Geology Reference
In-Depth Information
summoned to Rangoon for meetings with Cameron and LCT.
Five days later, the fastest he could get there, he was graciously
received at LCT's palace. He was conducted from room to room
to see the valuable draperies, luxurious rugs and bed covers, and
the fabulous collection of silver, gold, jade and marble orna-
ments that Holmes particularly admired. Tea was served and
small talk prevailed. Business waited until Cameron arrived next
day.
It transpired that Cameron and LCT were attempting to raise
capital in London by issuing a hundred thousand shares in the
company at one pound each. This money, LCT assured them,
would solve all the company's financial problems and allow
them to get on with the business of finding oil. In his charm-
ing and seemingly candid manner LCT convinced Holmes that
there was nothing to worry about and that in a short while they
would all be rich men, so Holmes spent the rest of the week in
the Chippychop o~ce working with Cameron on preparing a
report for the share issue prospectus. Satisfied that all would be
well and with a promise from LCT that salaries would be paid
in a couple of weeks, Holmes left Rangoon for Mandalay, where
he met Maggie and Norman o¬ the steamer, who joined him
for a rare holiday. They toured the palace and sights of Mandalay
and then visited the bazaar, where Arthur bought Maggie a beau-
tiful green jade necklace, and a pair of chased bowls on cobra
stands for Bob Lawson's wedding present.
That evening they left for Kalaw, a small town in the cool of
the hills that was a short train ride from Mandalay and an escape
from the heat and smell of Yenangyaung. Maggie su¬ered from
asthma and found the dust and oppressive heat of the oil fields
di~cult to cope with, and Arthur had had several attacks of
malaria which kept him in bed for days at a time as the fever
raged through his body for two or three hours each day. They
both needed a rest. Norman, however was a bright and lively
three year old with chubby cheeks and golden hair that attracted
the attention of Burmese and expatriates alike everywhere they
