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On Porcelain Clay found at Mangalore. By A. T. Christie, Esq. 

 Madras Medical Service. Communicated by Government. 



In compliance with the instructions of the Honourable the Court 

 of Directors, conveyed to me in a letter from their Secretary, before I 

 left England, to report proceedings to the Government of Fort St. 

 George, I have now the honor to furnish an outline of my researches 

 since my arrival in this presidency. 



In proceeding from Mangalore by way of Cannanore, Tellicherry, 

 and through Wynaad to the Neilgherry Hills, I had an opportunity 

 of examining the geological structure of the country along that line 

 of road. 



The country on the coast, and probably extending to the foot of the 

 Ghauts, consists entirely of the ferruginous claystone formation, which 

 has been described by Buchanan, under the name of laterite. It rests 

 upon granite and gneiss, which make their appearance in the beds of 

 many of the rivers, and very frequently on the sea coast. The late- 

 rite is of little importance in an economical point of view, except as a 

 building stone ; but is interesting when studied in relation to the phe- 

 nomena of springs, the nature of soils, and its general effects upon 

 vegetation, to all of which subjects I propose hereafter to devote my 

 attention. As far as I had an opportunity of examining the other for- 

 mations, they appear to yield no mineral products of any value. 



A few miles to the north of Mangalore, and in connection with the 

 laterite, I discovered an extensive deposit of pure porcelain clay, very 

 closely resembling that of Limoges in France, of which the beautiful 

 Sevres- ware is formed. I need not point out the importance of this 

 article. Being found close upon the coast, it might be easily shipped, 

 and sent home as dead weight, or with the assistance of Chinese work- 

 men, it may hereafter become an article of manufacture in India. I also 

 found it in considerable abundance, and nearly of equal purity on the 

 Neilgherries. 



The whole of Wynaad consists of primitive rocks, with a few 

 patches of laterite in certain situations, and great deposits of diluvi- 

 um. In the latter (which consists principally) of a reddish clay, with 

 imbedded fragments of gneiss, granite, and quartz, gold is found. 

 On the road between Nellival and Goodaloor, I observed some shal- 



