Part I. ] 
Stebbing : Note on the Lac Insect. 
45 
from that locality, the Seisepa Range (elevation 3,700 feet) contains 
the first hills which would be likely, from this considerable height, to 
intercept its course. A smaller number lodged on the lower and nearer 
hill of Petongtung (probably Petaimgting, a Kachin survival). The 
arrival of the insect was naturally regarded as a valuable windfall by 
the Anankta people who lost no time in turning it to account and sold, 
in Scatha chiefly, some 1,000 viss of lac. This was quickly put a stop 
to and since that time the insect has remained unmolested. It is stated 
never to have existed in large numbers on Petongtung, whence it has 
now entirely disappeared, while it still survives on the higher and more 
northerly ridge of Seikpa. The lac insect under favourable conditions 
increases very rapidly, two generations being hatched in each year in 
July and December. To obtain the greatest quantity of the liquid which 
produces the dye as well as the stick-lac the twigs which carry it must be 
gathered before the young are allowed to hatch and any increase is thus 
effectually checked. 
“ The lac insect in the Chaunggyibya has, however, enjoyed complete 
immunity from molestation for several years, except perhaps occasional 
forest fires ; and if within a reasonable time it has not shown a very great 
increase, it may, I think, be safely inferred that the particular kinds 
of trees from the sap of which it draws its nourishment do not exist in 
sufficient numbers to favour any considerable increase of the insect.” 
In the Southern Circle of Upper Burma practically no lac is obtained 
from the Pyinmana and Pakokku and Ruby Mines Divisions. In 
Pyinmana the insect is said not to exist in commercial quantities and no 
information is available. In Pakokku the lac insect only occurs in the 
Chindwin hills (unclassed forests) and the extent of lac-producing 
country is unknown. Duty on lac is not collected till it reaches the 
hands of Burmese traders outside the hills. The collection was not 
enforced till 1901-05 when R31:9-2-9 were obtained — 
The important report of the Superintendent of the Chind^vin hills 
will be found under ‘District Lands’ below. 
In the Ruby Mines very little lac is obtained, and that only from the 
unclassed forests from small bushes widely scattered over an area of six 
square miles. No artificial production is undertaken. The treesTare 
chiefly Zizyphus jujuba, species of Ficus, Castanopsis, and Bauhinia. 
No steps are being taken to increase the production. The value reahzed 
was R38 in 1904-05 and R30 in 1905-06, 
