1062 Mr. Kittoes tour in Orissa. [Dec. 



I encamped on the banks of the river, about half a mile east of the 

 town and Gurh ; the latter is on a sandstone rock washed by the river, 

 the former is contiguous to it on the south side, extending for half a 

 mile or more. The Gurh is a stockade surrounded on three sides by 

 a deep ditch ; within is a long street reaching from the southern wicket 

 to the chief entrance of the raja's residence, the principal buildings of 

 which are of masonry. All the smaller out-houses, had been burned to 

 the ground, together with the granaries a few days previous to my 

 arrival. 



The raja with his sons paid me a visit in the afternoon. I was very 

 agreeably surprised to find him a shrewd intelligent old man. He has 

 travelled over the greatest part of India, having performed pilgrimages 

 to Ramesseram near Ceylon, and to Budrinath in the Hymalayas. He 

 promised every assistance towards furthering the discovery of coal 

 fields. On his taking leave I presented him with a musical box with 

 which he was much delighted. 



In the evening I returned the raja's visit ; he shewed me his Gurh 

 which is in a very dilapidated state, as an excuse for which he said 

 that there was no occasion for strongholds, while he lived under Bri- 

 tish protection. He dwelt much on his poverty. After taking leave of 

 him, his sons accompanied me to a nullah about half a mile to the 

 westward, and called Billaijooree, in the banks of which at about 400 

 yards from the river, seams of coal are apparent ; they appear to abut 

 on the sandstone rock, and are a very few feet below the undulating 

 surface, which is alternately clay and shingle. The seams vary in quality 

 and thickness, and are curved nearly parallel with the undulations of 

 the superstrata. 1 attempted to sink a shaft, but was prevented by 

 coming upon a hard rock of a bluish color containing mica, coal and 

 fossil plants. I blasted the rock, which proved twelve and a half feet 

 thick, beneath it was a stiff grey clay containing coarse sand and 

 mica. 



The following day I again visited the coal beds, and lighted a large 

 fire, to the amusement of the natives who had never seen stones 

 ignited. 



The next morning I proceeded to the village of Mungulprasdd 

 about fifteen miles west of Talcher, under which is a dry torrent called 

 the Sungurra, in the banks of which coal beds, averaging from five to 

 fifteen feet, are exposed to view alternately on either side for one or 

 two miles distance : there are several descriptions of coal, specimens of 

 all of which I brought away with me. 



From this spot I retraced my steps towards the plains, leaving Tal~ 



