332 Tin Ore of Mergui. [No. 161. 



is probably the lowest average. It will be observed also, that the 

 London price of 56s. per cwt. is taken at a period of great depression 

 in the value of the article which had averaged J2s. per cwt. ; but it 

 would nevertheless appear, that to send it to England in the state of 

 clean ore would be by far the safest investment. 



5. Many localities in the Mergui province in which the ore exists 

 abundantly, have been already described and publicly made known; 

 but little or no attention has been given to the subject by merchants 

 of Maulmain. Their business consists principally in timber, piece 

 goods and hardware, and they have no inclination to embark in 

 mining speculations. A small shipment of ore, being part of about 2J 

 tons collected by convicts and others at the Government expense, 

 was made to England by Messrs. Bilton and Co. of Maulmain ; but 

 the quantity was so small, that no result has been made known by 

 their home correspondent. At Male wan in the Pak-chan river at 

 the southern extremity of Tenasserim, between one and two hundred 

 active Chinamen are engaged in collecting the ore in the streams 

 described in my third report of 8th April 1843, Journal As. Soc 

 Vol. XII. p. 523. They have been very successful, but there is so lit- 

 tle communication with that part of the coast that no accurate statement 

 of the result of their annual labours can be obtained. They convert it 

 into metal, which comes with Tacopah and other tin into the Maul- 

 main market. 



6. Other localities equally productive and available to the private 

 speculator have been indicated in former reports, and more are becom- 

 ing known. A specimen recently obtained by E. O'Riley, Esq. from 

 Henzai, north of Tavoy, is forwarded. It is said to be plentiful there ; 

 but, without multiplying instances, sufficient evidence has been re- 

 corded of the existence in the Tenasserim provinces of rich stores of 

 the ore of this useful metal, and it has been also shown that there is 

 no obstacle to its profitable production. 



Mining or other operations of this nature supported by the Govern- 

 ment, have generally proved unsuccessful in India ; but the time may 

 perhaps arrive, when the attention of private capitalists may be turned 

 in this direction. 



G. B. Tremenheere, 

 Ex. Engineer, Tenasserim Provinces. 



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