Asiatic Researches , Vol. XVII. Part I. 
223 
mese. From specimens brought to Captain Low he finds that it consists of granite „ 
Gold is said to he found, and tin was formerly procured from it. Iron ores abound; 
and its vegetable riches are scarcely less than its mineral, as all the valuable woods 
of this coast are found on it. 
Northward of Gfinong Cherai, after passing the Cedda river, which rises in the 
central range and waters a tract of rich soil, is to be seen the elephant rock. It is 
a dark mass of granite, and shoots abruptly to the height of 400 feet. North of this 
point the coast continues low, but turning to the Laueeang islands we find granite 
still prevailing. The southern limit of the limestone formation, which Captain Low 
has traced northward as liar as the province of Martaban, is here to be seen. 
Several miles beyond, the Trang rocks begin ; one of these, which Captain Low 
visited, he considered to rest on a granite base, the superincumbent mass being hete- 
rogeneous. Limestone, reins of quartz, ores of iron are the principal ingredients. 
At the south end, about half way up the cliff, there are magnificent natural arches. 
A cavern has been formed quite through the north end of the rock by the action of 
the sea below, and the gradual decay of the structure above. This cavern, which 
was visited, abounds in stalactites. The roof is about fifty feet high, and dome shaped 
though rugged. “ Here were observed flimsy ladders of flexible cane, stretched be- 
twixt projections of the rock, and on emerging from the cavern , similar ladders were 
observed to have been arranged up the face of the cliff, in a zigzag manner, here 
fastened to a jutting point of rock, there reeved through a perforated angle. These 
had been thus placed by adventurous Malays in quest of the edible birds nests. Their 
trade is more dangerous than that of the samphire gatherer, or the Hebridian birder; 
but it is more profitable than either. Several of the birds’ nests islands in this line 
have been so tortuously hollowed out by the slow operation of ages, that previous to 
going in, the nester fastens to the entrance the end of the clew he takes with him, 
that he may not lose his way. On these occasions they use daromer torches. The 
eye of the swallow which buiids these nests, must be peculiarly formed to enable it 
to work and nestle in such a labyrinth where total darkness prevails.” 
Near and to the north of this rock is a very rocky island, called Ka Pesa by the 
Siamese: the general structure corresponds with the preceding. Granular magnetic 
iron ore, imbedded in a calcareous and micaceous gangue, were found at the north 
end, where large masses have fallen from the cliffs. 
At the north side of the narrow entrance to Trang harbour, in N. Lat. 7° 20' is 
a remarkable calcareous rock, with several caverns in it. Pulo Tilibon, which forms 
the north side, exhibits granite and ironstone, with veins of quartz in it. The 
Trang river is broad, with a high ridge running at right angles to it, on the west 
side of the entrance. Granite rocks here protrude through the soil, which is red 
and ferruginous. The shore is overspread with lumps of micaceous iron glance, in 
small rounded particles, black, but yielding a reddish streak, and when reduced to 
powder adhering totlie magnet. Most of the small islands lying betwixt Trang and 
Junk-ceylon, seem for the greatest part composed of granite. It also prevails in 
the latter island, and again tin is associated with it. A range of hills, the highest of 
which, perhaps, does not exceed one thousand feet, stretches longitudinally through 
the island, with the exception of a large break in the middle. The Pafra strait, 
which separates it from the main land, is narrow and rocky. In 1821, this island 
had a population of 6,000 (Siamese) . 
“ The tin formation seems to run in a continuous line from the southern extre- 
mity of the Peninsula, up to about 15° N. latitude. Beyond this point, neither 
Burmese or Siamese have discovered any mines.” It shows itself again in Tbamph, 
one of the provinces of the Shan, in about 20° N. Lat and Long. 99 to 100° in the 
form of stream ore. They have also lead mines. Junk-ceylon was supposed for- 
merly to yield 500 tons of tin, hut has now dwindled to little more than 20. It is 
produced at about one-half the market rate. The mines are pits of from twelve to 
twenty feet deep. “ The ore is generally in round or oblong masses, with well 
defined crystals, and in a matrix of quartz, or bedded in masses resembling half 
decomposed granite, yet of considerable hardness.” The furnace in which the ore 
is smelted is oblong in shape, and about three feet high. Alternate layers of ore and 
charcoal are put into it ; and the usual horizontal tube bellows of the Chinese, is 
kept incessantly at work during four complete days of 24 hours and one night, 
when the furnace is cleansed. The tin begins to flow after it has been lighted a 
few hours, and is run into moulds while fresh ore and fuel are applied. 
The bay of Phunga which stretches north east from Junk-cevlon, is remarkable 
for the magnificent rocks with which it is studded. They occupied a line of about 
ten miles ; the height does not exceed five hundred feet, and seldom falls short of 
