200 CRETACEOUS ROCKS OF S. INDIA. [PaRT III. 



Part TIL— Economic Geology. 



The Trichinopoly and South Arcot districts are comiDaratively rich in 

 Mineral produce but minerals valuable in the arts, although but few 

 little utilized. ^^ them have hitherto been utilized, and those few 



chiefly by the natives, whose selection is directed more by the considera- 

 tion of what is easily worked with their rude appliances, than what is 

 calculated to yield the most valuable forms of manufacture by more 

 perfect processes. 



Owing to the want of fuel, either vegetable or mineral, these 

 districts are unfortunately not fitted to become 



Inaptitude of the dis- r ■ 



trict for active manufac- the seat of any great manufacturing activity, 

 ture. 



and thus many of the more widely spread, 



and, under other circumstances, valuable minerals, such as iron ores, 



are unlikely ever to be utilized to any extent ; while, owing to the 



want of cheap transport, the poverty of the people of Southern 



India, and the absence of manufacturing skill, it may be long before 



other minerals of more value, such as fine clays, limestones, &c., 



will become generally available for the purposes of the arts. Still, 



even in late years, much progress had been made in removing the 



first of these obstructions, by the formation of several good roads, 



and especially of the railway from Trichinopoly to Negapatam, which 



will afford egress to the coast, and introduce 

 Means of transport. 



at the same time the seeds of a higher ma- 

 terial civilization, which, in process of time, fostered by the poli- 

 tical improvements now in progress, cannot fail to produce its fruit 

 in the improved condition of the people, and eventually in creat- 

 ing a demand for luxuries and conveniences now totally unknown. 



