1842.] of the Damoodah Valley . 725 



the mineral districts lie, one continued line of country which has 

 been subjected to the greatest convulsions of nature, and the immense 

 chains of hills of igneous origin, which are visible throughout, are 

 corroborative of it. The connexion between these hills at distant points, 

 crossing the coal field, is proved by the line of the great basaltic 

 dykes, which protruding through the sandstone up to the surface of 

 the ground, are traceable from one point to another; whilst we have 

 proofs of the changes, which have been wrought upon the materials 

 by these mighty protrusions. It is not very often that the occurrences 

 of the intersection of basaltic dykes is observed. There are, however, 

 within this field, a vast number of these dykes which cross one another, 

 and of course they must have occurred at different ages, as will be 

 seen hereafter, and doubtless the changes in the subterranean minerals 

 have been affected by it. The most remarkable one which causes 

 these changes in the coal field is, one called the Salmah dyke, and 

 one nearly parallel to it at Bharah. These are distinctly traceable for 

 about 30 miles, and have produced a thorough change in the minerals 

 which are deposited on either side of it. The upheave is evidently to the 

 N. E., but to what exact amount I cannot say ; but I conjecture from 

 many circumstances which when examined closely into, leads me to 

 think that the dislocation is of some hundreds of feet. The quality of 

 the coal is also changed, and that portion of the coal field hitherto 

 opened upon, and whose mineral has been largely consumed, lead me 

 to believe, that the coal on the south-western, or lower side of this 

 dyke, is much superior to that on the North-eastern. There are 

 other large dykes and faults of magnitude which are already dis- 

 covered, and from which there are many alterations discernible, in- 

 dependent of lesser faults and interruptions such as impede the pro- 

 gress of the miner. At some distance up the Damoodah river on the 

 South-west bank, is the great hill of Pachete, from which innu- 

 merable dykes issue ; and all around its base, and between it and the 

 river, a space of about four miles, the country although abounding in 

 coal, is full of these dislocations* It is "nearly opposite to the centre 

 of this hill, which is about seven miles in length, that the Barracar river 

 unites with the Damoodah. The Baracar rises in the same range 

 of hills as the Damoodah, and continues its course through the 

 hill for some miles, until it is turned by the mighty Parsonath hill 



