On the Occurrence and Distribution of Gold in India. 541 
ULTRA PENINSULAR AREAS. 
The principal gold producing countries beyond, but adjoining 
the limits of peninsular India, are on the east :— 
1. Assam. 
2. Burmah. 
And on the west and north :— 
3. Afghanistan. 
4. Thibet. 
1, AssAmM.—In Assam Capt. Dalton and Col. Hannay carried 
on researches in reference to the occurrence of gold, which were 
made public through the medium of the Journal of the Asiatic 
Society of Bengal.* Subsequently the same gentlemen were 
requested by Government, in the year 1855, to undertake a further 
examination of the auriferous deposits of Upper Assam, and were 
supplied with ample funds for carrying out their investigations. 
From an abstract of their reports by Dr. T. Oldham, late Super- 
intendent of the Geological Survey of India. I quote the 
following :—t 
Gold was obtained in the Brahmaputra at Parghat, above Sudya, and 
in several tributaries, Noa-Dehing, Dihong, and Hookong. ‘‘ The spots 
selected by the natives are those salient angles or reaches of the river, 
where the alluvial deposits, cut away by the stream from the opposite 
bank, are partially re-deposited, after having undergone the sifting 
action of the current.” 
The gold ‘is derived from the crystalline rocks in the first instance, 
but only becomes sufficiently concentrated to render it worth working 
in the alluvium, after this alluvium has undergone repeated washings in 
the river current, by being successively cut away, washed and re-deposited 
as the river changes its course.” 
The Dihong river from the hills to the north “ yielded gold in con- 
siderable quantity, from its junction with the Brahmaputra to about 
half way between that stream and the hills.” 53? tons of gravel yielded 
90 grains of gold—=161 grs. per ton. ‘This stream is considered by the 
natives to be the richest in Assam.” 
“The apparatus used in these investigations were a Californian Cradle 
(long-tom) worked by four men, and which was found to give the largest 
daily yield per man ; and a Singpho washing dish worked by one washer 
and one assistant.” 
No. 1 Gold from Brahmaputra yielded 88°281 per cent. pure gold. 
No. 2 Noa Dehing " 93-880 %9 ” 
Dihong a 90:234 3 J 
Hookong As 86°588 3 
* Vol. VII., p. 625, and Vol. XII., p: 511. 
t ‘‘Mem. Geol. Survey of India,” Vol. I., p. 90, 
