725 MINERAL PRODUCTIONS OF THE TENASSERIM PROVINCES. 
sures would be enforced were they to disclose any valuable metallic 
deposits, which from their constant traversing the jungles in all 
directions they may be supposed to be cognisant of. The Burmans 
and Taliens surpass all other nations in their belief of the 
soul-absorbing doctrines of alchemy :—this infatuation pervades 
all classes ef society from the king to the fisherman : nor are the 
monasteries without their votaries to the science, who may be seen 
in the intervals of leisure from the religious duties, occupied with 
a pair of small double cylindrical bellows of bamboo, trying to re¬ 
duce some refractory piece of ore of a composition to them un¬ 
known, but which, aided by ingredients stated in their works on 
alchemy, will they believe, accomplish the long-sought revelation 
of the mystery;—a failure ensues of course, but their faith is not 
shaken, and to some other empirical formula they have recourse 
fully imbued with the belief that eventual success will crown their 
efforts. Whether this infatuation has penetrated the jungles and 
found as congenial a recipient in the simple race which inhabit 
them ; or whether a feeling less exalted but more matter of fact, in 
the chance discovery of some unmistakeable ore of silver be the 
reason for the unvarying ignorance they express, I have not been 
able divine; but sure it is, that in almost every Karen village I have 
visited the indispensible pair of bamboo cylinders were present, 
which are applied to the reduction of every piece of heavy mineral 
they pick up, and I was informed by one of the community, that 
all' stones which did not produce a metallic liquid were cast aside 
as worthless, and the sites of their deposits disregarded, in which 
circumstance we may have cause to regret the loss of some valua¬ 
ble deposits of the sulphurets. 
Such are the obstacles to the discovery of the valuable metallic 
deposits in which these provinces aboundthat they were both 
well known and usefully applied by the Burmese Government in 
former times may be inferred from the names still extant of several 
creeks on the coast, and other localities—those called Ban Kyouk 
Khyoung (or silver stone creek) and Ban Toung or silver mountain, 
being significant of their productions. Want of communication 
by road between the several coast provinces is also a great impedi¬ 
ment to a knowledge of the riches of the country, and until the 
jungles have been more reclaimed by an incumbent and increasing 
population, it cannot be expected that such improvements will be 
effected. 
Tin. 
From the remains of old workings still existing near the Tin 
beds of the lower province of Mergui, it is evident that this source 
of wealth must have claimed the attention of both Siamese and 
Burmese Governments for ages past:—In the middle of the 16th 
century, the Portuguese, who had established themselves as traders 
at Pegu and Martaban, appear to have visited this locality and 
