On the Tin of the Province of Mergui. 



49 



passing a marsh of some extent, there is a low ridge of hills, which 

 presents, however, no obstacle to land carriage of any description.' 

 The face of the country is as usual, except in marshy places, 

 thickly covered with jungle trees, but the wild elephant's track is 

 open and convenient. During the monsoon, boats carrying 100 bags 

 of rice can ascend the Thabawlick to the place alluded to, in one 

 day. The tide is felt about six miles from its mouth. 



7. Having arrived at the spot at a point known to my guide, 

 and at which he had the previous year stationed himself for a few 

 months for the purpose of collecting tin, I found numerous pits and 

 old cuttings from which tin had been formerly obtained ; it is found 

 in layers of gravel immediately beneath the soil. The surface is 

 undulating, and during the wet season, streams of water could have 

 been conveniently conducted near the excavations, for the purpose of 

 washing the gravel. 



8. The guide stated, that crystals of tin could be in this manner 

 separated by the hand, without the usual aid of the washing- trough. 

 The rains not being at that time sufficiently advanced for that pur- 

 pose, I did not succeed in obtaining any tin from the pits. The line 

 of deposit of the richest stanniferous gravel has been probably influ- 

 enced by many causes, and the chances of finding it are much the 

 same as those to which other undertakings of this nature are sub- 

 ject. A few trials, however, across the low ground, through which 

 the hill streams pass, would enable the speculator to follow its 

 course. 



9. The time of the tin washer was, I found, much better occupi- 

 ed in seeking for tin in the bed of the river. He was assisted by one 

 man, who disturbed the sand and gravel with his feet to as great a 

 depth as he could thus accomplish ; when a conical and shallow 

 trough about two feet in diameter and ten inches deep was filled with 

 the same, and washed in the stream by a circular motion so as to get 

 rid of the gravel and lighter particles, leaving the crystals of tin to 

 collect by their gravity on the apex of the hollow trough. Each filling 

 and washing occupied on an average, six minutes. 



One washing produced 1041 grains of native peroxide of tin in six 

 minutes, Specimen, No. 2, equivalent to 1 oz. and 335 grains of pure 

 tin. 



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