MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

ROYA.L ARTILLERY INSTITUTION.

VOLUME XV.

WOOLWICH: PRINTED AT THE lWYAL AllTILLBRY INSTITUTION:

AM flll6li1h11 ., ._, • .l>IIl4s f Co., 87 &110 8ptIN, x-dorI, W.o. -1888. ---- :;,:. '- ............. ;" ..... ...

.4.LL BIGHTB BlfBEBYED.

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CONTENTS.

P.lG ••

Precis of Lydd Experiments, August and September, 1884. In continuation of the account published in No. 140, Vol. XIV. By ColGmel F. G. Baylay, R.A ............................................................... , ...... 1

Cavalry. A Review. By Captain J. M. Grierson, R.A. ......... .... ...... 27

Old and Rare Books in the R. A. Library. Re-printed from Notes issued with No.9, Vol. XII., and Nos. 6 and 7, Vol. XIII. Communicated by the Secretary......... ............... ... ... ............ ...... ...... ... ... ... ... 87

Discussion on the R. A. I. Prize Essays, published in Nos. 12 and 18, Vol. XIV. Major General H. A. Smyth (Commanding Woolwich District) in the chair ... ......... ... ......... ............................................ 47

Copy of Report of Visit to Mandalay and the Irrawaddy Forts, Upper Burma. By Colonel W. Carey, C.B., Colonel on the Staft, Command-ing R.A., British Burma. ................................. ..................... 69

Firing at Balloons of Observation. By Captain W. ·H. H. Waters, R.A.... 88

Reduction of Bashforth's Experiments by Interpolation. By Professor A. G. Greenhill, M.A., and Lieut. F. L. Nathan, R.A. . ......... ............... 85

An Account of some old wrought-iron built-up Guns taken over in Fort Jhansi, in March, 1886. By Major P. H. Hammond, R.A ............. 108

Memorandum on a Portable Heliograph. Designed by Captain R. H. Mahon. R.A ..................................................................... 107

Account of the Burmese War of 1885 - 86. By Colonel W. Carey, C.B.. R.A., Commanding R.A., British Burma ............................... 109

Grant's Apparatus for the Automatic Sighting of Heavy Guns on High Sites. Communicated by Colonel J. B. Richardson, R.A ............... 147

Proposed Hydraulic Method ot Mounting Ordnance. By Lieutenant F. R. Maunsell, R.A .................................................................. 151

The Protection of Heavy Guns for Coast Defence. By Captain G. S. Clarke. R.E ..................................................................... 155

The Nile Expedition of 1885. (A Lecture delivered at the R.A. Institution. Woolwich.) By Colonel F .. Duncan, C.B.. M.P., R.A ................... 191

The Attack Formation of Infantry. By Lieut.-Colonel G. B. Macdonell. R.A ............................................................................ 205

Field Shrapnel Fire. By Mr. A. G. Hadcock, R.A .• Inspector of Ordnance Machinery ......... ...... ...... ... ...... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...... ... ... ... ...... 215

A Narrative of Six Weeks' Siege Operations. By Lieut. G. R. Lamb. R.A. 289

The Garrison Gunner. By Captain E. Nash. R.A.... ........... .......... 247

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VI. CONTENTS.

P.lGB.

Replacing disabled Horses in a Team. By Major G. R. Gambier, R.H.A. 258

Experiments at Bucharest. By Major D. D. T. O'Callaghan, R.A., and Captain G. S. Clarke, R.E. ... ...... ...... ............... ...... ...... ......... 256

Picric Powder for Guns and Magazine Rifles. By Captain W. H. H. Waters, R.A ..................................................................... 298

Iuscriptious on an Indian Gun on the Barrack Field, Woolwich. By A. N. Wollaston, Esq., C.I.E ......................................................... 296

Notes on Ordnance in the Rotunda Museum. By Lieut. S. G. Horton. R.A. 299

Short History and Description of Armour and its Attack by Artillery. By Captain C. Orde Browne. late R.A. Continued from No. 15, Vol. XIV., p. 658.-0oncltuion ................................................... 808

Artillery fired from Railway Wagous. Communicated by the D.-A.-General, R.A .............................................................................. 851

