582 



Note on the Map attached to the Report of the Coal Committee in the 

 9%th Number of the Journal of the Asiatic Society. — By Capt. 

 Macleod, M. N. I. late in charge of Ava Residency . 



The importance of correct geographical information, and that errors 

 should not continue to be perpetuated through the Journal of the Asia- 

 tic Society, or at least, that what has been advanced on native infor- 

 mation, or laid down on surmise, may not be received as indisputable 

 facts, induce me to trouble you with this note, and the accompanying 

 sketch. 



A comparison between the sketch map appended to the Report of the 

 Coal Committee in the 98th No. of the Journal of the Asiatic Society, 

 and the one now submitted, will at once show wherein the errors in the 

 former lie, I will not, therefore, take up your time by pointing them out. 



The sketch by the Coal Committee, above alluded to, has been 

 evidently copied from the map of the Eastern Frontier, by the late 

 Capt. Pemberton ; the coal locality marked C. was not noted in his 

 original map, not having been discovered at the time of its com- 

 pilation ; indeed, corrections in the sheet representing that portion of 

 the country in the map, become necessary, in consequence of many 

 doubtful points having fallen under the personal examination or survey 

 of various persons ; and subsequent to its passing out of Capt. Pem- 

 berton's hand, a whole sheet was cancelled, and another substituted in 

 its place. I presume, however, the boundary line as marked by Capt. 

 Pemberton from information, was preserved in the new sheet, and 

 when the coal field was discovered, its site being from observations 

 beyond that line, it was taken for granted as belonging to the Siamese, 

 and placed accordingly in the Map. 



The position so assigned to it, has evidently led the Committee 

 into doubt ; for in the report above noticed, it says, " although the 

 quality is excellent in the third situation in which the mineral has been 

 found by Dr. Heifer at C, yet its distance from the coast is such 

 as to render it of very doubtful utility on the Bengal side of the 

 Peninsula, whatever benefit it may eventually prove on the Gulf 

 of Siam, as it seems to be situated beyond the boundary range of 

 hills." It is this point that, I think, merits some attention, and on 

 which I have to offer a few observations. 



