352 Mr. J. Middlfeton on a Cobalt Ore 



deep yellow colour, and when^the resinous part (myricine?) 

 is melted it has the appearance of amber ; after the separation 

 of the wax and resin from the produce of Ceroxylon, there 

 remains in the alcohol a bitter yellow substance, supposed to 

 be a vegetable alkaloid. This yellow substance separates also 

 from the wax of the leaf of Chamaerops, but I think it is not 

 an ingredient in the wax, but of other parts of the juices dis- 

 solved by the alcohol. 



The production from the juices of plants by a purely vege- 

 table function of wax scarcely differing from that deposited 

 in their hives by bees is calculated to throw light on the ques- 

 tion of the formation of this substance by these insects, and 

 also merits the careful examination of those^who are entering 

 into the study of the various transformations of the vegetable 

 juices at different periods of their progress towards maturity. 



LVI. Analysis of a Cobalt Ore found in Western India. 

 By J. Middleton, Esq., F.G.S.* 



BEING engaged in analyses of the metallic ores of North- 

 western India, with a view to the ascertainment of the 

 constitutions of those most remarkable among them, and also 

 with the hope of detecting others whose existence in the 

 country has not heretofore been even suspected, I am desi- 

 rous of submitting to the Chemical Society the results of my 

 inquiries whenever they appear to me of sufficient interest to 

 justify my troubling them with them. I may mention, that 

 should the Society desire any information from me on this 

 or any other subject that I may be qualified and in a position 

 to furnish, I shall most gladly meet their wishes. 



The hilly districts of Rajpootanah are remarkably prolific 

 in metallic ores, many of these, too, exceedingly rich and 

 abundant. Within a narrow compass in the independent state 

 of Syepoore, are to be found the following minerals : — 



Sulphuret of copper, sulphate of copper, sulphuret of co- 

 balt, alum. 



The native method of mining for the first of these ores, and 

 which is the same as that adopted for the others, ma}' be 

 interesting to some of your members. 



" The mine of copper is very deep, and difficult of access. 

 The miners enter with burning lamps on their heads and with 

 chisels, iron hammers, and baskets in their hands. They dig- 

 out the ore with their chisels by the light of their lamps, and 

 bring it up with great labour and difficulty to the surface. 

 They then pound and grind it small in a mill, after which 



* Communicated bv the Chemical Society ; having been read December 

 15, 1845. 