Stable Management in India. By Major G. W. M. Turnbull, R.H.A ....... 859

Commander Meryon's Shoeburyness Lectures. A Critique. By Captain G. S. Clarke. R.E.... '" .............. ....... ................. ..... ......... 86S

Remarks on High-Angle and Direct Fire from Coast Batteries. By Colonel G. A. Crawford, late R.A ....................................................... 871

A Machine Gun Battery in Burma. By Captain W. N. Lloyd, R.A., Commanding Gardner Gun Battery .......................................... 877

The French Troops in Algeria. By Captain E. Lambart, R.A. ............... 888

Abstract of the Proceedings of the Fiftieth Annual General Meeting of the Royal Artillery Institution ............ ...... ......... ............ ... ......... 887

Mountain Artillery, its Organization, Equipment, and Tactics. Gold Medal Prize Essay, 1887. By Captain W. L. White, R.A ...................... 408

A Method of Mounting and Dismounting the Lighter Pieces of Field Artillery Ordnance. By Lieut. D. G. Prinsep, R.A. ...... ............... 428

A New Slip Trace Hook. By Major G. R. Gambier, R.H.A. • .............. 425

Improvement in the Royal (Garrison) Artillery. By Major F. C. Mor~an, R.A. .. .......................................................................... 427

The Expedition to the Ruby Mines of Upper Bunna. A Short Sketch. By Captain W. N. Lloyd, R.A. .. ....................................... 485

Cyclists at Yolunteer Manreuvres. . By Lieut.-Colonel E. Kensington, R.A. (A Lecture delivered at the Royal Artillery Institution, Woolwich, on Monday 2nd May, 1887; with Discussion) .................................. 448

The Officering of the ArtUIery Militia. By Captain F. W. Panzera, 2nd (Militia) Brigade, Cinque Ports Division, R.A. ............... ............ 461

The Question of Draught in Mountain Batteries. By Captain W. L. White, R.A. . ........................................................................... 467

The Anning of Gunners of Horse and Field Artillery. By Captain C. T. Robinson, R.A., with Notes by Major W. Sorell, R.A., and Lieutenant P. E. Gray, R.A .. , ........................................................... 471

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CONTENTS. vn. P.l&B

Signs and Marks on Military Stores:-Royal Laboratory ......................................................... 475

" Gun Factory ....................................................... 487 " Carriage Department ...................... : ...................... 491

Rival Shields for Guns in Land Fortresses. A Review. By Captain C. Orde Browne, late R.A. ...... ... ... . ... ... ............................. 495

Replacing Disabled Horses in a Team. By Lieut. G. E. Benson, R.A..... 497

Photographic" Instantaneous Shutters." By Lieut. E. T. Dixon, R.B.A. 499

Text-Book of Gunnery, 1887. 'By Major G. Maclrinlay, R.A. A Review; by Lieut.-Col. E. Kensington, R.A .......... '" ......................... 507

War Services of certain officers of the Regiment which are not given in Kane's List and of certain others which are only imperfectly given. Communicated by General Sir J. H. Lefroy, C.B., K.C.M.G., F.R.S., LL.D., R.A ..................................................................... .

No 9-Major-General Thomas Trotter, Colonel Commandant, 5th Battalion, Royal Artillery .................................... 521

No. 10-General Sir John Smith, G.C.H., Colonel Commandant, Royal Horse Artillery ........................................ : .... 522

Method of Calculating Trajectories. By Captain D. F. Downing, R.A. . .. 528

A Dictionary of Explosives. By Major J. P. Cundill, R.A., H.M.'s Inspector of Explosives. (To be continued) . ......................................... 541

Becruiting for the Royal Artillery. By Lieut. C. D. Guinness, R.H.A. . .. 578

Field Artillery Fire, Organization and Discipline. By Captain E. N. Henriques, R.A............................ ........ ......... ............... 581

Obituary Notice.-General W. J. Smythe, late R.A., F.R.S. By General Sir J. H. Lefroy, C.B., K.C.M.G., F.R.S., LL.D.,. R.A ................... 585

Time, Pace and Speed. By Lieut.-Colonel T. B. Tyler, R.A .................. 589

The New South Wales Artillery. By Major E. Bingham, R.A., Chief Instructor, N. S. W. Artillery ....•....... '" ... ... ...... ... ......... ...... ... 598

