18 BALL : GEOLOGY OF AURUNGA AND HUTAR COAL FIELDS. 



The Koel. — This river takes its rise in Burwah;, another river of 



the same name also rising near the same spot, but 



Length and size of proceeding" southwards, to contribute to the forma- 



tion of the Brahmini. This northern Koel is 



from its source to its junction with the Sone about 160 miles long, and 



since it drains a catchment area of at least 3,500 square miles, it naturally 



contributes a large supply of water to the Sone during the rains ; but at 



other times the quantity is not sujOScient to enable cargo boats of the 



smallest dimensions to make their way between Daltonganj and the Sone. 



At one time it was proposed (by Captain Sage in 1830) to make 

 use of this river as a means of conveying coal 

 from the Hutar field to the Sone. But any one 

 to whom an opportunity had been afforded of actually seeing the rocky 

 bed and rapids which are found between Chandu and Hutar could not 

 have failed to denounce the scheme as an utterly chimerical and imprac- 

 ticable one. In any discussion as to the means which may be employed 

 for bringing the Hutar coals to market, the navigation of the Koel as it 

 now is, or even the canalization of it, may, I think, safely be left out of 

 consideration. 



It may be that the construction of a canal, fed by the head waters 

 of the Koel, is possible ; but so far as I know the ground, I believe that 

 it would be attended with most serious difficulties, owing to the fact that 

 the only outlet northwards is that of the Koel valley, which is in places 

 so much constricted by impinging ranges of hills, that a low, level canal 

 could scarcely be made so as to be safe froni^ floods. 



In many places this river affords scenes of very great beauty and 



sometimes of grandeur. The rocky bed and the 

 Scenery on Koel. 



rapids a few miles north of Hutar — the neighbour- 

 hood of Sindhorwah, where the river has scarped the hills of Barakar 

 rocks which rise frowning over the channel and the rapids near Purro, 

 beyond the southern boundary of the field — may be quoted as instances 

 in point. 



( 18 ) 



