1842.] Mineral Resources of India. 833 



been recently informed of there being a considerable stratum of coal 

 in the bed of the Dummooda river, very near to the place where troops 

 coming down the country are accustomed to cross that river in the 

 Burdwan district. On the 3d January, 1809, the Board wrote again, 

 mentioning Lieut. Delamain as the discoverer, and that he had been 

 written to for particulars. Col. Hardwicke, who was the informant of 

 the Military Board, had " no better evidence of the fact than is obtain- 

 able from the enclosed note from Mr. Moreton." The enclosed note 

 ran thus : — 



" I remember to have seen some pieces of very fine coal in the pos- 

 session of Lieutenant James Delamain, who had taken them from 

 the bed of the Dummooda, at or near that part of it crossed by the 

 7th Regt. of Native Infantry on its march from the Upper Provinces to 

 Barrackpore, some four or five years ago. I am likewise informed 

 by a gentleman, who has resided in the district of Burdwan, that he has 

 frequently taken up pieces from the bed of the river at a place about 

 five or six coss above the Civil Station, and if I am not mistaken, you 

 will find some particulars on this subject in a work lately published, 

 and denominated " Wild Sports of the East." 



W. Moreton. 



On the 24th January, 1809, Lieut. Delamain sent in his explanation. 



To Lieut. T. MADDOCK, Assistant Secretary to the Military Board. 



Sir, — In reply to your letter, dated the 3d instant, I request you will 

 state to the Military Board my regret, that the specimens of coal which 

 I had by me, have in the course of moving, been all lost. 



It may afford, however, some slight guidance to mention, that I took 

 the pieces of coal out of the Dummooda river, when the 7th Regiment 

 marched down in December 1802, at the first ford between the village 

 of Gomea and Angbella, (for we crossed it twice). The fragments 

 though numerous, were all small, and strewed about immediately at 

 the ford. As I did not burn any of it, I could not ascertain whether 

 it were of a good or spurious species. It seemed however of a slaty 

 structure, harder than the common coal, soiling the fingers but little 

 when rubbed, and the colour approaching to grey. I am sorry that 



