266 Asiatic Society. [May, 
In the above rivers the gold is found at all periods of the year, but in the Dhéla, 
about 10 miles to the eastward, it is only found in the rains. The nyarias live at 
Khelorolt, about seven miles north of Kdstpér ; but the site of their researches is 
about six miles higher up the river, between Sheondthpér and the hills. A tax of 
2rs. 8ans. is levied upon each Aatouté or washing-trough, which (in the absence of 
any other zeminddr) is paid to Government. The gold found in this stream is said 
to be of a finer quality than that of any of the other rivers. 
In the rivers to the eastward of the Dhéla, viz. the Kosillah, Dabka, &c. no gold 
has been discovered ; I have no means of ascertaining whether it exists in the sands 
of the rivers in the Bareilly district. 
It is evident that these golden sands must have a source, and as they have 
probably flowed for centuries from the mountains it is presumable that source is 
extensive. The uniformity also with which it is found in all the streams from the 
Ganges to the Kosillah where it ceases, seems to indicate the existence of a vein of 
ore more or less interrupted, co-extensive with the above limits. Gold-dust is 
found on the other side of the Himdlaya also: the Bhotéas bring it with their 
borax from Hundés, where it forms the currency under the name of phdtdng, (a 
small lump of gold-dust melted into a lump, value eight rupees.) I have employed 
an intelligent nyarla to search the small rivers to their source in the first or second 
range of hills, to wash the sand and mark where the gold-dust ceases, and to bring 
away specimens of the rock on either side. He is also instructed to look for coal.”’ 
A minute portion of gold is found in the sands of most rivers, but it is seldom 
plentiful enough to make it worth the labour of extraction. In the Indus, the Ira- 
wadi, the Ningthi, and the Brahmupitra rivers, the process of washing is practised 
with success, but it can only be undertaken where labour is cheap. A specimen of 
the washed sediment extracted from 40 maunds of the sand of the Brahmapitra, 
lately sent by Mr. W. Cracroft, weighed 396 grains ; from this the magnet separated 
‘147.3 grains of magnetic oxyd of iron: the remainder digested in boiling nitro- 
muriatic acid yielded 1.9 grains of gold, in value about 23 annas. 
Specimens of the limestone rocks of Sehwan and of the banks of Indus 
at and east of Tatta, of the Jesalmir yellow limestone, and of the bituminous 
limestone of Persepolis—by Lieut. A. Burnes. 
The limestone of the Zndus resembles much that of the Sithet hills :—it appears 
also to contain shells : the specimen from the top of the Sehwan mountains is more 
crystalline, and of a yellow colour like that of Jesalmir, of which a description is 
given in the GLEANINGS, vol. iii. p. 108. 
The limestone of Persepolis, used for most of the buildings of that ancient 
town, is of a dull brown colour and semiconchoidal fracture ; it emits when rubbed 
a strong bituminous smell. 
Specimen of the granite of Abu in Guzerat, and of limestone Pater 
the Oxus and Bokhdra—by the same. 
The latter is an oolitic limestone, the first which has been discovered in India, 
of fine small grains about as large as mustard-seed. It is compact and capable of 
being quarried. 
Belemnites from the eastward of the Aral, and a small fossil bivalve from 
Bokhdra—by the same. 
The shells are converted into a solid of white marble ; they are used in medicine 
by the Persians ; the under valve is worn round as if from grinding. 
