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



Barracar on the west bank, and a little above the Benares road 

 ferry, another vein of coal, about nine feet in thickness, is thrown up, 

 and is now worked ; but its quality is extremely low in the scale of fuel ; 

 and at about eight miles further from Barracar, and on the western 

 bank, the sandstone formation is abruptly superseded by the schistose 

 rocks and hills about Panraw, where the Benares road crosses the 

 Barracar at the ferry of Bagooneah; and all around there, the 

 ironstone measures rise out of the river, and are seen basseting out 

 for some miles ; the veins of iron are three, of a thickness two to 

 three inches, and very poor in metal. These ironstone measures lie over 

 the vein of coal, which is found on the opposite bank at Bermoory, 

 as well as at a place called Ramnaghur, about three miles higher 

 up, and it is traceable all the way across the country to the Adji 

 river, thence across it towards the Beerbhoom hills, and down that river 

 at various places near Jamalpore, Cherooleah, and Hedgelgureah, until 

 the formation is wholly lost near Seedparah Ghaut. Nearly in a line 

 from Begooneah, at which ferry are the great Jeyne temples towards 

 Cherooleah, and at a distance from Mamutpore, on the Benares 

 road of about four miles, is situated the village of Hattoreah Aytoorah. 

 At this place the vein of coal crops out, as also does in many other 

 smaller veins, and here was undoubtedly situated the first colliery ever 

 opened in India by the agency of European superintendence. The 

 remains of old crop workings are still visible near to the village, 

 which were carried on by Mr. Heatly in 1774, or thereabouts, 

 and it was from this place the coals denominated in those days 

 Ramghur coals, were obtained ; the whole of this country being at that 

 time subjected to the rule of the Rajah of Ramghur; and it is 

 an historical fact, that Mr. Heatly, at that time being politically 

 employed by Government, captured the Rajah, and probably ob- 

 tained a knowledge of the existence of coal through some atten- 

 dant circumstances, and for working which, he was said to have ob- 

 tained Government permission. It seems the coal was twice or thrice 

 worked, and consumed in the arsenal of Fort William ; the records of 

 Government attest the fact, and the reasons assigned for discontinu- 

 ance of operations were, that the coal did not answer the purposes for 

 which it was required, the work was abandoned, and seems to have 

 lain idle ever since. The line of one of the great dykes passes close 



