186 
MR C. BARRINGTON BROWN AND PROFESSOR J. W. JUDD 
China, where pink rubellite meets with a ready sale, but there are few purchasers of 
it in the European market. The transparent pink variety having an internal feathery 
structure, is most highly prized. 
(c.) Loodivins .—Although at the time of my investigations only eight of these 
mines were in operation, the immense number of old cave mines to be seen in the 
crystalline limestone attested to the importance of these in former times. From there, 
it is said, have been procured the finest and largest rubies discovered in the whole 
district. Without doubt the rubies in them have been liberated from the rock itself, 
by the action of water and deposited amongst detrital matters in the sinuous channels, 
caves, and interstices in it, v.diich extend in every direction and to great depths. The 
brownish cla} r ey loam which fills these interstices and contains the rubies, is derived 
chiefly from the disintegration of the limestone. 
Rubellite Mine at Nyoungouk. 
Provided with small short-handled spuds, baskets, and small oil-lamps, the miners 
descend the pits, dig out the loam, which in instances where these are very tortuous 
they bring to the surface themselves ; but usually the proceeds of their work are 
hoisted up perpendicular pits sunk in wide fissures by means of balance poles. By 
these pits, and tunnels connected with the workings which form passages from one to 
the other, ventilation is procured. 
Blasting with gunpowder manufactured by the natives has sometimes to be 
resorted to. 
In these mines no ladders are used, the miners descending and ascending the 
narrow tortuous passages with apparent ease. 
Owing to the fissured nature of the limestone, there is usually no water to contend 
with in the workings, and none is used for softening the loamy clay, which is taken 
directly to the nearest water-supply and there washed in baskets as in the cases 
before described. 
The depths of some of these earth-filled natural shafts is very considerable. 
( d .) Quarry Mines .—These were formerly worked in four places, viz :— 
]. At the Buby Quarry near Mogok. 
