726 A Description of the Coal Field [No. 128. 



towards a more easterly direction, and then thrown towards the 

 schistose hills of the Monghyr range, continuing a rocky stream 

 until it bursts through the schistose rocks near to the Panraw hill, 

 and between it and Dabystan, where it enters the coal field, and 

 continues onward until it abuts against the base of the Pachete hill. 

 The Barracar river has on its northern bank innumerable faults, and 

 all running parallel with it, and as I said before, they are traceable from 

 the Pachete hill and run towards the Panraw hill. To the North- 

 west of these dykes, which lie generally at a distance of about one to 

 two miles from the Barracar river, no coal is discovered. The eruption 

 of greenstone dykes, which I have not only discovered on the surface 

 of tl^e ground, but by sinking pits I have come down upon them at 

 considerable depths, and found them dipping at a sharp angle, com- 

 pletely cutting off all the minerals, and a change in the nature of the 

 rocks which accompany it, takes place. Within the space of country, 

 between the rivers Barracar, Adji and Damoodah, and a line of country 

 generally four to six miles in breadth, to the South and West of this 

 last river, is the coal field ; and glancing at a map, it will be seen it is 

 of great extent, and with little exception, may be taken to be full of 

 coal and iron-stone. The veins, however, are not all of them of such 

 thickness, or of such a quality as will warrant any profitable operations 

 for working the mineral. In some situations the best veins lie at great 

 depths, whilst at others, they are comparatively shallow, and are found 

 to a great extent upon the crop of the vein. Much of the coal hitherto 

 worked and brought to Calcutta, is from such openings, and it is well 

 known, that it is necessary to ensure obtaining good coal that the 

 vein be found and worked from beneath some superstratum ; and if 

 that be of sand-stone or shale, so much more likely is the mineral to 

 prove of good quality, and less liable to perish with the weather; wast- 

 ing its tar as well as crumbling and mouldering to dust, and turning 

 grey coloured so soon as the natural tar has been evaporated. 



I shall first place an account of the works now opened, and at which 

 coal is obtained and despatched for sale to Calcutta, commencing at 

 the lowest end, where the Benares new road having passed over the 

 alluvial plain near Burdwan, commences a slight ascent nearer to the 

 jungle of Furreedpore. This jungle, which is of some extent, is upon a 

 red konkary soil, and reaching the dawk bungalow of Kyrasole, which 



