1837.] Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. 243 



it to cool, and then strain. About lj gallons of liquor will be obtained, a sufficient 

 quantity to dye a full piece of silk handkerchiefs 7 yards by I yard. The decoction 

 thus prepared is of a dark brown color, has a peculiar smell not unlike that of senna 

 leaves. If kept for six or eight hours it ferments, becomes lighter in color, but. still 

 retains the yellow dye which it imparts to silk after six or eight days, perhaps much 

 longer, but the color is scarcely so brilliant as when the decoction is fresh. 



" The acetate of alumina is a stronger mordant for this dye than the saturated 

 solution of alum, and is therefore preferable in printing. When the cloth has been 

 prepared with the mordants for dyeing and put into the decoction, the liquor ought 

 to be heated to about 150°, as at this temperature the process goes on more rapidly 

 than when cold. From 20 minutes to half an hour's steeping will be sufficient 

 to impart to the cloth the brightest yellow. Boiling the cloth in the liquor injures 

 the color." 



It was resolved that the specimens should be submitted to those who 

 are best acquainted with dyes in Calcutta, and eventually sent to the 

 London Society of Arts. 



The discovery of a new site of coal in Upper Assam was announced in 

 a letter from Lieut. H. Bigge, dated Puchora hills, 28th February. 



" Knowiug the interest you take in all matters connected with science, &c, I beg 

 to acquaint you that Dr. Griffith and myself, whilst exploring the banks of the 

 Namrup river, about nine miles E. S. E. from its junction with the Bore Diking, in 

 the Singpho country, have been fortunate enough to discover a most valuable seam 

 of coal in the bank of the river; the upper seam was about 3 feet ia depth, the 

 centre one 9 feet, and a lower one of 3. We followed the seam up a small water- 

 course to the south, which it crossed at an angle of 45°, and must have reached the 

 surface a very short distance beyond, but we could not exactly determine this point. 

 The general direction was from W. 5 N. to E. 5 S. the dip being towards the south. 



" We loaded a small boat with this coal and sent it down to our camp for trial, 

 when it was found to be an extremely good coal, burning with a strong flame and 

 heat, and very lasting, but from the smell, containing a great quantity of sulphure- 

 ous matter. It does not burn entirely away, but makes a large portion of cinder, 

 and is, I should say, a very valuable description of coal. 



" I have preserved some of the pieces which 1 dug out from the lower part of the 

 centre seam, which I will take an early opportunity of forwarding to you on my re- 

 turn. Major White also discovered several wells of Petroleum close to our camp on 

 the Namrup river, which emit considerable quantities of that oil, but which have 

 hitherto been unknown to Europeans, and apparently almost unused by the neigh- 

 boring Singphos. I have got several specimens of rocks and earth from these wells, 

 which I shall also be happy to send you, should you require them. 



" Iron would also have been found, but the weather during our stay was so bad as 

 to prevent our making further or more distant research. 



" This coal, though distant, might easily be made available for purposes of steaming 

 on the Burhamputra, as small canoes carrying from 1 to 10 maunds, could take 

 down the coal at all seasons to the Bore Dihing, where it could be reshipped, and 

 sent down that river to Jorhath, or lip Karaia and Noa Dihing to Sadiya. We 

 are now at the foot of the pass to the Bui man territories waiting for the mission, 

 which is said to be coming to settle some boundary questions, but though we have 

 been here since the 25th, no tidings have been received of them, and at this sea- 

 son ; we shall, from the constant rain, be lucky to escape back to Sadiya, about 12 

 marches, without sickness." 



The Namrup coal is of various quality, from a genuine lignite of woody fibre pass- 

 ing into true coal as it descends. Two specimens gave the following composition. 



Fibrous Lignite. Compact Coal. 



Volatile matter, including water, 48.9 39.9 



Carbon or coak, 47.7 58.1 



Ash, red ochreous, 3.4 grey earthy 2.0 



1.0 100 



Specific gravity, 1.312 1.244 



J. P. 



In forwarding Lieut. Bigge' s specimens, Captain Jenkins notices the 

 discovery of another site of coal in the Dyang, a naddi of Central Kachar, 

 a new locality calculated to prove highly valuable from its accessibility. 

 The specimen represents a jet coal of fine rich glossy texture, spec, gvnv, 

 1.220. With it are associated iron sand and pyrites. 



