Note on recent investigations regarding the extent and value of the 

 auriferous deposits of Assam, being abstracts of RepoHs by Captain 

 E. T. Dalton and Lieut. -Colonel S. F. Hannat, dated Octo- 

 ber ]S55. 



The results of previous researches by Captain Dalton and Colonel 

 Hannay have been already made public {Journal of Asiatic Society of 

 Bengal, Yol. VII. page 625 and Vol. XXII. page 511.) The same 

 gentlemen were therefore requested by Government, during 1855, to 

 undertake a further examination of the auriferous deposits of Upper 

 Assam, and were supplied with ample funds for carrying out their 

 investigations. They submitted, through Colonel Jenkins, Commissioner 

 for Assam, the report of their proceedings, in October 1855, a brief 

 summary of which is here given. 



They proceeded from Suddya, up the Brahmapootra, to the bend of 

 the river, a few miles above the gorge of Brahmakoond ; but finding that 

 the deposits became less and less rich as they penetrated farther into the 

 hills, they returned to Parghat, 8 miles below the Brahmakoond. Here 

 the river debouches from the mountains, after cutting through an enor- 

 mous deposit of earth and boulders, to the depth of 150 feet. 



This is, in all probability, an ancient deposit of the river itself It 

 appears to extend some distance into the hills ; and to the South of the 

 Brahmakoond forms a series of terraces, indicating the various levels at 

 which the river has successively flowed in past times. 



It was remarked, tliat the gold which was obtained above Parghat 

 contained a certain proportion of small dendritic fragments and cubical 

 crystals, whereas below that point the whole of the metal was found 

 in the form of flattened spangles (" pepites"), a chcumstance evidently 

 due to the attrition it had undergone in its downward course. 



