52 On the Tin of the Province of Mergni. 



11 miles from Mergui. The tin occurs here under conditions differ- 

 ing much from that of the localities above mentioned. 



17. Kahan itself is the highest portion of a low ridge of hills, not 

 more than 200 feet above the level of the river : it is composed of a 

 soft friable white sandstone rock, the upper portions of which are de- 

 composed and irregular. The surface gravel does not contain tin. 

 It is found in the crystallized form interspersed in decomposed 

 granite, forming a vein about 3 feet wide, which is enclosed by the 

 white sandstone rock, and dips down at a high angle with the 

 horizon. Specimen No; 10, if its form be preserved, illustrates well 

 the tin crystals imbedded in the decomposed granite, which are 

 easily detached from the matrix. The Specimen No. 11, from the 

 same vein of yellow colour, is considered the surest indication of the 

 presence of the mineral, and lies below the white, No. 10, Large scales 

 of chlorite occur with it, which as they are generally found where 

 the tin is most abundant, is called by the natives the mother of 

 tin. The face of the hill is in one spot scattered over these, which 

 appear to have been brought down from the vein with other matter 

 from which the tin has been separated by the usual mode of washing. 

 It will be noticed, that the granite is completely decomposed, and that 

 the crystals would be easily separated by washing. No tin has been 

 raised here since the country came into our possession, but the locali- 

 ty has been known. It was worked during the Burmese rule, and 

 valued as supplying the richest ore of tin. A Burmese residing near 

 the spot, pointed out the place where his operations had ceased. He 

 had followed the direction of the vein alluded to, as well as he was 

 able, and had driven a gallery under ground in an inclined direction 

 upwards, till the bank above fell in, when the mine was abandoned. 

 He stated that he had procured considerable quantities of tin 

 daily, and that he often found it in large masses mixed with yellow 

 ground above mentioned. Arriving at the spot where his work had 

 terminated, I set people to excavate and find, if possible, the vein which 

 had been described. It was reached after about two hours' digging, at 

 the depth of five feet from the surface of the cut in the hill in which 

 we stood. In about a quarter of an hour, a few baskets of the decom- 

 posed granite were removed down the hill, from which 3900 grains 

 of the crystallized peroxide of tin, equal to 63.176 grains of pure tin, 



