848 Report on specimens of Coal. [Oct. 



48. The specimens of coal, which I collected during my last search, 

 amount in the aggregate to about 16 pounds ; they were found lying 

 on the sands of the Sonne, between Silpee and Burdee, a distance of 

 more than 30 miles ; the fragments vary in weight, from a few grains to 

 pieces of three or four ounces, and they all present the appearance of 

 having been washed from a distance : those marked E, were collected 

 in my last examination. 



49. My time having now once more expired, I was most reluc- 

 tantly compelled to relinquish all further inquiry ; before, however, 

 returning to Chunar, I dispatched by a sure conveyance, copies of the 

 offer of reward to Burdee, and the principal villages in that direction 

 on the Soane ; and if a coal formation does exist in any part of the 

 country thus lately examined, I feel assured that it will not be long 

 before its discovery is reported to the authorities at Mirzapore. 



50. In conclusion, I beg leave to apologize for all defects which 

 on perusal may be found in the preceding report : the attempts at geo- 

 logical inferences, are given with the utmost possible deference. In 

 this branch of science I have had but little experience — in fact it is 

 with much hesitation I have ventured at all on the subject. On 

 second thoughts, however, I deemed it best, even at the risk of error, 

 to give the facts just as they were impressed on my mind, and in so 

 doing I trust I may not have materially erred. My important opium 

 duties have left me but little leisure, even supposing I possessed the 

 ability — to prepare an elaborate report : the foregoing is consequently 

 written in great haste, and hence I more readily venture to hope, that 

 all imperfections may meet with the most indulgent consideration. 



II. — Report on ten specimens of Coal from Captain Burses. 



Although on a general inspection of the specimens contained in 

 Captain Burnes's despatch, some disappointment is felt at not finding 

 any, which may be at once pronounced to be ordinary working coal, 

 such as occurs in abundance in England, and is obtained in Burdwan, 

 Assam, and other parts of India, still there is enough among them to 

 encourage hopes, of finding coal in profitable beds in the vicinity of 

 the Indus, when more carefully explored. 



Four of the specimens are in fact of the very purest form of mineral 

 coal, — that in which all vegetable appearance is lost, and a semi-crys- 

 talline homogeneous structure supervenes, the result apparently of 

 fusion under heavy pressure and confinement. 



