394 Scientific Intelligence. — Geography. 



collection of shells and Bhell-rock, gathered at elevations be- 

 tween 15,000 and 16,000 feet. His route down the Valley of 

 Spectee was far from uninteresting. He visited several monas- 

 teries, and entertainments of lamas, partaking of their greasy 

 tea and beer. The situation of the monastery of Ranum, whence 

 his letter is dated, he describes as delicious, after the bleak and 

 gelid regions of Ladak, with grapes, apples, and other fruits, all 

 round ; a glowing temperature during the day, but chill nights. 

 M. Cromo de Koros, he states, was just above him, and they 

 met daily. His works, Mr Gerard adds, are of the first cha- 

 racter, and full of interest. 



ARTS. 



31. Enormous quantity of Iraii mam/factured, and of Coal 

 consumed in Wales. — The quantity of iron annually manufac- 

 tured in Wales has been calculated at about 270,000 tons. Of 

 this quantity a proportion of about three-fourths is made into 

 bars, and one-fourth sold as pigs and castings. The quantity of 

 coal required for its manufacture on the average of the whole, 

 including that used by engines, workmen, &c., will be about 

 5^ tons for each ton of iron ; the annual consumption of coal 

 by the iron- works will therefore be about 1,500,000 tons. The 

 quantity 'used in the smelting of copper-ore, imported from 

 Cornwall, in the manufacture of tin-plate, forging of iron for 

 various purposes, and for domestic uses, may be calculated at 

 350,000, which makes altogether the annual consumption of 

 coal in Wales = 1 ,850,000 tons. The annual quantity of iron 

 manufactured in Great Britain is 690,000 tons. From this 

 statement'it will be observed that the quantity of iron smelted in 

 Wales is upwards of one-third of the total quantity made in 

 Great Britain. The manufacture of the Welsh iron is in the 

 hands of a few extensive capitalists, and is carried on with 

 great spirit and attention to improvement. The principal works 

 are in the town of Merthyr, and its immediate neighbourhood ; 

 and, as the greatest proportion of metal produced is manufac- 

 tured into bar-iron, a process which, in the refining, puddling, 

 and cementing of the metal, necessarily requires a great number 

 of furnaces, their appearance, on approaching Merthyr, by 

 night, from the hills with which it is surrounded, presents a 



