188 KHASI HILLS. 



In 1842, Colonel Lister had excavated at the mines and despatched tio 

 Chattuc. 44,350 maunds of coal. Of this quantity the cost at Chattuc 

 was 4 annas 4^- pie pei- maund ; 39,750 maunds were sent to Calcutta at 

 a cost for freight, &c., of 3 annas 2-g pie jDer maund, making a total cost 

 in Calcutta of 7 annas 7g pie. Again in the same year, 65,955 maunds 

 were delivered in Calcutta at an average cost per maund, includino- all 

 charges, of 7 annas 3| pie. In February 1844, 5,G42 maunds were 

 despatched, at a cost on an average in Calcutta, of 7 annas 3-f pie per 

 maund. In November and December of the same year, 90,940 maunds 

 were delivered at a cost (including loss of six boats) of 7 annas 91 pie per 

 maund. In October, November and December, we find 21,126 sent down, 

 but owing to part of the carriage for these coals having been provided 

 by the Commissariat, I cannot state the average cost in Calcutta.j'a^ 



We have thus, on an experience of several j^ears, the average cost of 

 this Cherra coal in Calcutta equal to 7 annas Q\ pie per maund, or 

 Rupees 47 per 100 maunds. This was the cost inclusive of all charges 

 for overseers, weighmen, coolies, freight, &c., excepting only any charge 

 for SLiperintendence and general management. I would add here, that 

 all the estabhshment required for this purpose was temporary, and 

 therefore more costly than permanent arrangements would have been. 



Lieutenant Yule estimated that the cost of conveying to Poudua, 

 by his proposed plan, 100 maunds of coal, would be Rupees 22,778. 

 To this add the cost of freight to Calcutta, at least Rupees 21 per 100 

 maunds, and the cost would be Rupees 43,778 per 100 maunds in 

 Calcutta. In this estimate no allowance is made for cost of storage 

 and re-loading at Pondua. 



Further, there is no charge in this estimate for the cost of original 

 construction of the road and inclines, nor any interest on the outlay 



(a) For this information, I am indebted to the kindness of Colonel Lister in permit- 

 ting me to examine the contingent bills passed for the expenses attending the despatch of 

 this coal. 



