737 MINERAL PRODUCTIONS OP THE TENASSERIM PROVINCES. 
Bismuth. 
The Sulphufet of Bismuth occurs with the ore of antimony 
in the sandstone range of hills described in noticing that ore ; its 
importance as an article of commerce is of secondary character, hut 
should it be found to be present in any considerable quantities, the 
reduction of the metal from the ore would doubtless prove profitable, 
its price for the home demand being from 2s to 2s fid per lb. The 
ores of cobalt are usually found accompanying those of Bismuth, 
and from their high value, (if free from iron,) would, if discovered 
to exist in these provinces, offer a most valuable means for profita¬ 
ble investment. Silver also forms a component of one of the ores of 
of this metal, and it is to be hoped that as our knowledge of these 
metallic deposits becomes more matured, the more valuable kinds 
as above stated will be brought to light and usefully applied. 
Specimens of both Copper and Silver ores have been 
obtained from the Karens who appear to be unacquainted with 
their characters. The sites of their deposites however have still to be 
examined, and they are only mentioned here to complete the 
catalogue of mineral riches which these provinces possess. Specimens 
of copper ore have also been brought from several islands of the 
Mergui Archipelago, and all obtained appears to be of the same 
character, viz the grey copper ore, containing from 40 to 50 parts 
of the metal in combination with antimony, iron and sulphur. 
An ore of silver, of which specimens have been received, was 
found to consist of silver, antimony, copper and sulphur; producing 
about 35 per cent of pure metal; its locality appears from the in¬ 
formation obtained from a Karen, to be in the range of hills near 
the head waters of the Hloni Bwai river where old workings are 
said to exist. 
Gold. 
Has been collected in small quantities from several of the tin 
streams having their sources in the older formation of the boundary 
range of mountains; that obtained from the head waters of the 
Tavoy river, as also from the streams which empty themselves into 
the Bay of Henzai, where it is found mixed with the tin ore, is of a 
quality equal in every respect to the gold dust of the Malay peninsula. 
It does not however appear to be in sufficient quantities to induce 
the establishment of permanent washings, altho 7 the Siamese have 
for many years derived a considerable revenue from the produce 
of the streams which form the eastern watershed of the same range 
of hills. Opposed to a correct knowledge of the riches of these 
streams, is the insuperable obstacle of absence of population ; the 
vast tract which forms their sources being a desolate wilderness of 
forest rarely visited even by the Karens themselves, and it may 
therefore be safely advanced that a century must elapse to admit of 
the present rate of progressive increase of the native population 
effecting an opening into those primeval wilds, bre their precious 
4 
f 
* 
