4 THE COAL OF ASSAM. 



Of the localities mentioned in the list given by the Commissioner, 



it is only of those in the Gowalpara District that I 

 Gowalpara. , , . 



have made no observations. It would have been 



impossible, under the circumstances, to include this region within the 

 limits of my work. The omission is, however, of less consequence, as, 

 from the position of those localities in the western extremity of the prov- 

 ince, the occurrence of coal there is of comparatively little importance. 

 The examination of them may perhaps await the regular geological 

 survey of the whole hill-region south of the Bramahpootra, an under- 

 taking of which there can be some prospect, now that the topographical 

 survey is in hand. It may indeed be anticipated that the coal south- 

 east of Singmaree occurs under the same disadvantages as to quantity 

 and distribution that obtain in the coal of the Cossyah Hills, of which 

 it is probably a representative, but on neither of these points can a 

 positive opinion be given. 



" Of its extent nothing is at present known, it lying in a wild and almost uninhabited 



" tract of country. A man is out now bringing in a sample of the coal, which will be 



" forwarded to you for inspection. On his arrival I hope to be able to give farther parti- 



" culars. 



"Report states that there are other mines lying to the north of where the coal is 



••now being brought from, but fear of the Duflas prevents any one from exploring 



" further in that direction." 



Captain Lamb says ; — 



" I am not personally acquainted with any places in this district where coal has been 



" discovered, and there is no correspondence in the Office from 



" which I can glean any information on the subject." 



Captain Morton reports :— 



" I believe that coal is to be found all over the range of hills occupied by the 



" Khassias and Garrows. V^Tiilst engaged in the operations 

 Gowalpara. 



" connected with the suppression of the Jynteeah rebellion, 



" the Officers of the Field Force came upon several beds hitherto unknown. 



" In the Maps of the district and to the south-by-east of Singmaree, several places 



" are marked by the Surveyor as ' coal found here.' On looking over the records of my 



( 390 ) 



