MINERAL PRODUCTIONS OF THE TENAS4ERIM PROVINCES. 742 
upper courses of the streams or directions of the ranges have better 
authority for their geographical positions, than that derived from 
native information. 
With the forgoing imperfect exposition of the richness of these 
provinces in so important an article as that of coal, there can be 
little doubt but that the further application of a practical and scien¬ 
tific examination, based upon even the little knowledge we possess 
on the subject, would result in disclosing an inexhaustible supply of 
the material, of an unexceptionable quality, and in all probability 
capable of being supplied at a lower rate to the consumer than that 
which obtains "for the coal of Bengal, or that imported from the 
mines at home. Such an enquiry might be rendered doubly 
interesting and useful by combining with the object stated, the 
determining the proper geographical position of the boundary 
between these provinces and the Siamese frontier, which, after so 
long a period of occupation has been so unaccountably delayed, and 
in the event of any valuable discovery, mineral or otherwise, being 
made within the area of the present supposed line, ere the point be 
finally settled, might lead to interminable dispute, and probable 
acts of aggression on the part of our half-civilized neighbours. 
Clays. 
Fire and plastic clays of the most useful descriptions are 
present in beds pierced by the Attaran and G-yne rivers ; the form¬ 
er as a valuable clay for crucibles and other furnace purposes was 
brought to Maulmain many years ago, and found after several 
trials° at the Calcutta mint, to possess every good property of the 
best English fire clays. Porcelain clay is met with at several 
places on the coast, where it occurs mixed with the laterite, and 
bears evidence of having been deposited by the decomposition of a 
rock of the primary order possessing a predominancy of u feldspar” 
in its conformation. 
Lime 
Of the best description for hydraulic and other purposes, 
and to an unlimited extent, is obtainable from the cavernous lime¬ 
stone formation so prominent in the geological features of the 
country, above Moulmein. Every facility is there offered for the 
calcination of the limestone and subsequent carriage by water, the 
jungles in the vicinity, but principally that forming the mangrove 
jungles on the banks of the river, being eminently adapted for the 
first process ; and as the waters of the spring tides wash the base 
of the limestone of Damatha, land carriage forms no item in the 
expense of production of the article. 
Lime, the produce of these caves, is sold at from 5} rupees per 
100 baskets continuing about 750 viss or 2,730 lbs., but it has been 
ascertained that with the insufficient process in use with the 
Burmese, the same quantity could be produced for 3| rupees and 
afford a reasonable remuneration at the rate ; it may safely be 
