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170 The Ruby Mines of Burma.
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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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