Siacci's Method of Solving Trajectories and Problems in Ballistics. By A. G. Greenhill, M.A., and A. G. Hadcock, R.A. ... ............... ...... 597

Laying at an Invisible Object. By Lieut. E. T. Duon, R.H.A. .. .......... 688

Photographic" Instantaneous Shutters." By Lieut. E. T. Dixon, R.H.A. 686

Reply to the Prize Essay of 1887. By Captain H. C. C. D. Simpson, R.A. • ••••••••••• '" '11 •••••••••• 11 ., •••••••••• I ••• ,- •••••••••••• '" ••••••••••••••• 887

1'0 _.lOB P.l&B

Sagaing •••••••••....•.....•....••••••..........•..••...•...•..••.•.•....... ,', ••. .••••• 75 :Mandalay... ......... ......... ...... .................. ...... ...... ...... ......... ...... 80 Shielded Casemate and Open Battery with Shield .............................. 188

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VIII. CONTENTS.

P.A.GB

Oollingwood .Bar6ette Mounting for two 48-ton B. L. Guns (L.S.) ••..••.•. 190

8-inch B.L. Gun on Elswick Hydro-Pneumatic Disappearing Oarriage. Gun in Loading Position .......................................................... 190

8-inc~ B..~. Gun o.n.Elswick Hydro-pneumatic Disappearing Oarriage. Gun .. m FInng PosItIon ............................................................... wid.

Table I. Angles of Impact of Projectiles from lO-inch M.L.R. Gun ...... wid. Table II. • • • French 27 cm. Gun ......... wid. Table Ill. • • • I-inch Nordenfelt Gun ... ilJid.

Table IV. Trajectories of Projectiles fired from 10-inch M.L.R. Gun (Hori-zontal, and with 5° and 10° Depression) ................................... wid.

Holmstone Practice Ranges .. ... ...... ...... ... .............. .................... 244

German Cupola ........................................................................ 258

Indian Gun on the Barrack Field, Woolwich .................................... 295

Naval Attack on the Alexandra Forts ............................................ 845

40-pr. B.L. Gun Mounted on Four-Wheel Metre-Gauge Wagon, Figs.l-12. 858

Mountain Guns of Europe ... ...... ... ......... ... ... ...... ... ............ ...... ... 422

Peace and War Establishment of Mountain Battery ... ... ... ...... ...... ...... wid. French Mountain Oarriage ............................................................ wid. Russian Mountain Gun and Oarriage ... ...... ..... .. ........................... ilJid.

Proposed System of Draught for Mountain Artillery ........................... ilJid.

Major Clavarino's Proposed Mountain Oarriage ................................. ilJid.

Austrian Pack Saddles ................................ , .............................. ilJid.

The Oycling Volunteers......... ...... ... .... ..... ......... ... ...... ......... ......... 448

Map of Volunteer Manmuvres, 1887 ............................................ 460

Method of Oalculating Trajectories ................................................ 588

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485

THE

EXPEDITION TO THE RUBY MINES 01'

UPPER BURMA. (A SHORT SKETCH.)

liT

CAPTAIN W. N. LLOYD, R.A.

01' the many expeditions, marches, countermarches and actions that have taken place during this arduous campaign, it is impossible to point to one in particular as being the most important from either a military or civil point of view, but I can assert with confidence, that both in this country and in England the expedition to the Ruby Mines has attracted the most attention, possibly from the fact of the name being attractive, and that the expedition was important is also certain. When it was known at Mandalay that an expedition was to start for the mines, officers clamoured to be employed, as it was known that there would be much interest attached to it, that the Shans would certainly fight, and then again there were bags of rubies looming in the distance I Being among those fortunate ones, I was ordered to leave Mandalay on 10th December, with my Subaltern, Lieut. Parker, R.A., and the Gardner Machine Guns (which I had just organized and equipped for service) and to join the main body of the Ruby Mine Column at Saga.doung.

