47^ The Commercial Products of the Sea. 



amber. It is procured in its rough state by digging holes 

 about three feet in diameter, and occasionally 40 feet in 

 depth. The mines are at an elevation of about 1050 feet, 

 to the south-west of the Mein Khoom plain in the Hukong 

 Valley. Fifteen to 20 feet of the superficial soil is clayey and 

 red, the remainder consisting of a greyish-black carbo- 

 naceous earth. The amber is made into Buddhist rosaries, 

 finger-rings, pipe mouthpieces, etc. The dark sherry- 

 coloured amber is most highly valued there. 



