COAL AND IRON OF CUTTACK. IS 



is slightly altered in each district, the proportions of ore and fuel 

 used may be shghtly different, but the general process is identical 

 throughout. 

 The ores used by the workmen in all these cases are without excep- 

 tion the oxide ores, whether in the state of mag- 

 Kind of ores used. 



netic iron, of red hoematite (earthy, micaceous, 



or ochrey), or brown hoematite. But in the vast majority of cases only 

 the red hoematite in its different varieties is used. I have never seen 

 a native work in which any of the carbonated ores of iron were used. 

 For the most part, to avoid the trouble of digging, the loose lumps 

 found among the decomposed rocks of the surface, which become highly 

 impregnated with iron by infiltration, are selected. Portions of these 

 rocks found in beds of streams, and occasionally pebbles of laterite, are 

 used. " In one instance," Mr. Blanford says, "at a small village in 

 " Banda, an ore was found to be in use, which had much the appearance 

 " of what is, iu Cornwall and some other mining districts, termed a 

 " Gossan, that is, the decomposed and highly ferruginous rock formed 

 " generally at the outcrop of lodes.* The numerous deposits of arena- 

 " ceous iron ore found in the Damoodah beds of the Talcheer Coal 

 " Field are comparatively little worked, although they are rich and 

 " apparently well adapted for melting. There seems to be a preference 

 " for ores obtained in small quantities with but little labor in digging, to- 

 " those which would require comparatively less labor for an equal pro- 

 " duce, although digging operations on a larger scale would be necessary. 

 " Iron ores however, of one form or another, and of good quality, abound 

 " throughout the district, and close to the surface." 



The fuel used is in all cases charcoal. In the preparation of this char- 

 Charcoal only ftiel ^^^^ where sal is abundant, nothing else is used all 

 ^^^ over the country. In many districts, however, this 



timber has been nearly exhausted and other trees are used. 



* Thia ore was said to be brought from the hills to the N. W., a distance of two days' 

 journey. 



