1841.] On the Mineral resources, fyc. of Northern Afghanistan. 87 



The iron of Foormool is from the country of the Wuzeereas, in the direction of 

 Kaneegcorrum. It was my intention to have visited this district after surveying 

 Bajour , for though the iron is much inferior to that of Bajour, it is very abundant, 

 and extensively used for implements of husbandry, horse-shoes, cannon balls, &c. 

 The specimens of ore which have been brought to me, and reported to be from that 

 quarter, are clay iron stone, and I believe this to be ore, from the fact of coal 

 existing in that vicinity. 



Should a foundry for cast iron be eventually required in Afghanistan, the iron in 

 the Wuzeeree country will be well adapted for the casting of shot, shells, engine 

 cylinders, pumps, &c. ; whilst for bars, rods, fire-arms, &c. the superior iron of 

 Bajour will always be preferred.* 



I have mentioned the existence of iron ore in the copper district which has been 

 described. The Moosye iron is not conveniently situated for fuel to render it of im- 

 mediate importance. A specimen, however, of iron ore has been brought to me from 

 Huryoob in the Jajee country, which borders on that district. The ore is of an iron- 

 grey colour, and gives a red streak, but does not affect the magnet. It is re- 

 ported to be in great quantity, and the country is described as being covered with 

 jungle. Should the copper mines in the course of time be worked on a great scale, 

 and the consumption of iron proportionate, mines of the latter metal will also be 

 worked there, for the sake of the demand in that neighbourhood, and of Cabool. 



In concluding these imperfect notices on the subject of the copper and iron deposits 

 of this country, I would beg to observe, that in directing attention to the former 

 , metal, I do so, not only on account of the demand of it for coinage, and the 

 ready market it meets with from its extensive use for domestic purposes throughout 

 I the countries to the west of the Indus, but from the known demand for it to the east 

 ' of that river likewise. 



Should gold or silver mines be discovered in these regions, and there is nothing 

 unlikely in the idea that they may, the probability is, that they will always, as far as 

 intrinsic value is concerned, occupy a very inferior scale of importance to the copper 

 repositories. 



If it be a common saying in South America, (the richest country in the world for 

 the precious metals,) that " a copper mine is a fortune, a silver mine scarcely pays it- 

 self, but a gold mine is ruin," we may readily conclude, that in this quarter of 

 Asia, where there is such an extensive consumption of the former, the observation is 

 still more likely to become applicable. 



But valuable as these repositories of copper may prove, they again need not be ex- 

 pected to equal the results which may be anticipated eventually from working the 

 great stores of iron to be met with in Afghanistan. 



By rendering the copper available, however, for which there is such a great mar- 

 ket, a fresh demand is provided for the iron, and an improvement in the manufacture 



* There is another iron produced in another locality in the Wuzeeree country, from which steel 

 is made. The ore I have not yet seen, but it must be from a different formation to the one which 

 contains the clay iron stone. I shall adverted to this in my supplementary report. 



