HISTORICAL SUMMARY. 27 



with the central vascular part of the root still remaining. Those on the shore 

 have no doubt fallen from the top of the cliff as the river has washed it away. 



" A fossil tree was found with the stumps of the roots and branches and the 

 texture of the wood so well preserved that it seems possible to determine the nature 

 of the wood. 



" The present vegetation consists of acacias and euphorbias. A thorny shrub 

 of the genus zisyphus is not uncommon ; it is used for fencing the cattle pastures. 

 The only crop is maize. Jaggery made from palms is brought from the interior." 



Information about the sale of oil during the period 1879 to 1881 

 1886 Burmese min- is contained in a letter dated the 22nd July 

 1886 written by one of the late Burmese min- 

 isters and addressed to the Chief Commissioner of Burma. 1 It con- 

 tains interesting data about the number of wells, the production and 

 the way in which the King of Burma disposed of the oil. As this 

 letter is the only document relating to the above period, and as the 

 statements are apparently reliable, I give here extracts from it : — 



*' It was customary to make over the oil obtained from the Royal wells as well 

 as from those of the twinzas to the farmer of the year who paid a certain amount 

 of royalty to the Government. The amount of such royalty was determined by 

 an estimate prepared beforehand. Thus t from the year 1241 to 1243 (1S79 to 1881) 

 the following estimate was made : — 



Viss. 

 Monthly yield 400,000 



" This was distributed in the following way : — 



Viss. Value in Rs. 



(a) For Royal purposes 10,000 ? 



(b) Brought up the river at R25 per 100 viss . . . 120,000 30,000 



(c) Taken down the river at 815 per 100 viss . . . 270,000 40,500 



Total . 400,000 70,500 



"The total of proceeds were therefore estimated at 870,000 per month. 

 " The actual expenditure was : — 



(a) Paid to twinzas for the oil at B 1-8-0 per 100 viss . . . 6,000 



(4) On account of boat-hire R2-8-0 per 100 viss .... 10,000 



Total . 16,000 



I Total of proceeds ........ 



II Total of expenditure 16,000 



1,000 



Balance . 54,000 



1 Dr. Fritz Noetling. Report on the Petroleum industry in Upper Burma from the end of 

 the last century up to the beginning of i8gi, pp. 14-15, Rangoon, 1S92. 



( 73 ) 



