132 



REPORT TO THE GOVERNMENT 



extent of the stockade Mogoung has evidently in former periods 

 (during the Shan dynasty) been of extent and consequence, it is at 

 present a mean and paltry town. It derives any little consequence it 

 possesses from being the rendezvous of the Shan- Chinese, who flock 

 here annually for procuring Serpentine. 



The most valuable products of the Mogoung district is the Ser- 

 pentine ; the mines producing which, we visited from Kameim. 

 The marches are as follows, 



1. From Kamein to Endawkhioung . — Direction SSW. Distance 

 10 miles, course over low hills covered with jungle, with intervening 

 grassy valleys of small extent ; crossed the Isee Een nullah. 



2. Halted on a plain, on a patch of ground lately under cultiva- 

 tion. Direction SSW. Distance 14 miles. Course over a similar 

 tract of country ; continued for some time close to the Endaw- 

 khioung ; crossed several nullahs. 



3. Halted in the jungle. — Direction WNW. Distance 17 miles. 

 Country the same : we changed our course on reaching the path which 

 leads to Kionkseik, a Singpho village, diverging to the N. ; halted 

 witfrin a short distance of Kuwa Bhoom. 



4. Reached the mines. — Direction WNW. Distance 10 miles, 

 course over small plains and through jungle until we reached Kuwa 

 Bhoom, which we ascended in a WNW. direction, extreme altitude 

 attained 2,799 feet. The descent was steep, varied by one or two 

 steep ascents of some hundred feet in height. On nearing the base 

 of the range we continued through heavy and wet jungle, until we 

 arrived at the mines. 



These celebrated Serpentine* mines occupy a valley of somewhat 

 semi-circular form, and bounded on all sides by thickly wooded hills 

 of no great height. To the north the valley passes off into a ravine, 

 down which a small streamlet that drains the valley escapes, and 

 along this, at a distance of two or three miles, another spot of ground 

 affording Serpentine is said to occur. The valley is small : its 

 greatest diameter, which is from E. to W. being about three-quarters 

 of a mile, and its smallest breadth varying from 460 to 600 or 

 700 yards. 



The whole of the valley, which appears formerly to have been 

 occupied by rounded hillocks, presents a confused appearance, being 

 dug up in every direction, and in the most indiscriminate way ; no 

 steps being taken to remove the earth, etc. that have been thrown up 



* Serpentine is occasionally found in the bed of the Nam-marsan. 



