146 OBSERVATIONS ON THE GEOLOGY OF THE 



that the river Anmn, laid down by some geographers,* appears to have no 

 existence. 



The Me Nam, or great river of Siam, has been traced by me, in 

 native maps obtained from people of Laos, up to about 21° N. Lat. where 

 are high hills abounding in hot springs. PJtokhau Lo-ang Prahang, a 

 hill many days to the northward of Laochdg, in the south of Laos, yields, 

 it is said, gold and precious stones. It may be the Mohany Leng of Du 

 Halde, vs^here, he observes, were to be found " gold, silver, copper, tin, 

 and red sulphur." At Chantahuii, on the east coast of the Gulph of Siam, 

 granite is believed to be the prevailing rock, and quartz-crystals, Ceylon 

 diamond, and coarse rubies, cat's eyes, and other precious stones, are col- 

 lected, it is reported, in the vicinity. Steatite is found in Ligor. 



We now return to Tenaserim. The high islands fronting Mergui are, 

 I think, of primitive granite ; and King's Island, with most of the lesser 

 islands in its neighbourhood, present bold granite cliffs to the sea. 



The hill, on which the town stands, consists of granite, decomposed 

 at the surface, with much quartz interspersed in veins. The ochery ap- 

 pearance of the soil, in some places, indicates the presence of iron, and 

 tin ore is found in the streams at the base of the hill ; — lead ore is reported 

 to exist in the upper parts of this province. The rocks on the island 

 forming the west side of the harbour, are strongly impregnated with oxyd 

 of iron. In the vicinity of the town, argillaceous petrifactions are found. 

 The clay contains some lime. But no marks are discernible near 3Iergiii 

 of lime rocks ; — some petrified crabs were obtained. The province of 

 Mergui, or Tamau, abounds wdth tin ore, especially to the southward. 



The 



* PiNKERTON and others. 



