TO THE COURT OF AYA. 
299 
from Ava; but no one could tell the name of the 
place. At other times we were confidently in¬ 
formed that they were in the range of the Sa- 
gaing hills, two or three miles distant only. 
With this last impression, we arrived at the 
place of manufacture; and it was not until we 
had conversed with those immediately concerned 
in the business, that we learnt the truth. 
The statuary marble used by the Burmans is 
a primitive limestone; it is large-grained and 
highly crystallized; its colour is a snow-white, 
with a semi-translucency, and it is capable of re¬ 
ceiving a high polish; it is devoid of fissures, 
and free from streaks and all discolouration. 
Some of the fragments which we examined in 
the shops contained a few rare particles of mica; 
and the manufacturers informed us, that now 
and then they found in it an ore, which they 
said was that of lead ; but they could not supply 
us with any specimens. The means used for 
cutting and fashioning the marble into statues 
are extremely rude : they consist of an iron 
chisel, or rather punch, and a wooden-mallet. 
The prominent parts are smoothed down by the 
successive use of bits of sandstone, of various de¬ 
grees of fineness; and the last polish is given 
with a soft stone, which I believe to be a clay- 
iron ore. This last part of the operation is very 
