844 Supposed Coal Field at Bidjeegurh. [Oct. 



It is not possible to precipitate a mass of rock from the summit, so as 

 to remain on the spot marked a, at page 11; the ledge there is barely 

 broad enough for two men to pass abreast — in many places not for one 

 man to find sure footing. 



28. I have now carefully examined the locality pointed out by Mr. 

 Hyland: (vide sketch.) The strata from a to b may be called a 

 longitudinal section, laid bare to the fall at b ; it runs, doubtless under- 

 ground to i ; is exposed on alternate sides of the nullah to g, runs 

 underground to f, where a transverse section is exposed : an oblique 

 section is again seen at n. An imaginary horizontal section of these 

 parts, I estimate at about 600, or perhaps 700 feet below the summit 

 of the circumjacent crags, l and m, &e. 



29. At k, page 4, is seen the mine of Kusis, (crude sulphate of 

 iron,) containing about 39 per cent, of the dry salt : (vide analysis, page 

 41.) The vein follows the curve at the bottom of the precipice, about 

 200 feet from the summit. I had not sufficient leisure to examine the 

 extent of the mine, but from general description, I learn the mineral may- 

 be obtained in almost any quantity. It appears in the state of a fine 

 white efflorescence, commingled with the slaty matter of the matrix. 



30. Mr. Hyland having thus failed in pointing out a deposit of 

 coal, or even the existence of the mineral, I did not consider myself 

 justified in remaining longer, especially, as one out of my three weeks 

 had thus expired, and so very unprofitably. I therefore left on the 

 9th December, ascended the narrow and difficult pass at M, impracti- 

 cable for beasts of burden, and reached Bidjeegurh in the evening. 

 Mr. Hyland however determined to remain behind at the late scene of 

 operations, with the view of regaining the entrance of some sup- 

 posed hidden mine. Mr. H. has distinctly acknowledged to me, that 

 he does not know whence the specimens of coal he exhibited were 

 obtained ; he merely supposed them to have been dug out from the spot 

 lately examined by me : there I have determined, it does not exist : he 

 has moreover confessed to me, on two several occasions, and in direct 

 opposition to the 4th para, of his letter at page 31, that he had never 

 seen coal excavated from the Ghaggir nudee. 



31. On Monday the 11th December, I marked out a spot in the 

 Samdha nullah, below the, now deserted, fortress of Bidjeegurh, erected 

 a bund, drained the enclosure and proceeded to denude a portion of 

 the bank, and expose the formation of " bituminous marie slate," which 

 I find abounds in all parts of the valley of the Ghaggir and Samdha, 

 and of which, my present locality was selected as a fair example of the 

 whole. 



