280 Notice on the new Mineral Resin, Hircine. [No. 3. 



petroleum wells. It is dug up out of the ground, at a considerable 

 depth, ranging from one to two hundred feet below the surface. The 

 day before yesterday, an intelligent Burman mentioned to me, that 

 he once saw, not longer, he thought, than four years ago a lump of 

 it about 5 Viss in weight, obtained in that locality, after a great 

 deal of trouble in digging, as a specimen for the present king of 

 Ava. It seems to have two names among those who are acquaint- 

 ed with the article, our name is Khouk a stone, and pa young 

 — wax ; stone wax. The other is, perai-yet, which has no particular 

 meaning that I can learn. I have been also told, that there is 

 another variety of this identical substance, which is of a high 

 translucent colour, somewhat resembling spermaceti. It is derived, 

 the natives tell me, from the same district, though I have never 

 seen any of it. One is commonly called the white kind, the 

 other, or that which you have experimented upon being the ' black ' 

 sort. The Burmese, it appears apply it to no special purpose, either 

 in medicine, or the arts, but the alchemists, a class whom we still 

 find in this part of the globe ; employ it in their attempts to effect 

 the transmutation of the baser metals. 



" Before the war commenced, and the consequent destruction of 

 Rangoon, a few pieces of the brown kind could have been readily 

 picked up in the druggists' shops, but now after a most diligent 

 search, I regret to say, that not a single specimen of it can be found. 

 Hereafter when the country above Prome is open to traffic, it will 

 naturally find its way down to our bazar as formerly, when I shall 

 not fail to remember your request. 



" If it would not be giving you too much trouble, would you be so 

 kind as to send a copy of your paper on ' Hircine' to my friend, 

 Professor James Bryan, M. D. Corner of Tenth and Arch Streets, 

 Philadelphia, U. S., to whom the specimens I have already referred 

 to were forwarded. The gentleman who may examine them, will thus 

 be made aware of the researches you have instituted upon the sub- 

 ject of this new mineral." 



