THE COAL OF ASSAM. '3 



My attention was so entirely directed to the object of my mission 

 that I could not attempt to give a connected sketch of the geolog-y of 

 the regions visited ; any general observations I may have to record on 

 this subject will be considered supplementary to the principal object of 

 this reportj the coal. 



" The coal tract is hilly, and covered with dense forest-jungle almost entirely un- 

 " inhabited, and it is hardly to be expected that labor for jungle cutting, &c., will be pro- 

 " curable in sufficient quantity to enable the Survey Party to complete the survey of tlie 

 " whole tract above alluded to this season ; still a commencement might be made on those 

 " spots whence coal has been brought to the surface, and the Geologist could then deter- 

 " mine what is best to be done. 



" I do not despair of being able to get together a party of Nagas to aid the Survey 

 " Party in jungle cutting, carriage, &c., but should like to be early informed of the date 

 •* on which the Surveyor is to commence his operations." 



Lieutenant Sconce states : — 



" I have made every enquiry regarding the coal-fields of 

 Seebsaugor. " the district, and I cannot discover that there are any within 



" my jurisdiction. 



" The Jaipoor coal is within the Luckimpore District. 



" Coal is reported to be in several places within the Naga Hills, but in my 

 " enquiries which arose out of your letter 'So. 1, dated 3rd May, answered in my letter 

 " No. 282 of yesterday's date, I consider it would be injudicious for me, without the 

 " Commissioner's knowledge, to cause any local investigations in order to obtain any in- 

 " formation for Professor Oldham." 



Mr. Raban, the Deputy Commissioner, reports thus : — 



" In reply to my enquiries as to the occurrence of coal in this district, I have been 



" informed that pieces of coal have been occasionally brought 

 Nowgong. ° 



" by the Meekirs from the interior of the hills, but that they 



"jealously keep the secret of the locality through fear of these hills being visited by 



" speculators in coal." 



Lieutenant Andrew states : — 



"A coal mine has been discovered in the northern extremity of this district at the foot 



" of an uninhabited Dufla hill, bounded on the west bv 

 Durrung. >' 



" Borgong River, east by inhabited Dufla hills, south by a 

 "small rivulet, north by inhabited Dufla hills." 



( 389 ) 



