176 



NOETLING : PETROLEUM IN BURMA. 



be obliged to suppose not only that no new wells were dug during 

 this long time, but that at least no wells had disappeared without 

 leaving a trace behind, suppositions which are more than absurd. 

 Both estimates must therefore be considered as highly exaggerated. 

 As regards the next statements from Mr. Crawfurd downwards it 

 is difficult to say whether the figures given represent the total of 

 wells or productive wells only. It may, however, be considered 

 that the figures given by Captain Yule, Dr. Oldham, Captain 

 Strover, and Dr. Romanis represent Only the number of productive 

 wells, as their calculations about the quantity of the production 

 is based on the stated number of Wells. As it is, however, very 

 unlikely that there were no unproductive or abandoned wells in 

 existence in those days the total number of wells must have been 

 larger. We shall, therefore, have to find out the probable total for 

 the respective years to be able to compare the figures. Now in 

 1888 the ratio between productive and unproductive wells was 53*4 

 to 46*5, and I do not think it is unfair if we suppose that the same 

 ratio existed in 1855, as it is only quite lately that it has shifted 

 more in favour of the productive wells, 



Under this supposition the following table will show the pro- 

 bable number of productive and unproductive wells in the year 

 mentioned : — 



Year. 



Name. 



Number of pro- 

 ductive wells. 



Number of un- 

 productive 

 wells. 



Total. 



I85S 

 1S55 

 1873 

 1886 



Dr. Oldham . 

 Captain Yule . . 

 Captain Strover 

 Dr. Romanis . 



200 

 130 

 ISO 

 200 



174 

 113 



130 

 174 



374 

 243 

 280 



374 



Now let us compare these figures with those theoretically ob- 

 tained. I estimated that there were about 250 to 262 wells in 1855. 

 From the above table we see that if Captain Yule's statement of the 

 ( *22 ) 



