20 THE COAL OF ASSAM. 



very surface of a natural outcrop in the bed of a stream ; the bed was 

 not that noticed as identifiable with the Terap seam. The third I cut 

 myself in the Jaipoor quarry. These figures show clearly the value of 

 these fuels. The proportion of ash is remarkably low, even compared 

 with that of English coals. In these analyses the inferiority of the Jaipoor 

 coal is not apparent. It hadj however, fallen to fragments in transit, 

 the others remaining whole. The two first cake j the Jaipoor is free- 

 burning; for many purposes this is advantageous. Still the proportion 

 of volatile matter in all is somewhat in excess of that contained in coals 

 best adapted for the general purposes of manufacture and commerce. 



It will seem strange to those unacquainted with India and with 

 , .^, ^ Assam that up to this date the valuable coal 



Small use hitherto ^ 



made of the coal. deposits of Upper Assam have lain useless so far 



as concerns the general industry of the province. For many years 



the Bramahpootra has been regularly navigated by steamers as far 



as Dibroogurh. The whole trade of the province is dependant on 



these steamers, unless in the case of the more wealthy settlers, 



who can keep up a transport establishment for their own use. A 



local carrying trade does not exist ; one may steam for days on the 



Bramahpootra without meeting any craft above the rank of a dug-out. 



There are no main cart roads, even between the principal stations. For 



a voyage, of which the upward course reaches to thirty days, it may be 



imagined what must be the difficulty and cost of carrying coals from the 



starting point. I was told that coal so brought to Dibroogurh must 



be valued at two or two and a half Rupees per maund. Wood, of course, 



exists in endless profusion on the very banks, but the cost of cutting and 



stacking it, even when it is possible to procure the labour, bring it to 



nearly the same relative value as imported coal. Yet for some years it 



has been an established fact that first-rate coal 

 Its present cost. . f> i t t i i -r, 



can with profit be delivered on the Bramahpootra 



for fourteen annas per maund. This is the contract price of the coal 



from the Terap, stored at the Dikhoo Mookh for the use of the Govern- 



( ^06 ) 



