250 Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. [June, 



Museum. 

 3. Specimens of the coal strata lately discovered at Sanarfm, and near 

 the Sanatarium in the Kasya Hills, were presented by the President in the 

 name of Mr. W. Cracroft, with explanatory extracts from his letters. 



The quality of the best specimens or middle stratum of this coal differs 

 considerably from that of the Burdwan coal ; it contains very little earthy 

 matter ; it burns with much flame, but does not form coke ; spec. grav. 

 1.330, colour brown black : composition, 



Volatile matter (of which aqueous, 7.5) 45 



Carbon, ... .. 53 



Earthy residue, ... ... 3 



100 



4. Specimens of iron ore (red clay iron), from Sambhalpur, pre- 

 sented by Capt. Jenkins, on the part of Mr, Babington : also a box of Hima- 

 layan minerals, found at the Adjt. Gen.'s office, by Capt. Jenkins. 



5. The following specimens of the iron ores of the Salem Hills, South- 

 ern India, and of the iron and steel in the various stages of its manufac- 

 ture, according to the native processes, by Mr. Heath, M. C. S. 



I. Magnetic Iron ore from Salem, in its natural state, mixed with quartz. 



II. The same ore cleaned by stamping and sepai-ating the quartz. 



III. The same ore crystallized in octohedrons. This state of the mineral is 

 rather rare, 



IV. Some specimens of cast steel made from this ore by the native process, toge- 

 ther with the crucibles in which the steel is melted. Some of these are left open 

 to shew the manner of charging them ; others are stopped up ready to be put int 

 the furnace. 



V. Some specimens of chromate of iron from a mine lately discovered, and of 

 Bichromate of Potash made from it. 



Papers communicated. 



6. Observations on the quantity of earthy matter brought down in the 

 river Ganges, by the Rev. R. Everest. 



[Printed in the present number, page 238.] 



7. Report on the progress of the boring experiment, by Dr. Strong. 

 Since the last report considerable delays have taken place by the sickness 



of the superintendent. The boring No. 1, near the church in the fort was 

 found so much injured by the searching after and extraction of the 100 

 feet of broken rods, that further operation in that quarter was abandoned 

 after tubing the hole to the depth of 100 feet, and building over it a pump. 

 There the depth obtained was 175 feet, and the water, which is sweet tasted, 

 but muddy and ferruginous from the tubes, continues to stand at a level 

 of 7 feet from the surface of the ground. 



A second operation was commenced not long ago on the south end of the 

 glass plot behind the Government house in the fort. Here the conductors 

 of the experiment have adopted the use of a borer double the former size, 

 and have in consequence easily forced down a strong sheet iron tube seven 

 inches in diameter to the depth of 70 feet. Thence with a 6-inch auger 



