86 



TALCHEER COAL FIELD. 



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some miles ; and even of these but a small portion comparatively passes 

 into the furnace, as on breaking up the pieces a large amount is thrown 

 away on account of its poorness. 



The country, as noticed above, abounds in timber; but the present 

 j.„4l method of using it, for the preparation of charcoal, 



is absurd and ruinous in the extreme. 

 For this purpose, after cutting down their trees (generally select 

 the sal {Shorea robusta) probably as affording most conveniently logi 

 of a suitable size), the natives loosely build up a large pile of logs of 

 small size, to which, without any further precautions, they set fire, and 

 allow it to burn freely, all the better pleased if a wind be blowino- as 

 then the cremation proceeds more rapidly. When the pile is consi- 

 derably diminished, water is thrown on it, and what remains as charcoal is 

 collected for use. The trunk is allowed to take fire, or is set on fire 

 where it fell, as the people are either too lazy or too ignorant to break 

 it up ; and indeed they have no axes fitted for such work ; their ordi- 

 nary axes being wretched tools, not three fingers broad, and sometimes 

 not a pound in weight. 



The furnaces at present in use, and the processes of smelting, &c.. 

 Furnaces, &c., now °^^^ "° peculiar features, and present but little 

 ^ variation from those adopted in other parts of 



India, and therefore need not be dwelt upon. In a few places, it appears, 

 the ore is roasted previously to smelting, the object probably being to 

 render it more friable and perhaps facilitate the separation of the more 

 siliceous particles. 



The most promising portion of the field, with regard to the supply of 



iron, &c., is along the North margin. The large 

 Localities of the ore. . p tt i 



villages of Hondapa and Rampur may be looked 



on as marking East and West limits, within which the ore is most abun- 

 dant, although neither of them is situated on the iron-bearing sandstone. 

 The manufacture is carried on in the vicinity of the villages of 

 Gurjing, Ampal, East Kotasingha, Datimal, Susab, Takaba, Ramgamat, 



