KUASI HILLS. 185 



the proper proportion of fuel to be used, and the proper mode 

 of chart^ing the kiln. On the other hand the very small amount of 

 ash or earthy matter in the Cherra coal would be decidedly in favor 

 of its use. 



Much of this limestone would produce most durable, and occasion- 

 ally very handsomely-veined marble. It would 



Marble. ,, „ ,. , . 



answer well lor ordinary purposes, chimney 



pieces, slabs for tables, garden seats and for flooring tiles. Of the latter 

 article, I believe, many hundreds are annually imported, of inferior colour- 

 ing and beauty to those which could be manufactured out of this Khasi 

 limestone. 



The existence of coal in the Khasi Hills appears to have been first 

 brought to notice in 1815, when Mr. Stark re- 



COAL. 



jjorted that he had found some beds in the lower 

 hills of Sylhet, from which he forwarded specimens to Government. This 

 coal was examined at the Gun Foundry at Cossipore, at the Mint, &c. ; 

 and being favorably reported on, Mr. Stark offered to supply any required 

 quantity to the Government at one rupee and eight annas per maund. 

 This offer was declined, and he appears to have obtained permission to 

 bring to Calcutta any quantity during five years, free of charge. Not 

 finding sale however for the first cargoes brought down, he abandoned 

 the mines. 



Mr. Jones, in a paper " on the mineral productions of Bengal," des- 

 cribes the Sylhet limestone, coal, &c. ; but he does not appear to have 

 known of the coal at Cherra Poonjee (a). 



It does not appear that much further was done (partly in consequence 

 of the disturbed state of the frontier) towards exploring these hills for coal 

 after this, until Mr. Cracroft in 1832 brought to public notice the exist- 

 ence of beds of coal close to the station of Cherra Poonjee('6j. This 



(a) Gleanings in Science, Vol. I., p. 281,1839. 



(6) Journal Asiatic Society Bengal, Vol. I., p. 250, and p. 252. 