The base of supplies of the expedition was a place called Khyannyat on the Irrawaddy, about 80 miles north of Mandalay. A force had been despatched to this place in November to open out the road leading to the mines j great difficulties had been experienced both from the ravages of fever, dysentry and cholera, and also during the road making j at the date on which we started for Khyannyat this force had cut its way as far as Sagadoung, some 38 miles from Khyannyat at the base of the mountains. The country between these two villages was covered with dense jungle, and perfectly flat j even during this, the cold season, the climate was exceedingly unhealthy, and during the rains it would be, I should say, simply deadly. Naturally then the advance of this force had been slow, the jungle had to be cleared step by step, while sickness thinned the ranks j they had been twice attacked by the Shans, but had driven them back with loss, and were now established at Sagadoung.

Leaving Mandalay with my guns on 10th December, in the same II. VOL. xv. 57

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486 BXPEDITfON TO THE RUBY KINIS.

steamer with Sir F. Roberts (who was proceeding on a tour of inspection) we reached Khyannyat on 13th; here we disembarked, and on the 15th set out for Sagadoung under escort of 100 men of the South Yorkshire Regiment. We met with no opposition from the enemy, and reached the main body on the 17th. We found that the 43rd Goorkha and South Yorkshire Regiment had been considerably reduced in numbers by sickness, while of the 300 Bengal Sappars and Miners originally sent out in November, only 120 men remained fit for duty.

Active preparations were now made for an immediate advance up the mountains, and on the 19th, taking 10 days' rations with us, we commenced the ascent with the fonowing force :-

850 men of 43rd Goorkha Regiment under Col. Cubitt, 'P€: 150 II South Yorkshire Regiment under Capt. Earle, 100 Bengal Sappers and Miners under Lieut. Petree, R.A., 2 mountain guns and 2 machine guns under Capt. Lloyd, R.A.,

together with the hospital and transport, consisting of about 700 mules.

The whole force was under the command of Brig.-Gen. Stewart, A.-D.-C., with Major Neville Chamberlain as D.-A.-A.-G., and Capt. Hume, A.-D.-C. as Intelligence Officer.

Mr. Streeter and Major Bill, representing the firm of Messrs. Streeter & Co., also accompanied the column.

Our road at first lay in a south-east direction, and was really nothing more than a goat track, very rocky and precipitous, through thick jungle, with many obstacles, both natural and artificial, strewn in onr way. Halts had to be called continually; sometimes, perhaps, the sappers had to remove a huge tree, sometimes to administer a dose of dynamite to an obnoxious rock! We struggled on, however, anticipating a fight with the enemy, and feeling that at every step the fever stricken plains were being left further behind us. On the first day we covered seven miles in eight hours, having advanced to a village supposed to be Luikor. We pushed on again on the following morning, the road became worse, and the unfortunate mules, although lightly loaded, experienced great difficulty in overcoming obstacles; so much so that at 4 o'clock, when the column reached the camping ground the baggage animals were still struggling on some way in rear-we had only covered three miles of ground I Night came on and overtook. the poor mules before their day's task was completed; the darkness on the jungle path was intense; the mule drivers became terrified, the animals, not being able to see a yard in front of them, fell over rocks, into holes, and some down the khud,-confusion reigned supreme. In this country one mule driver is detailed to three mules, he leads No.1, while 2 and 3 are hooked on in rear by chains, so that they must perforce follow No.1, or have their necks dislocated. So, in many cases, if No.1 fell, 2 and 3 came down with him, and in this manner the road became completely blocked; mules bellowed, drivers yelled, Europeans gave ol'ders, and thus Was night made hideous.

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JtXP.IlDITION TO THB RUBY JUNKS. 437

However, remembering onr old friend Horace's maxim "..4equa14 memelIto rebu8 in ardui8, 8ervare mentem,JJ those not engaged in extricating mules acted accordingly, by lighting a hnge bonfire and singing popular airs of the day, until the arrival of tents and blankets. By the aid of torches, lanterns, and a quantity of bad langua.ge, the last mule was brought into camp about midnight, but the baggage had been mixed up to such a. degree that it was hard to find one's belongings. We halted at this camp on the following day, as we had to construct a stockade, and we were thus enabled to pull ourselves together and recover lost baggage. At daybreak on 22nd, we moved forward again, having taken in another 10 days' rations per corps. The road was still most difficult, we reached the village of Nampote at about 11 a.m., and found it deserted, the entrance having been barricaded, and a stockade constructed which overlooked the road. While halted here the Shan scouts let us know, for the first time, of their presence, by firing four or five shots at us from the jungle above. Having parked the baggage in the village under an escort, a recon­naissance in force was at once pushed forward, which found, at about two miles from Nampote,a strong stockade,constructed among the rocks in thick jungle, recently evacuated; the enemy's fires were still burning in it. The Infantry were sent further forward and came across a small body of about 40 Shans quietly retreating; these having been scattered by a few volleys, the Infantry retired, and the stockade having been destroyed, the reconnaissance returned to the village and encamped for the night.

