1:838.] Supposed Coal Field at Bidjeegurh. 847 



various sizes, the aggregate weight of which did not exceed one pound: 

 this I considered as conclusive evidence of the specimens having been 

 washed down, only by the waters of the Soane. 



44. Nearly a month had now elapsed : I was in consequence, reluc- 

 tantly compelled to return to Chunar, with the intention of applying 4o 

 the Senates opium agent, for extension of leave for another fortnight, 

 in order to prosecute the clue I had just obtained. Before however 

 leaving this part of the country, I caused to be notified to all classes 

 of inhabitants the object of my search, offering at the same time a re- 

 ward of Rs. 200 to any individual who would engage to point out a 

 coal deposit in the perguna, and had the satisfaction of seeing them 

 readily interest themselves in the search. I then returned to Chunar 

 on Friday the 29th December, 1837. 



45. As already stated in the 7th para, of my letter, I readily ob- 

 tained an extension of leave for a fortnight, and arrived at the Soane, 

 as stated in the 8th and 9 paragraphs, on the 29th January, 1838. 



46. I commenced a minute search along the bed of the Soane, and 

 also upon its banks, from the former I collected a number of small 

 specimens of coal, all however, much to my mortification bearing evi- 

 dent traces of having been washed from a considerable distance. I 

 continued to progress westerly, and passed over a second formation of 

 black mountain limestone, dipping westerly. This I traced for some 

 distance up the Chutwar nullah, without meeting any encouraging 

 indication : on the contrary, I found the primitive clay slate protruding 

 on the highest parts of the adjacent hills : in other parts I found it 

 alternating with limestone. 



47. The nature of my search had by this time become familiar 

 with the natives of the country ; the offer of a pecuniary reward had the 

 effect of inducing them to exert themselves in the search : they all 

 agreed in the opinion, that the specimens I had obtained were washed 

 from a deposit, situated near the source of the Soane ; this would bring 

 the locality in about the same parallel of latitude with the coal fields of 

 Palamow and Sirguja, as described by Captains Franklin and Sage, 

 in the " Gleanings of Science'" for July 1830 — consequently, I pre- 

 sume that, were the fact of a coal deposit established in that locality, 

 the same causes that have prevented the Palamow mines from being 

 worked, would also operate here, and on account of its distance 

 from the Ganges at Chunar and Mirzapore, in a still greater degree, 

 so as utterly to preclude all idea of the same being brought to advan- 

 tageous account. 



5o 



