ON THE ROUTE FROM ASSAM TO AVA. 



133 



in various places during the excavations. Nothing in fact like a pit 

 or a shaft exists, nor is there any thing to repay one for the tedious- 

 ness of the march from Kamein. 



The stone is found in the form of more or less rounded boulders 

 mixed with other boulders of various rocks and sizes imbedded 

 in brick-coloured yellow or nearly orange-coloured clay, which forms 

 the soil of the valley, and which is of considerable depth. The 

 excavations vary much in form, some resembling trenches ; none 

 exceed 20 feet in depth. The workmen have no mark by which to 

 distinguish at sight the Serpentine from the other boulders ; to effect 

 this, fracture is resorted to, and this they accomplish, I believe, by 

 means of fire. I did not see the manner in which they work, or the 

 tools they employ, all the Shans having left for Kamein, as the 

 season had already been over for some days. No good specimens 

 were procurable. The workmen reside in the valley, drawing their 

 supplies from Kioukseik. 



On our road to the mines we met daily, and especially on the last 

 march, parties of Shan- Chinese, Burmese, and a few Singphos on 

 their return. Of these in all Mr. Bayfield counted about 1,100, of 

 whom about 700 were Shan- Chinese : these were accompanied by 

 ponies, which they ordinarily use as beasts of burden. The larger 

 blocks of stone were carried by four or five men, on bamboo frames ; 

 the smaller, but which still are of considerable size, on ingenious 

 frames which rest on the nape of the coolies' neck ; the frame has 

 two long arms which the bearer grasps in his hand, and which enables 

 him to relieve himself of his burden, and re-assume it without much 

 sacrifice of labour, as he props his load against a tree, which is then 

 raised by the legs of the frame some height from the ground. The 

 valley we visited affords I believe the greatest quantity of the stone, 

 which is said to be annually diminishing, neither are pieces of the 

 finest sort so often procurable as they were formerly wont to be. 



The path to the mines is on the whole good ; it is choked up here 

 and there by jungle, and the occurrence of one or two marshy places 

 contribute to render it more difficult. It bears ample evidences of 

 being a great thoroughfare. 



The greater part of the stone procured is removed in the large 

 masses, to Kioukseik, and thence by water by the aid of the Endaw- 

 khioung to Mogoung. At this place duties are levied upon it. 

 Hence almost the whole is taken to Topo by water. From this 

 place the Shan- Chinese carry it to their own country on ponies. 



