34 



Lignite was of a woody .character, and it burned slowly, with a 

 smouldering flame. It had a strong peaty smell, but it generated 

 qo soot, and he believed if a good fire of it was put down that 

 morning it would remain, lighted thirty -six hours after, provided 

 it was not stirred. It did not cake and go together, and if when 

 burning it was stirred up it fell to pieces. It also had the property 

 if splitting up if exposed to the atmosphere for any considerable 

 ,ime. He might give them a description of it that was published 

 in Dubourdieu's Statistical Survey of the County of Antrim, and 

 which description was by the Rev. Robert Traill, Rector of Ballin- 

 toy. He says : — " In most places where I have observed this sub- 

 stance, columns of basalt are placed over it. In my own quarry 

 on the glebe it is to be found underneath twenty feet of solid rock 

 in a compressed state, or flattened appearance. The outward 

 edges, however, have preserved in many instances a degree of 

 roundness," Sec. He goes on to say — "I can also relate, with 

 tolerable certainty, that all this substance has been fir trees. There 

 may be some of different species ; because, where the weight has 

 been greater, the substance becomes harder and more nearly 

 resembling Coal, and, of course, not to be so accurately distin- 

 guished. It will not answer for the forge, as it will neither bear 

 the bellows nor stirring. In this country it is known by the name 

 of wood coal, and where other fuel cannot be had it proves a 

 useful substitute. For an entire winter I used it. The smell is 

 unpleasant, nearly resembling that which arises from the burning 

 of rotten stick. It is also used in burning lime ; but from the 

 quantity of ashes which mix with the lime, it makes bad mortar, 

 though good manure." Then, after referring to Mr. Stewart's 

 labours, Mr. Traill continues — " On the west side, however, parti- 

 cularly in the townland of Lemnagh, it is got in great abundance. 

 Unfortunately, both there and in Ballintoy, the pits happened to 

 take fire, and the latter place continued to burn for several years. 

 Various attempts were made to extinguish it, but all proved fruit- 

 less ; and, finally, it was smothered by the falling-in of the super- 

 incumbent mass. This fossil wood is generally found in veins. 

 Where these are of the least thickness, the appearance of the wood 



