1842.] of the Damoodah Valley . 727. 



is near to the centre of this jungle ; there a reddish sand-stone conglome- 

 rate is perceived ; thence commences a gradual descent until we reach the 

 Singharun Nullah, before alluded to. This is the first point of the 

 coal field on the south limit. The distance from this point on the 

 Benares road to the junction of the Singharun with the Damoodah is 

 about five miles, and to cross the country northward to the Adji at 

 Seedparah Ghaut is about seven miles, so that the breadth of land be- 

 tween the two rivers of Damoodah and Barracar may be taken on an 

 average of twelve miles. The streams are nearly parallel until the point 

 where the Barracar enters the Damoodah ; probably the same causes 

 which were exerted to turn that river to the east have operated to do 

 the same by the Adji, which similarly bends easterly at nearly the 

 same parallel of latitude. Into the Damoodah, or southern river, we 

 trace the following minor streams, proceeding upwards and commenc- 

 ing with the Singharun, which small nullah drains the lands all the 

 way up to Hidgelgurreah hill, situated about three miles from the Adji. 

 In this nullah coal is found to crop out at a distance from the Benares 

 road about one and a half mile, and the basset edge of coal veins are 

 traceable along its bank for about three to four miles. Advantage has 

 been taken of that circumstance to open collieries upon it, and to 

 drain the mine- water into this nullah. There have been workings up- 

 on this vein of coal, which varies from seven to nine feet in thickness, 

 ever since 1832, but success has not attended the operations, as the 

 object of despatching the coal by the way of the Adji river down to 

 the river Hooghly has proved both dangerous and expensive, and the 

 coal obtained therefrom, probably owing to its proximity to the surface, 

 has been of inferior quality. Late openings have been made with a view 

 of conveying it to the Damoodah, which is five miles distant, to which 

 it has to be carted at considerable cost ; whilst to the Adji, that dis- 

 tance is from the nearest of those openings six miles, and others seven 

 miles. The line in which this vein of coal is found, continues from the 

 first opening alluded to across the country and to the Hidgelgurreah hill, 

 and thence across the river Adji into the Beerbhoom district. Although 

 even near to the Adji, it is not discovered of so great a thickness, the 

 vein having evidently " thinned out" towards the village of Beercol- 

 tee. The first opening or lowest down the stream is that by Messrs. 

 Erskine, being the one now whose coal is conveyed by carts to the 



