1838.] Report upon the Coal beds of Assam. 949 



of at least forty miles along the foot of the Butan mountains, con- 

 nected with the fact of its having been discovered in a similar way by 

 the late Mr. Scott on the banks of the Teesta river at the foot of the 

 Sikim mountains, three degrees less to the eastward, tends to encourage 

 the hope of finding coal in the lower ranges of the same chain, in 

 some situation in which it may be available for useful purposes. 



Regarding Captain Vetch's specimens, Captain Jenkins observes : 

 " These discoveries of coal on the north bank of the Bramaputra, and 

 over a tract of country 50 miles in length, appear to me to add greatly 

 to the importance of previous discoveries of coal on the south banks of 

 the river, for I conceive it may be presumed that we have by no means 

 obtained a knowledge of the full extent of the coal beds in Assam, and 

 that it is not improbable, that they are co-extensive on both sides of the 

 valley, and will be found nearly throughout its whole extent." 



To understand the value of the other two more useful discoveries of 

 coal that have been made in Assam, subsequently to the publication of 

 the last reports of the committee, it is necessary to examine the value 

 in a practical point of view, of what has been previously made known 

 on the subject. 



Captain Henderson refers to six places at which coal had been 

 found, indicating the existence of an extended line of coal districts from 

 Gowahatti to Bramakund. However probable this may be, we have 

 as yet done little to develope the fact, so as render it practically useful ; 

 and in all inquiries of this kind, it is no less important to point out 

 where information is defective, than it is to bring forward successful 

 results. 



If we suppose an extensive series of coal districts to exist in Assam, 

 corresponding with the numbers marked on the sketch-map already 

 adverted to, the more western beds from their vicinity to Bengal are 

 entitled to our first consideration. 



As to No. 6, however, the most western of all, and supposed to be 

 situated on the Kopili river, within sixty miles of Gowahatti, we. can 

 find no information ; so that the existence of coal at this very desirable 

 point rests merely on a specimen having been found in the sands of the 

 stream by Mr. Hudson. 



Of the next coal, No. 5, we have a very clear and distinct account, as 

 far as it goes, in a letter from Ensign Bkodie to Captain Jenkins, 

 dated 17th May, 1837, which we can do no better than give at length. 

 Ensign Brodie observes — " With reference to your letter of 23rd March, 

 I have the honor to forward you a sketch from Mr. Hudson, showing 

 the spots where coal has been fonnd within this division ( Nowgong ) ; 



