ECONOMIC ASPECT OF SA.LT REGION. 213 



the difficulty of managing the thick heading of debris.— From notes 

 made as the man spoke. — A.B.W. 



As the site of the quarries is scarcely 100 feet above the level of 

 the plain to the south, the surface of the salt may be but little higher 

 than the latter, and deeper excavation would require special precautions 

 against the influx of water. Whatever form an excavation here might 

 take either by quarrying or a low level tunnel, it is certain that salt 

 could be obtained here if desirable. The quarries which may have been 

 considered exhausted as far as the art of the local workmen was con- 

 cerned would not be so with superior means at command. 



The space underneath which salt may be presumed to occur is 

 about 200 yards broad and 500 yards long. It need not, however, be. 

 confined to this area, but may continue westwards beneath the gypsum 

 in a position better suited for mining. 



3, Sdthdrbugher, old mine or exposure. — A mountain stream high 

 upon the hills north of the Teeree (Tiri) valley works through red clay 

 into a rib of gypsum, where it has an underground course for many 

 yards, and being dry when visited, one was able to enter the mouth of 

 the cave whence the stream issued. A salt surface of several yards 

 was seen forming the left side of the cave chiefly, and traceable inwards 

 as far as the mud allowed one to walk and as far as day light enabled 

 it to be seen, i. e., for 52 feet. The salt was of the usual character, 

 dark in colour and part of it seemed to contain some gray clay. The 

 place being high, a mine might probably be worked here, but the glen is 

 very steep and narrow, and, as usual, approach over the belt of nummulitic 

 limestone by the stream course is difficult and precipitous. The salt 

 shows some lines of oblique lamination, dipping west at low angles. — 

 A. B. W. 



4. Shdhdrung. — On the west side of this mountain at the head of 

 a long valley issuing at Murdan Khel a concealed salt outcrop occurs 

 among red clay and fallen gypsum. The quarries here were open when 

 Mr. Came wrote, but inconsiderable. — A. B. W. 



( 317 ) 



