TPIE 
Vol. X.] COLOMBO, JULY ist, 1890. No. 1 . 
GEM MINING PEOSPECTS IN BUEMA. 
WHAT DO THE EUBY MINES OF MOGOK PKODUCE ? — 
THE company’s monopoly — SHANS SELLING EHBIE3 
— THE WORKING AND MISMANAGEMENT OP THE COM- 
PANY — TRANSPORT DIFFICULTIES. 
(Concluded.) 
T is to be feared that a® 
regards even testing the cap- 
abilities of thoBuby Mining 
concession, much less proving 
them, but little can be said of 
■jj tile past year’s operations at 
Mogok. The shareholders 
will have to possess their souls in patience for some 
time yet apparently, and “ soft words ” which 
“turn away wrath” will be all they will get for 
their outlay for an indefinite period of the future. 
It has often been asked “ what amount of rubies 
are produced at the mines of Mogok, and the 
answer has varied from “nothing at all.” to some im- 
possible value not worth putting on record. In 
the report from which we quoted above there is an 
estimate of value required to purchase for the native 
miners “imported commodities.” This amount is put 
down at £5,000 sterling per annum, so that at any 
jate that value of rubies must be set apart to meet 
the one item of expenditure at the mines; but 
“ under the late kings of Burma these mines were 
a royal monopoly and very closely and jealously 
guarded from all foreigners and indeed from all 
natives as well, with the exception of the miners 
and officials engaged in working them. The king 
is said to have drawn from them an annual 
revenue of one and a half to two lakhs 
of rupees, apart from his absolute right to 
all stones found that were above a certain weight 
and quality- This mode of working must have 
restricted the output of these mines very consider- 
ably, and must have caused many of the larger 
stones to disappear altogether.” This is all very 
indefinite, and it is equally impossible to find out what 
Value if any at all— of large rubies are found now, 
or were ever found in the time of the kings of 
Burmah ; and at the present day the only thing 
absolutely decided is that, the Euby Mining Com- 
pany are not getting any valuable stones. Whether 
anyone else is doing so is a mere matter of con- 
jecture ; as also if discovered what value is to be 
attached to them. Sir Lepel Griffin had but little 
to say on this point, indeed it could hardly have 
been expected he should have ventured any 
remarks upon it. “ As to the produce of Mogok, it is 
very difficult to say. I do not believe anybody 
living knows. A great authority at Mandalay, “ 
dealer, who is accustomed to export in a small way, 
about a lakh of rupees a year (which it is supposed he 
smuggles out of our mines) says about fifteen lakhs 
worth are sold in Mandalay each year, quite 
independent of Eangoon. He is not in a large way 
of business but he is a broker for a great many 
firms. If what he says is true — and I am disposed 
very much to believe it for I don’t think he wishes 
to deceive me — these native miners must make a 
great deal of money.” It seems at present im- 
possible to get any nearer to a correct conclusion 
about the outturn of these mines than it w iS at any 
time in the past, especially as it is supposed— or 
rather we may say well-known — that precious stones 
are not exclusively found in the district of Mogok. 
Sir Lepel Griffin affected to believe they were so 
exclusively found, and that his Company had without 
doubt a monopoly, or the equivalent of a monopoly 
in working them. He says : — “ The Government do 
nothing except through us~that is our concession. 
They are not working rubies in Upper Burmah 
except in one place. They have not conceded— and 
will not concede- land to other people however 
much they may think of it. The Chief Commis- 
sioner will modify certain rules where necessary. 
There are said to be good rubies at Sagyan, a little 
way down the river, which I think may be worked 
but we have the preferential right. The Government 
gave us the right of taking it up if we choose, and 
