SILVER.
Silver is ono of the most anciently known of the metals. It is first mentioned in Genesis xx. 16, and- afterwards frequently. In Abraham's time it was common, and according to Genesis xxiii. 15, traffic WM carried on with it. Joshua vi. 18, 19, says, And ye, in any wise keep your selves from the accursed thing. But all the silver, and gold, and vessels of brass and iron, are con secrated unto the Lord.' It is on this principle that the Brahmanical Hindus act. A Brahnian will receive from any caste, however degraded, gold, silver, etc., but to receive from Sudras food or garments, etc., would be considered as a great degradation.
Silver is found native and also combined with sulphur in considerable quantities, also as a chlor ide, and alloyed with other metals, especially lead, gold, antimony, arsenic, copper. It is separ ated from its ores by the process of amalgama tion, and is largely coined into the money of various denominations of many countries ; it is largely used for ornament and for domestic pur poses, and, being little liable to alteration or to be affected by re-agents, it is much employed for surgical instruments and for vessels for chemical purposes.
Silver is obtained in many countries. An ore of galena or sulphuret of lead at Jungumraz pillay, in the Kurnool district, is rich in silver. One specimen of the Kurnool ore contained up Nvards of 1 per cent. of silver, or 374 ounces in the ton, the quantity of lead and silver together being only 45 per cent. which Nvas occasioned by there being a considerable quantity of gangue dissemin ated through the portion exainined. Another specimen from Kurnool Nvas found to contain 175 oz., or 3 dwt. in the ton. This, however, accords with the minute researches of Durochet, Nvho found that .when sulphide of silver is associated with the sulphides of other metals, it is always unequally distributed. It is found to be advan tageous.to separate the precious metal where it exists to the extent of only 6 ounces in the ton.
Mr, IV. Mainwaring found it in the Madura district in a native sulphuret of zinc (bleude). Captain Arthur discovered this metal in Mysore, both in its native state (in thin plates adhering to some specimens of gold crystallized in minute cubes) and as a muriate in an ore containing sulphur and oxide of iron.
Grey silver-ore occurs in the beds of the rivulets of the Kupputgode range, and Heyne (Tracts, p. 315) states that it occurs in the galena of the Nellore and Calastri districts. Silver occurs in the galena of Kulu. The silver country of the in Kulu, covers 677 miles, and abounds in silver ores, some producing 1 in 16 parts of silver. Mr. Ball mentions its occnrrence in over twenty British districts.
Silver is said to be in considerable quantity near Lhassa but it is not \corked.
Silver is 'found in many localities in the Shan States to the east of the Irawadi river, but the most prolific mines are those situated at Bawyine, Kyouktch, and Toung-byne, near Thee-baw, to the N.E. of Mandalay. It is mixed -with lead, and is, in fact, a rich argentiferous galena.. One mine, the Karnpanee, will yield as much as 40 tikals of silver and 25 viss. of lead from one basket of the ore ; while the poorest mine gives 4 tikals of silver and 30 viss of lead. Other mines exist, such as the Baudween, Baudweengyee, and Sagaing. The supply of silver obtained hitherto has been suffi cient for the requirements of Burma in conjunction with the imports from Yunnan.
Silver mines were seen by Major Slade's party near the Tapeng river, not far from Ponsee. Baudween is north - east from Amarapura and close to the boundary of China, in the N.E. corner of the province of Moong-meet. From this mine alone, it is stated that about 40 viss of pure silver are produced per day (a rich argentiferous galena, it is supposed, yielding per cent. of silver). From the difficulty of carriage, the lead cannot be brought away with profit, but the silver fully and amply repays the entire cost of working the mines, which are worked by about .10,000 Chinese, as the Burmese dislike the employment. If the state ments be even near the truth, that at Baudween must be one of the richest silver mines in the world ; and though there are said to be many other mines in the Shan country, that of Baudween is by much the most productive.