856 Notes on the Iron of the Kasia Hills. [No. 129. 



Expenditure. 



3 Men, (excavators,) at four annas for twenty days, Rs. 15 



2 Women, (washers,) at one and half do. for thirty days, 5 10 

 2 Lads employed in clearing the channel, and watching 



the dam D. at two annas for twenty days, . . . . 5 



Rent, . . . . 10 



35 10 



Profit. 



The work of three men, averaging a value of twenty-seven 



rupees each, .. .. .. .. .. ..8100 



Deduct, 35 10 



Profit annually, . . . . 45 6 



The ore when washed is sold for smelting by the basket, one rupee 

 for seven baskets, or about three maunds. 



After smelting, as above described, it is generally sold in the hills by 

 the score of pieces. At Mongkrem one rupee, or one rupee two annas 

 a score. About a dozen of these pieces go to the maund, and at 

 the Pundua bazar, at the foot of the hills, they sell by weight at 

 one rupee four annas a maund. Fourteen or fifteen of these pieces 

 are made in one furnace in a day's work, or where the work is carried 

 on day and night, as is common in some places, from twenty-four 

 to twenty-five in the twenty-four hours. Specimen No. 6 shews the 

 iron in this state. It is also sold in pigs, such as specimen No. 10, 

 at three rupees four annas to three rupees eight annas in the Cherra 

 bazar. Of this the smiths tell me, there will be a further waste of ten 

 or fifteen seers in the maund. 



List of Specimens forwarded. 



No. 1. Decomposed rock containing the ore. 



No. 2. Ditto in a more solid state. 



No. 3. Boulders in the ground excavated. 



No. 4. Ore partially washed. 



No. 5. Ditto ready for the furnace. 



No. 6. Metal after smelting as sent to market (half a piece.) 



