How the Burmese Work Their Oil Wells.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 429, 18 December 1889, Page 6

How the Burmese Work Their Oil Wells.

Dk. Noei'Lino. of the Indian Geological Survey, to whose report on the petroleum deposits of Burmah reference has already been made, gives an interesting description of the native method of digging the wells. As soon as a native has made up his mind where he is going to have a new well, the workmen, usually four in number, begin to dig a square shaft, the sides of which measures between 4 feefc and 4 feet 6 inches. Over this pit a cross beam, supported on stanchions at either side, is placed, in the centre of which is a small wooden drum or cylinder, which, with its axis, is made of a single piece of wood, the latter running on coarse foikshaped supports. The leather ropo used in hauling up the oil passes over the drum, and on it is fastenod the workman who is going to be lowered down, as well as the common earthenware pot in which the oil is drawn up. If possible, the well is so placed that the men or women drawing the ropo walk down an inclined plane along the slope of a hill. The tools employed in digging are quite primitive, and can only be used, in eotfc strata. Timber is used to support the walls of the shaft, and the latter is lined with wood. This wooden wall has considerable strength, but it has to be carefully watchod lest it should give way. The workmen are lowered in an ingenious way. The man sits on two slings, formed of strong ropo, running betweon his legs and knotted over his left ehoulder. To pi^ent felUing, a thin rope runs down from the k;not, aero s the breast, underneath the right shoulder to thd back, where it is fastened to the ropo forming tht> slinps. A second rope for the same purpose is fastened round the hips. On account of the explosive gas filling the shaft, no light can bo taken down ; the workman, therefore, ties up his eyes previously to decending, so as to enable him to see during - the short time he is in the well, otherwise it would take him longer to accustom his eyes to the darkness than "he is able to stay down on account of the gas, which renders breathing difficult. The data ob L amed by Dr. Noetling as to the time occupied in the ascent and descent, and the period during which the labourer can remain below, j show that not 25 per cent of the total working time is really spent in extracting the oil. Two hundred and ninety seconds is the longest timo any man, however strong, can remain below without becoming unconscious, while in some he can only remain 60 becomls. With increasing depths the difficulties in obtaining the oil after the Burmese methods become insuperable Hence the limit is 310 feet, and the workers object to more that 250 feet. The drawing up of the oil is as primitive as everything else. The rope is fastened round the neck of the ball-shaped pot, find, being lowered, is allowed to (ill by sinking in the oil below. The oil thus raised ie poured into another pot of the same shape, but much larger, and twelve of these are packed on each country cart. — From the London " Times. "J