2 mallet: geology of darjiling and western duars. 



and neighbouring streams, however, by Dr. Oldham, sufficed to prove 

 that the coal was nothing more than the fossilized stems of individual 

 trees, such as has frequently been observed elsewhere in the same Tertiary 

 rocks, along the base of the Himalaya, and which were economically 

 worthless.* 



To Dr. Hooker we owe the first notice of the possible existence of 

 the true Indian coal-measures in this region. In March 1849,f when 

 stopping at Pankabari on Kis way to Darjiling, he observed in one of 

 the streams there "carbonaceous shales, with obscure impressions of 

 fern leaves, of Trizygia and Vertebraria ; both fossils characteristic of 

 the Burdwan coal-fields, but too imperfect to justify any conclusion as to 

 the relation between these formations. Ascending the stream, these 

 shales are seen in situ, overlain by the metamorphic clay-slate of the 

 mountains, and dipping inward (northwards) like them. ... The carbona- 

 ceous beds dip north 60° and 70°, and run east and west ; much quartz 

 rock is intercalated with them, and soft white and pink micaceous 

 sandstones. The coal seams are few in number, six to twelve inches thick, 

 very confused and distorted, and full of elliptic nodules, or spheroids 

 of quartzy slate, covered with concentric scaly layers of coal : they 

 overlie the sandstones mentioned above. These scanty notices of super- 

 position being collected in a country clothed with the densest tropical 

 forest, where a geologist pursues his fatiguing investigations under 

 disadvantages that can hardly be realized in England, will, I fear, long 

 remain unconfirmed.";]: 



* Journal, Asiatic Society, Bengal, Vol. XXIII, p. 201. 



f Himalayan Journals, Vol. I, p. 402. These were not published till 1854. 



% The following list includes all the other geological papers, &c, on the Sikkim and 

 Bhutan Himalayas with which I am acquainted : — 



1848. — A few observations on the probable results of a scientific research after 

 metalliferous deposits in the Sub-Himalayan range around Darjiling. 

 By R. H. Irvine, Esq., M. d, — Journal, Asiatic Society, Bengal, Vol. XVII, 

 p. 137. 



( 2 ) 



