Of' THE TENASSERIM PROVINCES. 
398 
Wanting the evidence of raised beaches and marine deposits 
in the alluvium of the coast, as proof of a former higher po¬ 
sition of the waters of the ocean than prevails at present,* we 
may thence infer that no organic remains of marine origin 
will be found in Ilia limestone caves situated at a greater 
distance from the ocean, and should any animal remains he 
discovered in the stalagmitic deposits of these caverns, they 
will doubtless prove to belong to the bat tribe, which in my¬ 
riads have for ages past, frequented them. 
Situated as the coast is, in such close proximity to the 
volcanic zone as described by Van Buch and Lyell, and with 
the volcanic forces in active operation at no great distance in 
Barren Island, Narcotndam, the island of Cheduba, and lately 
on the coast of Arrakan near Kyouk Pyu, a frequent recur¬ 
rence of volcanic influences might be expected ; such however 
is not the case, and during the last twenty years, but one 
subterranean disturbance has occurred with a strength of 
movement sufficient to attract general notice. Neither on the 
islands or the main shore do any traces exist of past volcanic 
action, or indeed of any elevatory action having occurred, 
* On the subject of raised beaches, the following note has been supplied 
by Capt A. P, Pbayre, Principal Assistant to the Commissioner. 
About the centre of Beloo gyooii, a sand bank runs for several miles 
down the Island nearly N. & S. It is raised above the surrounding country 
and has the appearance of a raised sea beach or of a ridge thrown up by a 
peculiar meeting of the currents. It is in general some 40 or 50 yaids broad, 
and so well raised above the inundation that the neighbouring cultivator* 
choose it for the site of their granaries. It is frequently seen commencing 
from the south side of rocky hillocks which rise abruptly from the plain, and 
are called by the Taliens “islands;” the tradition is, that the sand bank is tho 
work of the sea. 
The south end of Belli gyoon has within the last 8 or 9 years become sub¬ 
ject to inundations of the sea, so that shout 5000 acres of Paddy land have 
been destroyed.—I have no means of ascertaining whodier this has resulted 
from a permanent lowering of the land, or, as the natives say, from sand bank* 
formerly extending out south of Beloogyoon having been washed away, and 
the high sea shore bank gradually undermined, so that the sea now come* 
right over the lands at high tioes,”—A. P. Phayre 
On the Coast ot Arracan and on the Islands skirting the Bnrmah Coast, 
indisputable evidence exists in the exposed marine deposits, of the whole 
line having been considerably elevated within no distant period ; hut this 
action does not appear to have been extended to the Eastward of the Ira- 
wadily river, at least no evidence of a similar nature has been met with 
throughout tire Coast line of these Provinces. AlPchange* under notice there¬ 
fore of a purely alluvial character may with safety be attributed to the action 
of the tidal currents solely, and in the instance described by Capt Pbayre 
we have an example of its creative and destructive powers, which are in 
constant operation in the formation of “deltas” throughout the world. 
[These long sand banks, called permatangs by the Malays, are common on 
the alluvial plains of the Malay Peninsula. We have explained the mode of 
their formation, and the cause and measure of their height, in this Journal, 
Vol. II p. 13J,4 ,—Ed ] 
