RAMRI or Yambie, or NeW Island, forms the N.E. side of Cheduba Strait. It is 40 miles long and 15 broad, of moderate height near the sea, and extends N.W. to Saddle Island in lat. 19° 26' N., on the north side of which is the entrance to Khyouk-Hpyu harbour. From its southern point, the islands of Amherst or Juggu, Adam Hill, Wyndham, aud Harrison project in a chain. Ramri town is in lat. 19° 6' 36" N., and long. 93° 53' 45" E. It has many wells of petroleum or earth oil, generally situated near the bases of low hills, aud of various depths. The deepest is said to be about 50 feet, having about 6 feet diameter at the mouth. The sides of this well have been in geniously boarded by the natives, having diagonal cross bars, which not only secure the structure but serve as a ladder. There is no sort of machinery used to get up the oil. A young lad is first sent down, a man on the cross bars lets down to him earthen pots in succession, into which the contents of the well are filled, and then the pot is drawn up. The whole of the contents of the pot, as drawn up, is not oil, which is of a light bluish colour, and floats on water ; there is sedi ment scooped up from the bottom. This takea
place twice a day, and the yield is from four to six gallons per day. The oil sells in the bazar at a rupee per gallon. The deepest of the wells in the island is in the Laytoung Circle, and is said to have been productive for a great number of years. Natives have been known to dig wells of short depths for temporary purposes, after which the wells aro abandoned, and soon choke up from the falling in of the earth. There is a fish found in these waters called Luckwa, the oil extracted from the liver of which is said to have the same properties as cod-liver oil. The island lying about two and a half ntiles to the westward of old Kliyouk-Hpyu is called on old marine charts Saddle Island from its shape. When Khyouk-Hpyu was a military station, some of the officers, it is said, let loose thereon a pair of goats; these have increased to such an extent tbat the island now abounds with wild goats, and hence it is now called by natives Chy-Kysor or Goat Island.