KHASI HILLS. 207 



purer metal ; and, of some more powerful means of expressing the slag 

 from the spongy metallic mass than the slight hammering it now receives 

 with a wooden mallet or club. 



But I do not think (judging of course from the portion of the hills 

 I had myself an opportunity of visiting ) that the manufacture of this 

 iron could be very much extended, owing to the scanty dissemination 

 of the ore in the rocks, and the consequent high cost of obtaining it. 

 At present the want of any permanent supply of water prevents the 

 natives from working for more than a few days during the year, whilst 

 the rains are heavy, and they can readily obtain sufficient force of water 

 for the washing of the ore from its matrix. 



I would here mention, that although I have never heard that any 

 gold has been observed during the washings for the iron ore, when if it 

 occurred in any quantity it could scarcely have escaped notice, stiU on 

 amalgamating a large amount of this ore, or rather on agitating it in 

 contact with some mercury, I obtained distinct traces of gold although 

 in very minute quantities ; but too trifling to admit of its profitable 

 extraction. It is more than probable that in some other localities it 

 may be foxmd to occur more plentifully, and that these Hills, or the con- 

 tinuation of the same ridge to the eastward, may prove to be the source 

 of some of the gold found in the rivers of the Assam valley, (a). 



Such is a brief sketch of the various products obtained from the 

 Khasi Hills, and of the purposes to which they are applied. And if this 

 outline should lead to further investigations, and tend to direct the 

 attention of any to this district, and so increase the number of its 

 visitors, I am satisfied, that whether profit may be derived from such 

 investigations or not, much pleasure will result from a sojourn amidst 

 the most lovely scenery and in a most salubrious climate ; and among 

 a people presenting many interesting points for study, and many excel- 

 lent traits of character. 



