1841.] On the Mineral resources, fyc. of Northern Afghanistan. 83 



likewise in great demand in the Punjaub. It sells in Cashmeer, for three times 

 the price of the common iron of that country, and it is used in Candahar for the 

 fabrication of matchlocks. 



Were an improvement in the manufacture to take place, iron might no doubt be 

 obtained equal to the Swedish— the best description in Europe. It was my intention to 

 visit the district of Bajour at this time ; but having been prevented from accomplish- 

 ing my object, I am dependent on what information I have picked up hastily from 

 merchants and others, who have been in the habit of visiting it, for the purpose of 

 purchasing iron. The supply of iron, however, which the mountains in that direction 

 afford, must be perfectly inexhaustible, from the intelligence I have derived, as to the 

 immense quantity of this iron sand, which is annually washed down from their 



A sample of the sand was brought to me sometime ago, and taken from the bed of 

 the stream at once, without being sifted and prepared for smelting. On applying the 

 magnet, the ore was immediately taken up, and the quartzose and other strong particles 

 remained. I then placed a small quantity of iron filings in contact with the ore, and 

 the mutual attraction of the filings with the crystals of ore, was easily recognized with 

 the assistance of the magnifier. It is described as occurring in great abundance in 

 the mountain streams of Deer, Belour, and Mydan, which fall into the river of 

 Punjcora, that ultimately joins the Cabool river below Peshawur. 



The methods of reduction in this country, appear to be the same with those 

 employed in different parts of India ; and the manufacture in the Himalaya mountains, 

 already described by Capt. Herbert, is equally applicable to that of Bajour. 

 It is evident, that whatever quantity of the ore is submitted for reduction, a small 

 proportional part of the iron contained in the ore is brought to the state of use- 

 ful iron. In the first process, a very crude mass of iron and scoria is produced ; 

 this crude mass is then submitted to the fire by a blacksmith, and after an incredible 

 sacrifice of labour, a piece of malleable iron, fit for ordinary purposes, is at last pro- 

 duced, which, as may well be supposed, is any thing but the purest. 



A more rude and inefficient system of smelting could not be devised, nor must 

 it be understood from the simplicity of the management, that the processes are 

 economical— they are the most expensive which could possibly be employed. It 

 would be absurd to suppose that a refractory metal like iron, can ever be properly or 

 economically fabricated by means of a great expenditure of manual labour, to 

 the neglect of a mechanical power, such as a plentiful stream of water can afford, 

 and which is to be obtained abundantly in the district that yields the sand I have 

 described. So long as the miserable air bags, and a common blacksmith's sledge 

 hammer are used for that purpose, iron inferior in quality, very deficient in quantity, 

 and at an extravagant price, must be the necessary consequence. 



But Afghan inexperience and mismanagement does not stop here. The crude 

 iron is not converted into malleable on the spot, where charcoal abounds and 

 labour is exceedingly cheap ; but is transported slag and all, to Cabool, for instance, 

 where both charcoal and labour are exceedingly dear. Again, in working up this 



* Should there be a proportion of titanum combined with this ore, I imagine it will be trifling. 

 When I submit a supplementary Report, with the chemical analysis of different ores, this will be ex- 

 plained. The colour of the iron sand is dark black. 



