1864.] 



The Mines of Khetree in Bajpootana, 



519 



The Mines of Khetree in Bajpootana. —By Col. J. C. Brooke. 



[Received 6th April, 1864.— Read Mh May, 1864.] 



Khetree is situated at the foot of the Arabullee range of hills, which, 

 running south-west and north-east, divides Rajpootana into two por- 

 tions, separating the fertile eastern states from the more desert western 

 ones. The Arabullee, commencing south of Oodeypore, and touching 

 the western shores of the fairy lakes of that capital, supports the table- 

 land of Meywar, till, opening into numerous spurs, among which dwell 

 the brave and faithful Mhairs, perhaps the only race in India who have 

 accepted the British rule in full and unreserved confidence, it passes 

 Ajmere. From Ajmere the Arabullee tends a little more to the east, 

 dividing Jeypore proper from Shekhawattee, and at the extreme north 

 eastern corner of the latter district, the Arabullee meets the Toura- 

 wattee and Ulwar ranges of hills, the direction of which is generally 

 north and south. 



At this extreme corner, some lofty spurs occur, on one of which 

 the hill fortress of Khetree above the town of that name, PL I., and 

 on another, that of Bagore are placed. The spurs of these hills run 

 south east and north west, at right angles to the main range, which 

 has a south west and north east direction. In these spurs are rich 

 mines of Iron, Copper, Alum and Cobalt, and perhaps other minerals 

 exist, which a careful examination of the rocks may bring to light. 

 Attention must soon be directed to this region, in the prosecution of 

 the search for coal,* which the extension of railways will necessitate, 

 and to judge from the variety and character of the rocks, there are few 

 places deserving of more careful examination than Khetree. 



The little state of Khetree is an allodial Fief belonging to a Rajah, 

 but under the sovereignty of Jeypore, to which it pays a quit rent for 

 some of its pergunnahs, of Rs. 80,000 a year. Khetree enjoys a net 

 revenue of about three lakhs a year, of which, however, very little is 

 the produce of the mines. 



The town of Khetree contains about 1000 or 1500 houses, among 

 which are those of a few wealthy families, the most notable of whom 

 has constructed a large and magnificent temple at the entrance of the 



No published notice of the Geology of Rajpootana with which we are acquaint- 

 ed, mentions the occurrence of the coal-bearing rocks in Bajpootana.— Eds. 



