137 



the proportion of this water sbould always be ascertained. 

 By the term hygroscopic water, I mean that, which can be 

 expelled at a gentle heat, without causing any decompo- 

 sition in the coal itself. All coal contains water, which 

 can thus be displaced and the amount varies considerably 

 in different kinds of coal. In the Labuan coal there is 

 not more than the usual proportion of water. 



The Labuan-coal burns with a copious bright flame. 

 When heated in a close vessel , it swells up considerably 

 and yields a light, lustrous, and but slightly coherent 

 coke. It is a non-caking coal. 



The proportion of sulphur is small and*I need hardly inform 

 you that, for many applications, this is of a great advantage. 



The Labuan-coal is not, as some persons might infer 

 frora its external appearance, a cannel coal, but resem- 

 bles closely in composition to some free-burning British coals. 



In proof of this, I subjoin analysis of two of these coals ; 



A ]3 Gemiddelden van de 0- 



raDj'e-Nassau- kolen. 



Carbon 76,08 70,41 71,30 



Hydrogen .... 5,31 4,69 5,36 



Oxygen and Nitrogen 15,42 12,47 14,44 



Sulphur 1,23 0,71 * 0,29 



Ash 1,96 2,20 3,70 



Water .... (not stated) 9,52 4,91 



100,00 100,00 100,00 



A is splint-coal from the Elgin colliery, Fifeshire, and B 

 is the Heathen-coal of South Staffordshire. 



In order to enable you to compare the Labuan-coal and 

 these coals, with respect to the amount of combustible mat- 

 ter, I subjoin the percentage composition of the three, cal- 

 culated without ash and water: 



r ahnan \ W Gemidd. van de 



I,a0uan. A tf o.-iNassau-kolen. 



Carbon 78,77 78,59 80,41 78,27 



Hydrogen .... 5,67 5,49 5,35 5,88 



Oxygen and Nitrogen 15,56 15,92 14,24 15,85 



Töofio "ÏÖÖ7ÖÖ ioo,ocT Töö^öö" 



