just
allow a man to get down by placing his feet in niches on the sides. The
pits are not numbered, and go down to a depth of twenty to forty feet.
If one 'twin' happens to produce a stone all the miners rush to
the same spot, and dig in close proximity. Twins may go down as deep as
ninety feet. On reaching the byon, further excavation follows in the direction of the byon to
about thirty to forty feet in radius. Generally three men work each
mine, two do the digging and the third does the hauling of the dug-up
material which is done by long bamboo levers. The earth, dug up until
the byon is reached, is thrown away. The byon is a yellow brownish, gravelly clay, at times firm, at times sandy, and often full of gravel. The byon is gathered and safely stored for washing.
(ii) Hmyawdwins or Hmyaws.—These
are very popular and practised on hill-sides and in steep valleys, and
work usually throughout the year. Some have worked for long periods
ranging from 50 to 60 years. The cuttings made on the hill-sides vary
much in size. The water-supply is of great importance, and is obtained
from long and perennial sources by channels dug round the hills. Hmyaw mining
requires a long period of undisturbed ownership for tranquil mining,
for which local unwritten laws have sprung up by custom, so that
usually no interference is caused by the neighbouring miners.
The byon is
usually found twenty to twenty-five feet below the surface. The water
brought from channels, is sprayed by passing it along bamboos suitably
cut. This loosens the top soil, which is removed and the byon is exposed. The byon is washed in a flat circular floor conÂstructed near it. Water is diverted into it along with the byon in
the form of sprays and the washed up material enters the tailing
channel, which is often covered. The. heavy material is usually trapped
here, and it is periodically removed and examined. The precious stones
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