at the Don and Tamar Rivers. 95 
equally as to thickness, direction, and extent; and it would 
be rash to determine what the character and value of them 
may be at some distance to the dip, without borings to prove 
their continuousness, and to determine whether or not the 
interstratified shale may thin out, and the several layers of 
Coal get so close as to be worked as one bed. 
Supposing that this were satisfactorily determined, it re- 
mains to state the facilities for conveyance to market. I 
have shown that the distance in a direct line is at least 
four and a half miles to water-carriage; and that the high 
intervening ridge of greenstone sends out spurs of such mag- 
nitude and extent that a long curve, or rather series of 
curves, must be made to accomplish a practicable line for a 
tramway, which is considered to be the only description of 
road likely to pay. It appears to me, from a rough eye 
survey of the ground, that a good gradient could not be 
obtained under six miles ; and that to effect it in about this 
distance a heavy expense must be incurred in filling up or 
throwing permanent bridges over several gullies. 
In the present densely-timbered and unexplored condition 
of the country in the neighbourhood of the Don River, it is 
impossible for an individual explorer, without great labour, 
if at all, to acquire data upon which to form a positive opinion 
of the extent, direction, or value of the Coal beds there; 
while there seems no room whatever to doubt its excellent 
quality. 
Returning to the Mersey River, its channel for two or three 
miles up was found to consist, with the exception of intrusive 
basalt at one place, of massive beds of hard bluish clay and 
clayey conglomerate, abounding in fossil shells,—amongst 
which appear Producte, Spirifere, a few Pachydomi, Platy- 
schisme, Turritelle, Pectenides, and some others : imbedded 
in the conglomerate are numerous smoothly-rounded pebbles, 
