dn the Coal-field of Sutherland* 51 



cubic yard of the bed produces about a ton of large coal ; and 

 the operations are in such activity, as to furnish thirty tons in 

 the day. 



The quahty of this stratum, which is, as already remarked, 

 superior to that of the two which lie above it, is intermediate 

 between that of Newcastle arid Staffordshire. It has been 

 exported to the neighbouring coasts of Inverness and Cromarty ; 

 but a large quantity is consumed on the spot, in the salt pans 

 and potteries which have been established on this estate. 



The engine-pit has been sunk forty-five feet lower than the 

 present coal ; and in the course of this proceeding, there have 

 been discovered two thin seams of coal, one of them nine 

 inches, the other sixteen inches thick. In the same pit has 

 been found a bed of fine brick clay — a stratum which does 

 not appear in the other parts of the series. 



Fo\ir faults have been found in the present workings, con- 

 sisting of a simple subsidence of the roof, as it occurred in the 

 course of the excavation, but not amounting to more than 

 three or four feet. To the eastward of the pit, it appears par- 

 ticularly subject to these faults or slips, and is gradually be- 

 coming more irregular : but to the west, where the level has 

 been driven for seven hundred yards, it is more regular, though 

 not quite free from troubles of various kinds. 



The following is the miners' section of the Brora pit, 

 as it stood in August 1820. I am sorry that I cannot inter- 

 pret the word bass, as the substance was not shown to me 

 when there ; but it is not of great importance. 



Journal of Sinking a new Coal Pit at Broruy finished in 

 August 1820. 



Inches. 



Hard blue rock . . • 9 



Mixture of limestone and white spar 3 „ 



E2 



