viii Report of the Mineralogical Survey [No. 126.* 



contemplating these [provinces, that they are by no means so barren or so 

 worthless as may at first sight appear."] The indigenous population is 

 not likely speedily to improve, or to enter into these views, at least 

 without the support of European capital and the example of European 

 enterprise. And certainly, if the experiment of European colonization 

 is ever to be tried in India, we cannot select a better spot than these 

 mountains, whether we consider the favorable nature of the climate, 

 the great room for European improvements, the quantity of available 

 land, or lastly, the nursery which such a colony might form of a hardy 

 and warlike race to which we might in the hour of need owe the safety 

 of the empire. [But these views may be by many thought] visionary, and 

 [/ now] turn to notice, before concluding these preliminary remarks, one 

 other probable source of wealth, which though not, strictly speaking, be- 

 longing to these districts, is yet at no great distance from them; and to the 

 discovery of which, should it be discovered, the geological investigations 

 now going on must furnish the key. I allude to the strong reasons I 

 have brought forward for believing in the existence of coal in some part 

 of the Dooab ; such a discovery would indeed be more valuable than that 

 of a mine of the precious metals. In the great scarcity of fire wood, 

 [this mineral] would be invaluable. When we consider too how completely 

 the Dooab is adapted by nature to the ready formation of a complete 

 system of internal communication, we shall be convinced that it would 

 be sufficient to give an astonishing impetus to the march of im- 

 provement, and effect probably in a few years such a change as is 

 difficult to form even an idea of at the present moment. 



The following paper may be conveniently divided into five sections, 

 the subject of each being as follows : — 



1. Physical aspect and arrangement of the surface. 



2. Geological details. 



3. Recapitulation of the preceding, or general view of the geological 

 structure. 



4. Conclusion ; with notices of the most remarkable features of the 

 preceding general view as compared with systems, and with observation 

 in other countries. 



5. Mineral productions, comprising an account of the mines, method 

 of working, and suggestions for their improvement.* 



* See Note at p. vi. 



