumference, 

 and is wholly formed of the ore, having a rich bed of soil. A similar 

 island, equally accessible, is formed about four miles to the Southward 

 of the one above mentioned. It is not known that this ore has ever 

 been worked, and the process seems unknown to the people of Mergui. 



Limestone is found in several accessible localities on the main branch 

 of the Tenasserim river, not far above the old town of that name. 

 Specimens accompany the iron ore. 



