366 THE RUBY MINES OF UPPER BURMA
country
was disturbed, amounted to only 42,486 rupees' worth, but in the first
two months of 1888 21,883 rupees' worth had been obtained. Stones of
from 5 to 20 carats weight were sold during this period, and the
highest price obtained for one was 500 rupees.
The
mode of occurrence of the rubies in calcspar is, I believe, somewhat
unusual, though spinel is known to be found in calcareous rocks. It is
generally the case that the corundum minerals are found in mica
schists; such is stated to be the case in Zanskar in the Himalayas, and
also in Ceylon ; with reference to the latter it may be of interest, in
addition to the remarks on p. 102, to add here some particulars as to
the sapphire washings of that island.
The Sapphires of Ceylon.—Under
British rule the monopoly in precious stones, which existed under the
Kandyan sovereigns, was early abolished as a source of revenue, and no
licence is now required by jewel hunters. Great numbers of people are
attracted annually to the washings, to the great detriment of
agriculture and the demoralization of the villagers, who are brought
into contact with dissolute adventurers. Sir Emerson Tennent, from whom
the above facts are quoted, estimated the annual total value of the
precious stones which were found as not exceeding £10,000 per annum.1
According to the Handbook for Ceylon, recently
published in connexion with the Colonial and Indian Exhibition, the
search is conducted in a rude fashion, and, despite the advice and
reports by experts, there has been no improvement in the method. It is
stated in the same work that, though some returns are attempted by the
Government, it is impossible to estimate the annual yield at present,
and the mines have never, I believe, been successfully worked by
Europeans.
APPENDIX VI
A Review or Abstract in the ' Phihsophical Transactions' of Chapuzeau's (sic) work, entitled ' Histoire des Joyaux,'' published in 1665; and Note on the English edition of the same work.
The following is a contemporary abstract published in the Philosophical Transactions2
of a book which seems to be of extraordinary rarity—there being no copy
of it, I believe, in any of the great libraries in Great Britain, nor
even in the Bibliotheque Nationale—it is therefore of sufficient
interest
1 Tennent, Ceylon, i. 37. * Vol. ii, 1667, pp. 429-30.
