200 Report of the Coal Committee. [No. 98. 



Arracan. 



The more we know of coal, the more are we impressed with 

 the fact, that it never presents false indications of its presence. There 

 is hardly an instance either in India or elsewhere of its appearing at 

 all, that it does not do so under circumstances to render it in the 

 highest degree important to Society ; and although at first the quality 

 and extent of the beds in any new district may be for a time doubtful, 

 yet experience teaches us, that where these indications do not improve 

 in proportion to the intelligence and enterprise directed to their com- 

 plete development, the mineral is not true coal, but a substance, 

 the peculiarity of which is easily detected, as the brown coal of 

 English geologists. The samples of coal we received from different 

 parts of the Arracan coast, were such as to leave no question whatever 

 as to the beds from which they were taken belonging to the true 

 coal formation. 



Coal has been found composing a part of Oogadong, a small 

 island opposite to the harbour of Kyak Phyo, in two situations not 

 very far from each other. The sample supplied was much impreg- 

 nated with pyrites, it was however a caking coal, belonging to the 

 true coal measures. It would be a desirable object to try how far 

 the Oogadong coal might answer for the reduction of Rambree iron 

 ore, which is very abundant. Red Hill being said to be composed 

 entirely of an ore that was formerly worked to some extent by the 

 Burmese, a small quantity of the ore and coal might be sent to 

 Calcutta for trial, and if the result proved satisfactory, trials on a 

 larger scale might be repeated on the spot, where experiments of the 

 kind must always be cheaper and more satisfactory than when made 

 at a distance. Coal has also been found on Paget, or Adam's Island, 

 south of the great island of Rambree. It has also been found in 

 small seams in one of the Bolonga Islands, as well as near the beach 

 at Sandoway ; but the necessary information is wanting to enable 

 us to conclude any thing from these indications, beyond the fact of 

 the existence of coal, to a great extent, in the Arracan provinces. 



The most promising bed yet found, is one that was brought to 

 the notice of the Commissioner, Captain Bogle, by Lieut. Lumsden, 

 who states that it was found about two years ago by persons employed 

 in coal-finding by Captain Williams. This coal occurs at a place 

 called Hoong, near the head of a river, which descends from a range 

 of hills on the southern extremity of the island, falling into the Sando- 

 way channel. Mr. Lumsden states that large boats may approach to the 

 very spot where the coal is found. On visiting the spot, Mr. Lumsden 



