VALUE. 213 



We see that in the face of the above figures the production of 

 Burma of a little over a quarter million of barrels is very insignificant. 

 Even Galicia and Roumania exceed Burma in quantity; according 

 to Hofer, 1 the production of Galicia amounted to 571,538 barrels as 

 far back as 1886, of Roumania 269,230 barrels in 1881. 8 



The present production of Burma about equals that of Canada in 

 1886, the latter being on the fifth or sixth rank as a petroleum produc- 

 ing country, and so far as is known to me Burma exceeds only a few- 

 countries, where the production of petroleum is of very minor import- 

 ance. So far the dreams cherished by some, have not been realized 

 as regards the petroleum production of Upper Burma, although the 

 most important field has been thoroughly tested. Whether the future 

 will bring a change remains to be seen, but I believe this to be highly 

 doubtful. 



Chapter IV.-THE COST PRICE AND THE TRADE VALUE 

 OF THE BURMESE PETROLEUM. 



The trade value of the Burmese petroleum seems to have under- 

 gone various fluctuations at different times. If Colonel Symes' state- 

 ment is correct the value of the oil must have been trifling near the end 

 of the last century, as 200 or 300 pots were sold for one tical=R 1-4-0. 

 I am inclined, however, to think that he must have been misinformed, 

 because Captain Cox states that 100 viss were sold for i$ tical, say 

 R1-10-0. As 200 or 300 pots contain at the lowest estimate, 2,000 or 

 3,000 viss, 100 viss would have been sold for less than 1 anna, which 

 is so trifling a sum that it would have been entirely insufficient to 

 pay for labour alone. For this reason I think Colonel Symes' state- 

 ment to be erroneous and Captain Cox' figure nearer the truth. 



There is no further information about the value of the petro- 

 leum till 1835, when Captain Hannay estimates its value at about 

 R3 per 100 viss. 



In 1855 Captain Yule stated that the ordinary price of the article 



1 Hofer, Erdol, p. 152. 



2 Ibid. 



( 259 ) 



