144 OBSERVATIONS ON THE GEOLOGY OF THE 



, _ A diligent author,* who visited Siam, observes of the Siamese, that 

 " neither their mines of tin, nor those of copper, lead, and gold, have ex- 

 perienced the benefits of the industry and intelligence of the Chinese." 



; Previous to opening a mine, the Siamese propitiate the spirits of the 

 ground and of the stream, by the sacrifice of cattle and poultry, and by 

 offering up these and fruits on temporary altars. This custom is equally 

 observed by CAwe^e and 3iaZa?/a« miners, on opening gold or tin mines. 

 With respect to the Siamese, the practice is a direct breach of the primary 

 ordinance of their faith " not to kill that which has life," and points to 

 a period when they worshipped Genii Loci, and other imaginary Dewlap. 

 Cornelians are found, it is said, on this coast. 



Proceeding northward, till m ithin about a days coasting of the Siam 

 river, a hill, termed KJiau Deng, or " the red hill,'' appears on a point of 

 land. The coast is covered with ferruginous earths and strata ; but of 

 these no specimens have been obtained. Close to this place, and stretch- 

 ing for the distance of ten or twelve miles northward of it, is a very 

 remarkable range of pyramidal hills and rocks, termed by the Siamese 

 " Sam sae yat,'' or " the three hundred peaks." They vary in height 

 from anjhundred feet to perhaps twelve, hundred feet ; some rise from the 

 ^ea, others are scattered on the main land. 



This account I give from native information, although European 

 navigators have incidentally alluded to them. They take from hence a 

 kind of hone, (perhaps an iron ore), varying in colour from black to white. 

 The valley of Siam is chiefly alluvial, within the scope of the annual 



inundations 



*Mr. Craufukd. 



