36 NOETLING: PETROLEUM IN BURMA. 



elliptical amphitheatre. Having visited Minbu at different times, 

 in February 1888, May 1889 and March 1895, I am able to record 

 the changes which each of these mud volcanoes have undergone 

 during the last seven years. In describing them, I will begin with 

 the southern one, and proceeding towards north will describe a 

 number of wells in convenient groups. 



2. — Detailed description : A. Southern group. 



Under the term southern group I include all mud volcanoes which 

 are situated west of the Sekkate Pagoda, close to the northern 

 bank of the Sabwet-choung; they extend over an area of about 

 1,100 feet in length and about 250 feet in breadth. 



No. 1. — This, the southernmost mud volcano, is situated on a 

 very low cone, with gentle slopes. In 1888 and 1889 there existed 

 simply an irregular elliptical, shallow basin filled with water, in which 

 a few gas bubbles rose occasionally. To all appearance it seemed to 

 be extinct. In March 1895 I found it exceedingly active. Its former 

 ground plan of an irregular basin of a diameter of about 4' x 5' was 

 still retained, but this was filled with liquid mud, the surface of which 

 remained a few inches below the rim. Small gas bubbles rose 

 slowly and at irregular intervals ; when a particular strong outburst 

 took place, it threw the mud noisily over the rim. A strong smell of 

 petroleum was noticed and the mud was covered with a streaky 

 black film. Temperature of the mud 84 F. 



No. 2. — This mud volcano forms a very low cone with gently 

 inclined slopes, on the flat top of which are the chief vents, while on 

 the sides there are numerous parasitic cones. In February 1888 

 I observed eight chief vents, which were all very active, ejecting a 

 watery mud. The gas bubbles rose slowlier in some of them than in 



others ; the temperatures observed were — 



- 8o° F. 

 «= 8o° F. 



- 75° F. 

 = 82 F. 



= 77° F. 



- 76 F. 



- 82 F. 



- 75° F. 

 ( 82 ) 



a 



vent 



b 



»» 



c 



11 



a 



11 



e 



*» 



f 



91 



8 



»» 



h 



t» 



