1842.] of the Himmalay a Mountains, vii 



within these provinces. The reasons on which this probability rests, 

 will be found in the Supplementary Paper.* Whether the discovery 

 may in any reasonable period reward the zeal of an enquirer, or may 

 wait finally that advanced stage of improvement in [which all the resour- 

 ces of a country are carefully and accurately explored is a problem, the'] 

 solution of which it were vain to seek. But of the actual existence of 

 the metal within these mountains, no one can doubt who will read the 

 few details I have given. . 



13. In the copper, lead, and iron, however, in which the province 

 abounds, may be found a more tangible, as well as more productive 

 source of wealth. It is certain that the former metal exists in very con- 

 siderable quantity, and for the iron, nothing is wanting but a proper 

 system of management to render it superior to that of England. To 

 her repositories of these metals, of tin, and of the mineral coal, is Eng- 

 land mainly indebted, [for her vast wealth and power ; and it is strange 

 that they should be neglected in India, as if] the truly valuable minerals 

 were . the gold of Potosi, or the diamonds of Brazil and Golconda. 

 Why they should not here equally prove mines of wealth, if properly 

 managed, appears difficult to understand. With the ore in abundance, 

 fuel, and other means of reduction at hand, labour cheap, a very short 

 line of mountain carriage, and half of that a line of made road, what is 

 there, but capital and skill required to produce any quantity of the 

 metal, and considerably under the present market price ? 



14. But these though probably the most productive, are not the only 

 mineral sources of wealth * * * * 

 nearly its weight of silver, as even though it should not all prove to be 

 of such first rate quality, yet the inferior kinds are also of such 

 extensive use and application, as to render it a truly valuable deposit. 

 Quarries also of marble, of slate, of potstone, of gypsum, supplies of 

 sulphur, of sulphate of iron, and of alum are found. The trade in borax is 

 well worthy of attention, and no doubt the whole supply of Europe 

 might be drawn through these mountains. If to these be added other 

 articles of trade and consumption, such as timber, hemp, bees' wax, 

 wool, and live stock, as sheep, &c. it will readily be acknowledged in 



* Captain Herbert alludes here to his paper on " the Mineral Productions of the 

 Himmalaya Mountains, "p. 236 Part I. Vol. XVIII. Trans. As. Socy.— Ed. 



