70 BOKAIIO COAL-FIELD. 



the Bardkars j the Raniganjs being-^ as intimated when writing of that 

 oToup, incapable of supplying any serviceable coal. This decrease in the 

 value of the Raniganj group, as a coal bearing series, was noticed in the 

 Jherria Field ; and from thence westwards, it has been determined that 

 its importance comparatively to the Barakars is exceedingly small. 



The most productive portion of the field lies between the river 

 Koonar and the eastern boundary. It is in that area the largest coal 

 seams crop out, and that the dips are most favorable. Coal has of late 

 years been regularly cut near the villages of Churhee, Foosro, Tapin- 

 Pindra, and Bongahara, to supply fuel for burning bricks in Hazaree- 

 bagh; and some has even been carted to Gyaj but, as already stated, 

 the worst and most stony variety has been invariably chosen by the 

 Native contractors. Among the fields of the Damoodah Valley, which 

 have already been examined and reported upon, the Bokaro stands 

 third in order of importance. 



Sandstones. •^'Fov many of the tombstones in the cemetery at 

 Hazareebagh, and for the flooring of the barracks, sandstone slabs 

 are obtained from the Talchir series in the Boodah nullah, near Indra 

 Jurbah. More care should be taken in the selection than is usually done, 

 to procure stones free from any silt galls or layers of silt. In the 

 burial ground, the effect of weathering is noticeable on the tombstones ; 

 and many of the inscriptions are almost effaced where the letters have 

 been- cut into the clayey parts of the sandstone. 



( 108 ) 



