522 Scientific Proceedings, Royal Dublin Society. 
homogeneous structure, and in the absence of a laminated strue- 
ture the average of the assay of twenty-three samples gave :— 
Moisture, : : . : : oteeD: 
Carbon, 6 . 5 : - D6 
Volatile, : 5 : : - . 34°6 
Ash, z : : : : SOLO 
This is a high quality of fuel as compared with Indian coals. 
The opening up of these fields is a point of the highest impor- 
tance, since at present coal is carried 1,000 miles from Bengal for 
the navigation of the Bhramaputra, this causing a ten-fold increase 
on the prime cost. 
It is possible that some of the coal of the Khasi hills above 
alluded to, may prove of value ; but the same does not seem pro- 
bable in reference to the tertiary coals of the north-west provinces, 
although hopes in that direction have often been expressed, and a 
project for the exploration of one of these deposits has, I under- 
stand, recently assumed a tangible form, a company having been 
formed, the results of whose operations will be watched with interest. 
PRESENT OUT-TURN OF COAL IN INDIA, AND IMPORTATIONS OF 
COAL FROM FOREIGN COUNTRIES. 
A very interesting paper on the coal importations into India, 
by Mr. Hughes, of the Geological Survey, was published in the 
year 1879.* I quote from it the following general remarks, but 
must refer to the original tables for details :-— 
“ Beginning with the year 1853, the shipments of coal and coke to 
Tndia were 43,562 tons. Since then, after the lapse of a quarter of a 
century, they have risen to 609,735 tons. The ratio of increase has not 
been by any means steady ; wars, rumours of wars, famines, and im- 
proved home freights have always exercised an irregular influence ; as 
during the past two years, the importation having jumped from 399,887 
tons in 1876 to 539,533 tons in 1877, and to 609,735 tons in 1878. 
Our main supply has hitherto been derived from the United Kingdom ; 
the contributions furnished by other countries, with the exception of 
Australia and France, during spasmodic periods, being insignificant.” 
Australian coal has been imported since 1857, but the amount 
has fluctuated much from year to year; in 1858 14,061 tons went 
to Bengal, and 8,998 to Bombay. In 1874, 14,677 tons went to 
Bengal, and apparently none to Bombay. In 1877, only 799 tons 
* ‘Records of the Geological Survey of India,” Vol. XII., p. 83. 
