Amber and the Amber Fisheries. 477 



Amber is found in the mountains of Sibicio, situated in 

 the valley of Bugeo, Roumania. This amber is of a brown 

 colour, with a great variety of shades, passing from orange 

 yellow or red to black, with green tints. It is extracted in 

 small quantities, and large pieces are rare. It is used for 

 different objects of marquetry, the mouthpieces of pipes, 

 beads for necklaces, and other small articles of luxury. 

 The dust, or refuse, is used, when burned, to perfume rooms, 

 the scent being very fragrant. 



Roumanian amber differs totally from the German 

 amber found on the shores of the Baltic Sea. Both are 

 the fossil resins of antediluvian trees, and agree in chemical 

 composition, but differ in colour. German amber is found 

 only of light colours — yellow, white, and pink — while 

 Roumanian amber is red, pink, brown, blue, green, and 

 black. These colours are frequently found mixed in a 

 single piece, and we also have lumps with silver-coloured 

 veins and gold specks. On account of this variety of 

 colours, the Roumanian amber is highly esteemed, and the 

 darker and more beautiful pieces are more costly than 

 yellow amber, especially as they are more rare. 



German amber is found in the sea or in alluvial earth ; the 

 Roumanian amber is only found in mountainous places and 

 highlands, where it is sought and dug out by the peasants. 

 The collection of amber there languishes, or, more properly 

 speaking, is never conducted in a rational manner. The 

 peasants being ignorant, and led only by instinct, dig here 

 and there, wherever they guess that amber is to be found. 

 Formerly, this amber was found in greater quantities, and 

 also in much larger pieces than at present. If the search 

 for amber and its collection were carried on in a scientific 

 manner, by competent judges, it would prove remunerative. 



North Burmah would seem to be rich in deposits of 