On the following day we advanced again, but with caution, as we fully expected to encounter the enemy. Not far from the spot where we had seen the Shans on the previous day, our road wound down through long grass into a rice-growing valley, watered by the Myin river; here we made prisoners of seven villagers belonging to a trading tribe called Li Shaws, who gave us valuable information regarding the dispositions of the dacoits hired by the lessees and merchants o( the ruby mining districts to oppose our advance. We halted at Pyaun­gaung, having done a six-mile march in eight hours ! We pitched our camp in some damp rice fields-and precious cold it was; we were now at a height of 6,200 feet, the thermometer at 7 o'clock next morning registering 6° of frost. Some shots were fired into camp during the afternoon from the neighbouring jungle, but the offenders were quickly turned out by a few Goorkha.s.

Next morning, the 24th Dec., the wretched natives of onr force were so benumbed with the cold, that tents conld not be struck or baggage packed nntil they had thawed sufficiently, so a forward move­ment was not made until 9 a.m.

From information received we expected to come in contact with the enemy, so we marched in fighting formation, and had covered some three or four miles, when the enemy were reported in stockades to our front. At this place, called Ingand, the road forked, one path leading to our right front over a high pass to Kyatpyeu, and the other to our left front over the Toan-me-Daik Pass towards Mog&k. The Shans had stockaded themselves at the top of the former and at the foot of the

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438 UPIIDITION TO THB RUBY .IlOS.

latter pass, both stockades being concealed from view in the dense forest jungle. The enemy's positions were indicated only by a thin line of smoke which rose throngh the jun~le. These fires had been foolishly lit as signals, and little were they aware of the assistance thus given to us.

It appears that they intended to take our force in rear by whichever road we might march-if we selected to attack the right stockade, then the Shans from the left would swoop down on our rear, and "ice ver8t1. General Stewart determined to attack the right, as our road lay to the left, and accordingly ordered Lieut.-Col. Skene with some 150 Goorkhas and South Yorkshire Regiment to turn the enemy out. A capital position was found for the Mountain Guns and the Gardners on a knoll in the valley, from which not only the Passes could be shelled, but also the road between the enemy's two positions completely swept, thus effectually protecting Col. Skene's left flank. The Infantry advance was carried out under fire from the guns, which made some pretty practice, dropping several shells at 1600 yards range into the smoke which indicated the enemy's position. One of these shells was fortunate enough to dispose of three Shans and to wound seven others. While thus engaged the Shans from the left made a feeble attempt to carry out their tactics by coming to the edge of the jungle in rear of Col. Skene's adva.nce and amused themselves by opening fire on the guns. We turned the machine guns on to them, and were not after­wards bothered. The guns now tc ceased firing II as our attacking force was nearing the stockade. A long and anxious time elapsed before the first shot, was fired from the jungle. The fight commenced with dropping shots, developing at last into a roar of musketry, amid which could be distinguished the crack of the rifle, the boom of the jingal, and the roar of the old Brown Bess. After about ten minutes there was a lull, followed by a few rapid volleys, and a ringing British cheer which told us that the stockade was ours. Only two of the South Yorkshire Regiment were wounded, one very severely, poor fellow, his leg being shattered above the knee by a charge of slugs at close quarters. The density of the forest saved many a life, as an inspection of the trees will prove. It was too late in the day to attack the left stockade when Col. Skene's force returned, so camp was pitched for the night at Ingank. Dec. 25th broke on real Christmas weather, it was bitterly cold, hoar-frost lying on the ground, while ice was cut out of mlWy a warrior's basin. The General determined to halt for the day, as a convoy of provisions was expected, and a post, in the shape of a stockade, had to be constructed.

