FROM HOOKHOOM TO AVA. 



streams, mountain torrents, the principal one being Sapya Khioung. 

 This takes its name from a spring of water of alkaline properties, 

 which bubbles up sparingly from under its rocky bed, and which 

 must be covered during the rains. The water is clear, of a pure 

 alkaline taste, and is used by the natives as soap. 



The mines occupy a valley of a somewhat semi- circular form, 

 bounded on all sides by hills clothed with trees, none being of 

 very great height. The valley passes off to the N. into a ravine, 

 down which the small stream that percolates the valley escapes, 

 and in this at about a coss distant other pits occur. The sur- 

 face of the valley apparently at one time consisted of low rounded 

 hillocks ; it is now much broken, and choked up with the earth 

 and stones that have been thrown up by excavating. The stone is 

 found in the form of more or less rounded boulders imbedded 

 with others, such as quartz, etc. in brickish-yellow or nearly orange 

 clay. The boulders vary much in size. There is no regularity in the 

 pits, which are dug indiscriminately ; some have the form of ditches, 

 none exceed 20 feet in depth. They are dug all over the valley, 

 as well as on the base of the hill bounding it to the W. and N. W. 

 We could not obtain any good specimens, nor is there any thing 

 in the spot that repays the visit. No machinery is used, the larger 

 blocks are broken by fire. But that they are of importance in the 

 light of increasing the revenue, is evident, from the- fact that B. 

 counted, since we left Camein, 1,100 people on their return, of whom 

 about 700 were Shan Chinese. The loads carried away are in some 

 cases very heavy; the larger pieces are carried on bamboo frames 

 by from two to five men, the lesser on a stout piece of bamboo 

 lashed to and supported on two cross or forked bamboos, the 

 stouter joint resting on the bearer's neck, the handles of the 

 forks being carried in his hands. The most obvious advantage of 

 this is the ease with which the load may be taken off, when the 

 bearer is fatigued. The revenue yielded last year, B. tells me, was 

 320 viss of silver, or about 40,000 rupees. The length of the valley 

 from E. to W. is about three-quarters of a mile; its breadth varies 

 from 460 to 800 yards. 



On our return we boiled water at the Soap spring, which is about 

 50 feet above the mines, Temp, of the air 80|. 2£ p.m. of boiling 

 water 209. Elevation 1600 feet. And on the top of Kuwa Boom, 

 which is crossed at a comparatively low place, at 4£ p.m. Temp, of 

 the air 76, of boiling water 207. Elevation 2678 feet. 



