COAL-FIELDS OF DUMMOODAH. 9 
are again more closely allied to the existing Floras of that country than 
are the fossils of the true carboniferous series ; whereas, the remains in 
these Indian seams appear still more unlike any of the plants of the 
plains I am now traversing, than the oldest coal plants are to the Flora 
of Europe. It has been supposed that the epoch of the coal formation 
dates from a period when the areas now covered by coal were islands 
in the middle of a large ocean, abundance of ferns denoting an insular 
climate. This theory leads me to insert an observation made on the 
spot by the Rev. Mr. Everest in 1831, who, in describing the geological 
features of this country, says,* “it is impossible to see the shale thus 
full of decayed vegetables, and then to look at the country round— 
widely different from a regular granite formation, but rather, as it were 
detached pieces of such a formation, rising out of a sea—it is impossible 
to see this, and not remember the theory which supposes the first for- 
mation of Europe to have been a number of islands of primitive rocks, 
in the hollows among which were deposited beds, composed of their 
débris, and subsequently of the vegetables which grew in them, of 
which theory we here see a beautiful illustration.” I had no opportunity ~ 
of verifying these observations, which I should hardly suppose com- 
patible with the fact that the relative position of the coal-beds here 
has been altered by frequent faults and upheavals, which would, I 
should think, destroy any such evidence. Of the extent of the coal- 
fields in India we have no conception, nor whether these detached 
ones are portions of others scattered over different parts of the conti- 
nent, (as is most probable) or not. In respect of extent, depth and 
number of seams, any comparison with the oolite coals of England is 
quite out of the question. Williams tells me that in this coal-field 
alone there are altogether 300 feet in thickness of coal, spread over an 
area of seventy square miles; and that 17,000 feet intervene between 
the topmost and lowest seam. 
Close by Mr. Watkins’ tents a number of women were employed in 
making gunpowder, grinding the usual materials on a stone, with the 
addition of water from the Hookah ; a custom for which they have an 
obstinate and unaccountable prejudice, not known ‘in other parts of 
India. The charcoal here used is of an Acacia: the Seiks, I believe, 
always employ Justicia Adhatoda, which is in common use all over 
* Gleanings of Science. Calcutta, 1831, p. 133. 
VOL. I. Cc 
