1838.] Report upon the Coal of Sylhet. 959 



Perhaps the most important results from opening coal mines in 

 Assam for the supply of Gangetic steamers, until more convenient 

 sources should become better known than at present, would consist in 

 the assurance of an unlimited and steady supply at all seasons, and the 

 widening of the field for competition, while the attention of natives being 

 directed to a new and promising branch of trade, the measure would 

 contribute largely to the local improvement of the province. 



To the above account of the coal fields of Assam it may be useful to 

 add some further information collected by the committee in respect to 

 the coal of Cherrapoonjee and other parts of the hills north of Sylhet, 

 and likewise respecting the coal field on the Koela nulla near the Soan, 

 river in Behar. The information in respect to the former mines is hi 

 the shape of replies obtained from Mr. G. Loch, the deputy collector 

 of Sylhet, to queries addressed to him by the committee for the purpose 

 of ascertaining the possibility of turning the coal of that district to 

 account in steam navigation : and similar queries were addressed to the 

 Engineer of the steam service, Mr. Tytler, at Danapur, in order to 

 ascertain the same points in respect to the Soan and Koela coal field. 

 The queries and the replies are given as they were received. 



I. Sylhet coal, G. Loch, Esq. B. C. S* Deputy Collector, 



Sylhet. 



1st. " How many situations are there in your neighbourhood at 

 which good coal is known to be raised, and what is the distance of the 

 mines from the nearest navigable rivers ?" 



1st. There are three, Cherrapoonjee, Sirareem, and Lour. The 

 coal of the last mentioned place is inferior to the Bardwan, but the 

 vein is close to a small river navigable for dingees during the rains. 

 Cherra is eleven miles from JPandua, to which place boats of 500 

 maunds can proceed during the rains ; but it is necessary to bring the 

 coal from Terriah-ghat at the foot of the hills to Pandua in dingees, a 

 distance of four miles. The Sirareem vein has never been worked, 

 and is farther in the interior of the hills, four or five miles from 

 Cherra. 



2nd. "What are the situations at which depots might be most 

 conveniently established ? for what period would these depots respec- 

 6 E 



