Oh. VI.] QUALITY OF KE-LUNG COAL. 95 



while the few European merchants who are interested in the 

 produce were not scientifically acquainted with the dis- 

 trict. 



With regard to the quality of this coal, it has properties 

 which favour the supposition that it is a recently-formed 

 deposit. The first account of it made pubUc was issued from 

 H.M.S. " Inflexible," and the chief engineer of that ship 

 pubHshed an account of his experiments and steaming re- 

 sults with it, in the Nautical Magazine for 1859. This ac- 

 count, however, is strangely at variance with our experience 

 of the coal. In general terms the verdict given by him was 

 that it was " good for domestic purposes and for steamers 

 making short passages ; but it consumes rapidly, and makes 

 much smoke." Although, however, this general statement 

 nearly coincides with what we foimd to be the case, it is not 

 supported by the elaborated and tabulated results published 

 in the Nautical Magazine. 



The Ke-lung coal is of very light weight ; it burns very 

 rapidly, and it gives out a very great heat — so much so, that 

 it readily sets the funnel on fire. It is extremely dirty, and 

 the combustion is so imperfect, that a vast number of blacks 

 of a soft and soiling character are produced, and fall aU over 

 the ship. The flues also rapidly get very foul, requiring 

 frequent ' attention and cleansing. It leaves no less than 

 50 per cent, of ash, so that although it appears cheap, it is 

 not reaUy more so than other and better coal, which has 

 more substance and less waste. For it is evident, that if 

 Ke-lung coal were but one-half the price of Welsh, and that 

 Welsh did twice as much work, the latter would be cheaper 

 fuel ; for not only would there be equal horse-power for an 

 equal price, but the superior bulk of the inferior and 

 apparently cheaper coal would entail great additional labour 



