200 KHASl HILLS. 



previously held by the Jynteah Rajah, who resigned all claim to them 

 in 1835. 



On the other hand, the coal which is found to the South of Nonkra- 

 dem is in the territories, and under the control of Singh Manick, the 

 Kyrim Rajah, who is still independent. 



I fully antici23ate, ho^vevei-, that the coal of Clierra Poonjee, and of 

 this frontier generally, even though it may nut be possible to brui"- it 

 with profit to the Calcutta market, will turn to great and useful account 

 at some future, and not very distant period. I cannot anticipate that 

 the extensive districts of Sylhet, Cachar and Muunipore, with the jiros- 

 pect of an increasing traffic from the East along this vallej^, can be much 

 longer deprived of the benefits of steam communication. The noble 

 river Soorma stretches in one continuous course throughout the entire 

 distance, and is navigable for steamers of the ordinary size without the 

 interruption of a single dangerous spot, and at all seasons, as far as 

 Chattuck (a), while ordinary boats of considerable size can proceed as far 

 as Silchar, and smaller boats much further. This unbroken Une of 

 water communication, stretching for more than 350 miles from Calcutta, 

 seems specially adapted for such an enterprise; and, if once a steam 

 communication be opened along this river, the coals of the frontier will 

 prove highly valuable for the supply of the requisite fuel, at an economi- 

 cal rate. There may not be at the present a sufficient trade in this 

 direction to render such a project remunerative; but this was equally 

 the case in other localities, and there can be little question that any 

 increase in the facility and rapidity of communication with these dis- 

 tricts must tend to develope new and to extend the existing sources 

 of trade. Moreover, such a system of inter-communication would 

 appear to be especially desirable in a district where every road is co- 

 fa) A rapid, passable however during one-half of the year, prevents steamers fi'om 

 IDrooeeding further than Chattuo. 



