Reviews — V. Ball's Jungle Life in India. 231 



and open workings, but most of the seams thus accessible have been 

 exhausted, and regular mining is now carried on. None of the 

 mines are of great depth, the " pillar and stall" system is generally- 

 adopted, and there is no danger from fire- or choke-damp. Upwards 

 of 500,000 tons of coal have been obtained in one year, but the 

 annual production appears to be decreasing. Some remarks on the 

 Talchir Coal-field are also given. 



Many notes on gold-mining, on workings for ores of iron, copper, 

 lead, and manganese, and for diamonds, are included, as well as 

 others upon the Metamorphic and Submetamorphic rocks, the Trap- 

 dykes, and other geological features. Speaking of the Laterite 

 rock seen at Midnapur, Mr. Ball notices the fact of its being un- 

 fossiliferous, and observes that its appearance seemed to favour the 

 view of its having been formed by the deposition of volcanic ash 

 in water. 



The work itself will be read rather as a guide to the natural 

 history of camp-life in India than as an exhaustive account of the 

 district described (Western Bengal and the Central Provinces), for 

 little or no attempt has been made to embody the records of 

 others, the plan of the author being to confine himself to personal 

 observations. Notes are also given of visits paid to the Andaman 

 and Nicobar Islands. The work, which has assumed a formidable 

 size, is one, however, that appeals to the naturalist rather than the 

 general reader, who would doubtless find the scientific notes some- 

 what tedious. Asa picture of the life of our geological brethren in 

 India, it will interest many of our readers, some of whom, having 

 spent many months in out-of-the-way parts of this country, will not 

 be surprised to learn that camp-life in India is "at times a very dull, 

 lonely, and monotonous one." 



" But (as Mr. Ball observes) the life afibrds various com- 

 pensations, without which it would be unbearable. To the lover 

 of nature there are many attractions in it. There is a great, an 

 indescribable pleasure in being the first to take up the geological 

 exploration of a hitherto quite unknown tract — in being the first to 

 interpret the past history of a portion of the earth's crust which no 

 geologist has ever seen before." Nevertheless, one lacks the ad- 

 vantage, obtained in this country, of friendly recognition and 

 criticism of his labours, and while enthusiasm in his work will 

 carry a man through it, '• Experience has shown how manifold are 

 the risks to be encountered, while the term of service at present 

 required, before a full pension can be earned, affords but a faintly- 

 seen vision in the far-distant future of a home at home for one who 

 has adopted the career of a geologist under the Government of 

 India." Some attempts have been made to instruct natives in field- 

 geology, but these do not at present appear to have been successful. 



In conclusion we may mention that the book is handsomely " got 

 up," and is accompanied by a map, eleven vignettes, and twelve 

 plates, including two of chipped quartzite implements, polished 

 celts, etc. H. B. W. 



