1842.J Mineral Resources of India. 829 



" Regarding the stratum of coal of which Government have received 

 some information through the communications of Lieut. Delamain and 

 others, I have not been able to make any discovery worthy of notice. 

 In my way down from Shahabad in 1797 to Burdwan, I crossed the 

 Dummooda river at the same ferry that Lieut. Delamain did, which is 

 called the Rajeghaut, and also the Goomeahghaut, (vide RennelPs 

 map, No. 8, Gopur). To the north of the ferry, at the distance of 

 three or four coss, there is a brook or rivulet, by the side of which I 

 recollect seeing a hot spring, that in some places burst with a flame and 

 caused a strong sulphureous smell. In the vicinity of this spring a 

 stratum of coal may exist, some fragments of which Lieut. Delamain 

 may have picked up from the bed of the Dummooda river that runs so 

 near to the source of the spring, distant only four coss from the ferry, 

 and into which the rivulet discharges itself. However this may be, 

 it is highly improbable that the coal which I have collected and de- 

 livered as a sample, can be from any stratum alluded to by that gen- 

 tleman, as the ford at which he passed is above forty coss beyond the 

 spot that I have specified. 



*' As incurring the expense of travelling for local investigation with- 

 out any immediate prospect would not suit my present circumstances, 

 I must confess, however my inclination leads me, I have not been 

 induced to undertake the journey. But if the Government should 

 deem it worth while to ascertain any further points on this subject, and 

 employ me for that purpose, I am willing to do the utmost in my 

 power, and trust that no objections may be made to defray my travelling 

 charges, which I presume would hardly exceed three hundred rupees. 

 In making this tender of my services, I cannot avoid remarking, that 

 my knowledge as a mineralogist is very confined, and that it appears a 

 business requiring a person well versed in the nature of coal, of which 

 it would be uncandid not to declare my ignorance. 



" I beg leave further to state, that during my enquiries regarding the 

 stratum of coal in Pachete, I have been informed by a man belonging 

 to Tellotoo in Shahabad, that the coal is an article well known in that 

 part of the country by the name of Khaurdhur, and used there on 

 some occasions medicinally. It is to be found at a place named 

 Thoorah, on the southern side of the Soane river, three coss above the 

 Coyle river. Here are also quantities of coal to be found in the bed 