After a Christmas sermon from Padre Adams, :B'(/f;, we all set to work to prepare for as merry an evening as possible: although Officers were only allowed one mule each to carry their tent, chair, and their baggage, I nevertheless noticed one ingenious and provident tc Sub II who pro­duced a plum pudding from a kerosine oil tin, and another, an old campaigner, no less a luxury than two bottles of Perrier Jouet '741 "It is a poor heart that never rejoices," and notwithstanding the surroundings, we spent a. really merry evening, which ended in a " sing-song," and then toddled off to our blankets ready for an early start, and the Shans, next day.

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.vBDITION TO THE RUBY KINBB. 489

We advanced on the following morning, orders having been issued to the effect that the baggage was to remaiu in camp under a guard until the columu should have cleared the gorge. Our advance was conducted with the greatest caution, as this is a war of ambuscades, aud to knock one's head against a stockade is a matter of the greatest facility, for they are generally arranged in such a manner as to be completely hidden by jungle, and invisible at 50 yards distance. I must mention that General Stewart had sent out a reconnoitring party on Christmas Day, who reported that, to the best of their belief, the large stockade was deserted, and this intelligence unfortunately proved to be true. I say unfortunately, because we had been looking forward to giving the Shans a good lesson, and were therefore disappninted; as a matter of fact, the evacuation of the stockade removed many difficulties. The road to the mines was now open to us, and we had no more wounded to attend to, or dead to mourn; for most assuredly many would have lost their lives had the enemy held their position-it was immensely strong, in fact almost impregnable in European hands; every means for slaughtering us having been devised, even to huge rocks being ready to roll on onr heads. The approach to the stockade was steep, abati8 of every description was strewn iu our path, strong flanking stockades had been constructed so as to bring our advancing troops under a heavy fire while endeavouring to overcome obstacles. As it turned out we should have completely routed the Shans had they clung to the position, as a force of 150 Goorkhas, which had been despatched to turn the position, arrived in rear of the stockade within two minutes of our arrival in front, which was a most creditable and well-timed movement, whereby a severe lesson would have been ad­ministered. Having destroyed the stockades, we crossed the Toan­me-Daik Pass, and descended by a most precipitous and rocky track towards the Ruby Mine Valley, halting for the night at an open spot some two miles from Mogl1k. The last two or three miles of the road had been cut up by water channels, dug for mining operations, making the already miserable path almost impassable for baggage animals. Consequently, our animals were once more on the march when dark­ness overtook them, and they suffered considerably, poor beasts. The mule is truly a wonderful animal, as this campaign has demonstrated. I have seen a mule fall down the khud, some 20 or 30 feet, with his load on, he will hit rocks and trees with great force en route, and you inwardly ejaculate-" Well, he's a stiff'n,"-but no I Take off the load, pull him up, and he will shake himself, and appear as jolly as a sand boy. On this particular night the transport officer was out on the road until 3 a.m., digging animals out of holes and bringing in stragglers.

We moved off again at daybreak next morning advancing slowly and cautiously, as an attack or ambuscade was by no means improbable j having marched about two miles without opposition, we at length arrived at a low ridge of hills overlooking the town of Mog&k.

Here a sight, long to be remembered, presented itself, a long narrow valley, shut in on all sides by fine jungle-clad hills, a mountain stream wending its way down the centre of it, while under the hills,

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UPlInITIOB TO THB RUBY JlIBBS.

pioturesquely set oft' by scattered groups o! tapering pagodas and carved kyoungs, nestled the two prospel·OUS vtllages known as Mogok; in the distance, on different roads, were the inhabitants moving off with all their goods and chattels, and here and there men hurrying from their houses carrying oft' the last of their property. The two villages, which contained some 600 houses and 300 pagodas, appeared to be deserted, and not a head of cattle was to be seen. Whiie we were taking in this remarkable and picturesque scene,-which strongly reminded me of a picture described by Ryder Haggard in "Kiug Solomon's Mines,"-we observed two or three men advancing from the opposite village bearing a Bag of truce; the General interviewed them and fonnd that they wished to submit nnconditionally. They, of course, had taken no part in opposing us, they were peaceful villagers, so they said, and the dacoits had looted them I The General taking these assurances "cum grana aalu," informed them that if they disarmed and returned to 'their homes, their lives and property would be respected. We happened to know for certain that some five or six hundred of these very villagers were the garrison of the large stockade which we had found deserted; it was our policy, however, for the present to ignore this fact.

