<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
THIS  SCHEDULE  CONTAINS  SUMMARY  FINANCIAL   INFORMATION  EXTRACTED  FROM  THE
EXPLORATION  COMPANY  UNAUDITED  FINANCIAL  STATEMENTS  FOR  THE  QUARTER  ENDED
NOVEMBER 30, 1998 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                        0000313395
<NAME>                       THE EXPLORATION COMPANY
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1
<CURRENCY>                                     US DOLLAR
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              AUG-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                                 SEP-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                   NOV-30-1998
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                1
<CASH>                                        1636049
<SECURITIES>                                   0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  1379441
<ALLOWANCES>                                   9973
<INVENTORY>                                    0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               3079993
<PP&E>                                         15898154
<DEPRECIATION>                                 2540247
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 16884464
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          3603053
<BONDS>                                        2614642
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                    0
<COMMON>                                       156135
<OTHER-SE>                                     10510634
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   16884464
<SALES>                                        1141093
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               1230974
<CGS>                                          321223
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  1005061
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               (30072)
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             184315
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                71670
<INCOME-TAX>                                   0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            71670
<DISCONTINUED>                                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   71670
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                  .005
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  .004