148 OBSERVATIONS ON THE GEOLOGY OF THE 



pursuing geological pursuits. The tin mines, lying three miles off the 

 route, were visited by me. They do not here deserve that title, as the 

 Tavoyers merely wash the sand of the streams, and collect the fine black 

 particles of ore. The temperature of the air is found to be about 64° or 

 65° until eight or nine o'clock, and that of the water 68° (Fahrenheit's 

 thermometer), so that the workmen never begin their labour until that 

 hour. As the population does not extend beyond the first range of hills, 

 and the mines are buried in the forest far beyond these, the men are 

 exposed to the attacks of elephants and other wild beasts which here 

 abound. 



Other mines of tin lie on the southern coast below Tavoy, and a 

 meagre, black, and slightly sparkling ore of antimony has been obtained 

 from the province, but its locality I am not aware of. 



Frequent vertical or inclining strata of hard slate, and sandy slate, 

 are found at intervals to lie across the path ; but wherever a bold cliff 

 appears, scarcely any thing except granite is visible. 



At Laukyen, fifteen miles north-east from Tavoy, (a halting place or 

 circular cleared space of the forest^, and lying a few hundred yards on the 

 east of the route, my guides shewed me a hot spring in the almost dry 

 bed of a torrent. 



The adjacent strata were, after many hours labor, laid bare, and spe- 

 cimens were taken from the spot where the water bubbled up. The rock 

 appears to be a transition slate, passing into limestone (for it effervesces 

 slightly with an acid), and having thin films of pyrites betwixt the cubical 

 portions which compose it. The water raised the thermometer to 144°. 

 The gas which escaped was not inflammable. The pebbles around were 



incrusted 



