130 KHASI HILLS. 



beds there are frequent nodular concretions, highly ferruginous. The 



, , .., beds continue nearly horizontal, but are occasionally 

 Ferruginous beds with ■' 



<:oal. inclined from 15° to 20°. Passing Southward to a 



small village called Tung-ji-nath, we find these dark red ferruginous 

 sandstones resting upon other beds of a much lighter tint. Associated 

 •with the latter there is a bed of good coal about three feet six inches 

 thick on an average (a). It is seen in a deep croom or ravine close to 

 the village of Tung-ji-nath. The section of the rocks immediately with 

 the cual is as follows, in descending order : — 



ft. in. 

 Ha,rd ferruginous grits, 



Light reddish sandstone, 35 



Dark-coloured shaly sandstone in thin laminae, 2 6 



Sandstone of darkish colour, 1 



Dark-coloured shale, thinly laminated, 2 to 1 6 



Coal, 4 to 3 6 



Black shale in thin layers, 6 



Soft dark sandstone, micaceous and carbonaceous 



(thickness not seen). 



This coal seems very similar in quality and character to the Cherra 



coal. The bed is partially exposed for about forty 

 Quality, &c., of Coal i J r j 



feet on the face, and in this short space it varies 

 in thickness from four feet to three feet and a half : and within a few 

 yards of this to the West it has thinned out to one foot and a half. 

 Towards the East, as far as it is seen, it continues of tolerably even 

 thickness. It dips very slightly to the East by North ; dense close jungle 

 prevented me from tracing it much further (6). 



(a) From this bed subsequently to the date of my report, a considerable quantity of coal 

 was extracted and despatched to Calcutta. 



CiJ From large slabs of the thin-bedded sandstones of the neighbourhood, the defences of 

 Molih are built. These slabs are placed on edge and side by side, and form a wall about six 

 feet high. Through this the entrance to the village is by a well-constructed and covered gate- 

 way. The whole forms a rude defence, of little value certainl_y in the modern system of at- 

 tack, but which would have afforded a great protection against the arrows of any hostile clan. 



