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Sec. III, Ch. 3: Author's Connection with the Ruby Mines of Burma

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170                     The Ruby Mines of Burma.
Whilst in Paris one morning in December, 1885, I was taking breakfast in the saloon of the Grand Hotel, when two gentlemen sitting at the same table happened to be talking about the Ruby mines of Burma. They referred to a lease, which was to have been granted by King Theebaw to certain Frenchmen, conceding the right of working the mines, but which, in consequence of the British occupation of the country, had never been signed. Natur­ally feeling deep interest in such a subject, I joined in the conversation, with the result that I was afterwards intro­duced to the parties in treaty for the concession. It appeared that Messrs. Bouveillein &Co. had petitioned the king to grant them the sole right of mining for Rubies, in consideration of an annual payment of three lakhs of rupees. They further agreed to pay four years' rent in advance, and to make a present of one lakh to the king. The Burmese Ambassadors in Paris had granted a pro­visional concession, and this I ultimately obtained, together with all the documents relating thereto, but being of no value they were returned to Paris.
On my return to England, I immediately placed myself in communication with the India Office, with the view of obtaining a concession of the Ruby mines in Upper Burma. On December 24, 1 was officially informed by Lord Harris that it was for the Government of India to decide upon my application ; and it was suggested, in the same letter, that I should communicate directly with the Secretary of the Foreign Department at Calcutta. After some further correspondence, it was agreed that I should send an accredited agent to the Indian Government with the view of personally effecting the négociations.
Associating myself with three friends, we formed a
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