Five or six days elapsed before the Shans, having gained a certain amount of confidence, returned with their wives and families to their homes. At the time I now write, Mog6k has assumed its normal aspect, all is peaceful and tranquil, the cattle can be seen feeding on the rice fields, business is brisk, mines are being worked, and a large fair is held every five days in the market place, where our little Goorkhas may be seen making love to the Shan ladies I Weare now able to buy cattle and fat pigs, whose size and condition would com­pare favorably with the best prize "Berkshire j" vegetables are plentiful and in variety, consisting of tomatoes, beans, yams, cabbage, melous and pumpkins, while pear, peach, plum and apple trees flourish in the small gardens which surround the houses. Having secured ourselves at Mog6k, columns were despatched to the chief villages in the district to establish the British rule. The old village of Kalke was occupied without opposition, but at Mainloung our force found the dacoits, under the celebrated Kunsine, strongly stockaded. The Goorkhas and South Yorkshire Regiment soon settled matters by charging home and driving them out at the point of the bayonet, killing six, wounding several, taking thirteen prisoners and some cattle. Kunsine escaped, leaving his fur coat behind him (which after­wards adorned the manly form of our Intelligence Officer); he, however, subsequently submitted, and having been reiustated on the Mainloung throne by our political officer, is now, curiously enongh, our sworn ally.

A column was also depatched to Tebetkyen (on the river) ma Kalke, to come to terms with another celebrated dacoit, Po-kwa, who snbmitted at once. This Kalke-Tebetkyen route will in futnre be utilized as the line of communications to the Ruby Mines from the river, as we discovered that it is some 25 miles shorter than the Sagadoung­Khyannyat route, which will be abolished. In this manner, the

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EXPBnmoN TO THB RUBY JIINES. 441

surrounding district, within a radius of 25 miles of Mog6k, has been gradually subdued, and at the time I write, is to the best of our belief, peaceful and free from strife and brigandage.

As regards the Ruby Mines themselves, they have not as yet passed into the hands of Mr. Streeter, but terms will soon be agreed upon between that gentleman and the government. Meanwhile the Shans can work the mines by obtaining a licence from our political officer, who imposes a tax of 25 per cent. on all stones sold.

The Ruby mines are of four kinds: the most valuable and productive being gullies formed by the action of the water on the sides of the hills; next to these come the mines formed by shafts sunk into the hill side, and lastly, wells which are snnk in the valley, and are of two descriptions, namely, the deep (20 feet) and the shallow (4 feet), where the first ruby-bearing stratum is found. Few, if any, good rubies have been shown to us since our arrival; stones of value are, I fancy, sent direct to the Mandalay market; but rubies and stones of ,or" are offered for sale ad infinitum, and you will scarcely believe it, that here, at the very mines themselves, glass is palmed off on the unwary I I hear on .the best authority, that our Post Office officials opened a large packet addressed to the Ruby Mines, expecting to find percussion caps, but to their astonishment the contents proved to be rubies from Birmingham I It is stated that a Shan merchant having disposed of £5000 worth of rubies in England, at once invested £2000 in glass. Only last week two beautiful looking rubies (7) were handed to me for sale, but with Mr. Streeter's assistance I was not only able to pro­nounce them as glass, but at the same time invested the wily Shan, who presented them, with the Imperial order of It the boot I " The iuhabitants of the mines are well-to-do and extremely independent; the actnal miners are either Shans in their enormous broad.brimmed straw hats and baggy trousers, or Chinamen in indigo blue; bnt of late a new miner, keen and determined, has made his appearance; it is noticed that he works with great zeal but with small results, this miner may be observed from rt sunny morn till dewy eve" over the mouth of a pit, his head and shoulders hidden, while a back view presents to the eye a huge hob-nailed boot with enormous breadth of beam-it is no other than our old friend Tommy Atkins I However small his success at ruby mining may be, he has, during this campaign, done ri~ht good work in his proper sphere, and I hope the time has now arrIved when his services will no longer be reqnired, but that the country, which we have taken over with such difficulty and loss of life, may hereafter be peaceful and prosperous, and prove itself to be a valuable acquisition to the British Crown.

1\(000][ RUBY llIl"B8,

MarcTa 5tTa, 188'7.

Digitized by Coogle