The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-01-08

where the Gems Are F00n0-A
Curt0ua Tribe.

Carsous Tribe.
IAN is as famous for ruhies as Csy-
~ loa for. sapphires-and Siam has
~ eapptstrss as wei. II. Warrington
w. Smyth, who was chief u -hs de-
pArsman, OF rrsin~s Ia the Kingdom, writes
long and interesting book called Five
Years in SIAM" ard among me rcst does
not forget 10 give vivid picture 81 the
curious men and the curious occupations
| the starch Of these precious gems brings
OFF, IL had been known for some c<nfa-
ries that there were jewels In profasson IN
ore particular spot. Bat the king refused
10 permit any disclosure 70 ~ made Q.
tie location. ard the industry langlIsned-
Al last European intervention relaxed the
ancient restrictions and the Sha1s Began
In hock 10 the mines
The Shans sra brave, wandering ard
an adventurous people. and saey make IDEAL
jewe3-hnnters. Every one OF them is unaef
the charm Of the brigh; bit % precious
crystal for which he gives his HE, q 1eFo-
ton which Mr.. Smyth notes as differing
from ard mere elevated faan the greed OF
the goai-hnLfer. The Shan IS proud
man. too. and knows his proper station IN
The world. He ALL obey without question
any European who is sufficiently endoSei
by nature and education 20 command his
respect; bu. the mere European adventu-er
he desplses and Will not submit to- Inter
ference with his Just rights he is also quick
10 resent. as thu Europeans III The head or
the jewel mining were quick 10 discover.
One CT the companies having obtaiae3 the
concession OF the mines al Naaoag and
elsewhere. !. notified the ESQ miners IN
and about the place that IL hey made use
or the land OF the concern they should sell
their findings TO the concerns agents at a
fixed price. Measures were taken 10 eu-
force this Law.
In a remarkably short time the company
found Itself aimos, alone In the wilderness
Its restrictions had created. Hardly 30 re-
manned. and at Bo Yaw. similarly placed.
the number snrank from 100 10 nifty.
Some OF the miners left for mines else
where. most OF them for their homes. II
was an attempt TO deprive them OF their
right OF an open market, and they would
not put UP with Ii.
Another reason why these proud Shans
are such rninsrs is because they aaye the
strength necessary to withstand the ccnse-
duences OF the climate. When the mines
were first opened to the public so to speak,
not one in thirty Of the miners lived. Even
Eow the duration OF life among those who
remain steadily at work through successive
years Is nothing TO boast Of. though every
thing which has happened has been favor
able to an Increase OF years. Still another
reason lies IN the accuracy Of the eye Of
the Shan. In gems OF all kinds the color
Is of even more importance than the
weight To tie able al a glance TO deter
mine the value of stone when IL is cut is
not an easy accomplishment 20 gain. de-
pending "a It does upon number uS things.
No one attains the proficiency of the Shan
In this difficult art. Mr.. Smyth bears Wit
ness that the European eye becomes worth
less X half year be permitted - elapsa
after seeing the stones before looking upon
more; and he tells Of the accommodating
habits of the miners in selling their product
II n ion "A hs
coming like horses for the Generalization
which follows upon trading for them. One
Englishniaa who came TO the mines with
the savings Of years was found TO have
willingness 10 invest his shiliings and
pounds in glass OF the proper color. The
natives provided ali he was willing to Day
for with entire good humor.
All the diggings are in beds of streams,
and the drouth ensuing upon the dry sea-
son causes an almost complete s;opp age OF
the work. The bedrock is basalt. AMI
basins where the gems are found ore sur
rounded by hard quartz grit. There are
good sapph.res found where the rubies are
plentiful. but there Is an excellent quality
OF garnet-which passes for ruby with the
unini.ia.ed There ara two kinds Of Zircon
or targoon. which Is similarly used as a
counterfeit, and there are some other less
important accessories. This IS al Nawong.
At Bo Wen conditions differ. There the
rubies lie almost or quite on the surface,
and tho mines wers discovered by tome
farmers. who ploaed Up handfuls 81 enc
ruhies- These are found in layer If white
clay from nine TO fifteen inches Thick.
The districts are extensive ana viii be
made exceedingly profitable in time. No
one has yet suggested any good tcason
why these beautiful gems shoalf he found
in this particular locality. Like diamonds.
the origin OF rubieS and sappaires Is Il geo.
logical mystery. II seems 10 be a certainty
that the intense heat produced by cleo
tricity. as al Niagara falls, will eventually
succeed IN making perfectly gosi germs OF
all kinds and the French have already
produced minute diamonds and rahies by
artificial means. The future may very wei
hold condition of affairs which will en-
able the poorest 70 breakfast from plates
studded with tina finest gems.