741 MINERAL PRODUCTIONS OF THE TENASSERIM PROVINCES* 
some short distance from and parallel to it, and in which numerous 
streams take their rise and, descending the hills, contribute to swell 
that river by their tributary streams, is not the best line that could 
have been selected. But it is now discovered that the range of 
mountains themselves was considered hy both Burmese and Siamese 
as the boundary” And in allusion to the map published by the 
coal committee in which the site of the coal is erroneously placed 
Captain McLeod states.—“ I think we should be culpable in the 
present case to remain silent, and allow a map to go forth disse¬ 
minating error, and which might be hereafter brought forward as 
clearly defining the boundary line.” 
It will be evident from the foregoing extracts, that the question 
of property in the tract of country under notice rests with us, but 
that for the more perfect knowledge of the locality, the practicabi¬ 
lity of working the coal economically, and the facilities present for 
so doing, a strict and searching examination is necessary ere the 
great point of cheapness of production can be settled ;—this point 
ascertained upon the best possible data, there can be little doubt 
but that government would avail itself of so valuable a resource, 
which in these times of rapid progression in steam navigation would 
obviate the present dependance upon supplies derived for the most 
part from the coal mines of Bengal, and from the casual and 
uncertain importations by English vessels which arrive here for 
cargoes of teak timber. 
Within the space enclosed by the little Tenasserim and the Pak- 
chan rivers several sites of coal have long been known to exist, 
the principal ones being on the Lenya and its branches. It is 
also reported to be present in large quantities ou the _ Nawoon 
Kliyoung (a branch of the little Tenasserim) which has its mouth 
at a distance of about 25 miles from the old town of Tenasserim, 
with a course in a S. E. direction for several days journey from its 
entrance ; a reference to the accompanying map will shew thaj 
such a course for the Nawoon stream would either enter the Lenya 
river, or approach it so near as to make the distance of land carriage 
between the two streams very inconsiderable. It will also be 
seen that, supposing the courses of the Lenya and Bok-pyn rivers 
to possess any ordinary degree of accuracy, that their waters become 
mingled through their numerous branches which intersect the 
country throughout the whole course of the principal rivers, and it 
would* be both important and interesting to ascertain in the first 
instance whether the coal of the deposit on the Nawoon stream 
could be more economically extracted through the course of the 
Lenya, and that stated to exist on this last river, through the Bok- 
pyn, than by the line of their own particular streams. A glance at 
the map would lead to this conclusion, but it must be borne in mind 
that with the exception of the coast line and general course of the 
rivers at their entrances, the positions of which are laid down from 
the accurate observations of the late Captain Lloyd, neither the 
