ETHNOGRAPHY. 9 
The navigability of the Koel was practicaily tested by the Bengal 
Coal Company, who, some years ago, worked coal at Rajhéra and Pandáa, 
near the banks of this river. As I have been informed by the Assistant 
Commissioner, Mr. Forbes, they despatched coal by boats to different 
stations on the Ganges; but this could only be done during the rains, 
and the boats they used were very shallow, and are said to have been 
broken up, after performing the down journey. 
The navigation is only seriously obstructed at one place opposite 
the village of Sigsigé by some gneiss rocks. Were these blown up, 
` the river passage would be cleared and much improved. 
PRODUCTS. 
The hill sides are clothed in many cases with a thick and luxuriant 
growth of jungle, and although the trees are rarely large, many of 
them are of a very useful kind, yielding stout timber, fruits, oils, laks, 
and kut. Bamboo occurs plentifully, and supplies the best charcoal for 
iron-refining and gold-working, which is paid for at a higher rate than 
that made from any other tree. 
Large quantities of ‘lah’ are exported from the district. The most 
valuable is the product of the kusum (Schleichera tryuga), and next in 
order comes that of the ‘palas’ (Butea frondosa); then that of the pipur 
(Ficus religiosa). The ‘lahs? of the bir (Zizyphus jujuba), the babul 
(Acacia Arabica), and the nim (Azadirachta Indica) are only rarely col- 
lected. Kut is extensively manufactured from the ‘khair’ (Acacia 
catechu) principally by the Mallás, Bhogtás, and Bhuians. 
ETHNOGRAPHY. 
Of the many castes of Hindás which inhabit Palámaun, the chief is 
that to which the principal Zemindars belong ; the Chéro sub-division of 
the Rájpáts. Whether they have a perfect right to be classed under the 
(eodd y) 
