BIRMAII. The Birman empire is rich in mines of gold, silver, copper, tin, lead, anti mony, and iron, but they are much neglected by the natives. Many kinds of precious stones are obtained by digging and washing the gravel in the beds of rivulets or small brooks. The varieties said to exist are, the oriental sapphire, the oriental ruby, the opalescent ruby, the star ruby ; the green, the yellow, and the white sapphire ; and the oriental ame thyst. Noble serpentine or green-stone, is found in most of the upper branches of the Irawaddi, and exported in considerable quan tities by the Chinese to their own country, where it is used for rings and amulets. Mines of amber are found on the branches of the Kyan -Duayn, and in the vicinity of the Bhanmb. Coal seems to be plentiful, but it is not used. Limestone exists in great abund ance in the mountains near the capital; and statuary marble is also met with. Nitre, na tron, and culinary salt, are found in many of the arid and calcareous tracts in the upper provinces, and chiefly in the neighbourhood of the capital. Natron, in an impure state, is used by the natives instead of soap, a prepa ration with which they seem to be unac quainted. Salt is extracted from some lakes in the upper provinces, especially near Mon chabo, and from the sea water in the lower provinces.
Among the vegetable productions of the Birman forests the teak holds the first place. The plants which become articles of com merce in the country include bamboo, cate chu, sugar, tea, cocoa, tobacco, cotton, indigo, and betel.
The progress of the Birmans in the useful arts has not been great. All their cotton fabrics are coarse and high-priced, and British piece-goods are imported in considerable quantity. Silk articles, coarse and unglazed earthenware, iron implements, muskets and swords, and gold and silver ornaments, are manufactured, mostly in a rude style.
The commerce carried on in the interior of the country is considerable; the different por tions of the empire producing several things which are not found in others. The inha bitants of the sea-coast and the lower country carry to the capital and the upper provinces rice, salt, dried fish, and foreign commodities; which are paid for by the produce of the in terior. The foreign commerce, chiefly with China, is conducted principally at two annual fairs, at Bhanmb and Mide. The Chinese arrive with laden horses, mules, and asses ; bringing with them an immense assortment of goods.