I 



11 





f ) 





368 



Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. 



[April, 



These specimens have heen very roughly tested, as I knew not what were the 

 quantities of ammonia and water. 



You will greatly ohlige me by letting me know as soon as possible whether any 

 of these are likely to be of use, as his Lordship the Governor General expressed 

 a wish that I would inform him of the result of the examination as soon as I could. 



In addition to the foregoing, I have the pleasure to send a few specimens from 

 Subathii which I have not yet tested. 



Nos. 7, 8 and 9, are abundant on rocks and may possibly prove to be the same 

 species. No. 10, on rocks, not so abundant. 



Of No. 1, I have put a small quantity in the box also. 



The specimens will be forwarded home without delay. 



Mr. C. Symes, Branch Pilot, presented a stuffed specimen of the sword 

 fish, on the part of Mr. J. T. Twisten. 



Extract of a letter from Captain Jenkins, furnished the following infor- 

 mation regarding coal and iron of Assam, from Captain Hannay. 

 Sir, Jeypore, the \st February, 1838. 



With reference to your letter of the 15th December last, enclosing letters regard- 

 ing coal, I have the honor to state that since my arrival here I have discovered 

 several beds of workable coal, and that I have already commenced clearing a large 

 vein about 2 miles distant from this. 



As I wish to collect the coal at as little expense as possible, I have commenced 

 working the vein nearest to Jeypore, and before I came to this determination I 

 employed myself on exploring the neighbourhood, and have been very successful in 

 finding coal and iron in great plenty. 



The coal is generally in veins of considerable size and is turned in all directions 

 without reference to any particular bearings. The outcrop of the different strata or 

 vein may, I believe, be seen in most of the small ravines or water-courses which 

 come from these hills. 



The coal which has come under my observation appears to me to be of a descrip- 

 tion between, slate coal No. 1, and canal coal. The best of the bed being as yet 

 unseen, however I cannot speak correctly of its qualities for manufacturing purposes. 



In the soil of the hills generally, large and small amorphous masses of clay iron 

 ore are found, some of the masses of a size sufficient for two men to lift, and on one 

 of the hills, the soil of which is highly red colored, mines or wells are still visible 

 of a considerable depth from which the above description of one bed been extracted 

 many years ago. 



Nodules of iron ore ere also abundant in the strata above the coal barring only 

 a stratum of blue sand of 3 feet in depth separating the two. 



Varieties of this ore are found in several other localities in the hills as also in the 

 bed of the Dehing and on both banks, for some distance above this ; some of the 

 specimens are apparently brown and red hematite, and as an opportunity offers, I 

 shall have much pleasure in forwarding specimens of the whole. 



Petroleum is also plentiful, and it here presents itself rising from beds of coal 

 which are visible ; the description is of a thicker consistency than what I had before 

 seen in this country ; the color is also dark brown, and it does not possess so pun» 

 gent an odour. 



I have also to state that in one of my excursions in the neighbourhood, I walked 

 through a tea tract of considerable extent, contiguous to what 1 believe had been 

 pointed out to some of Mr. Bruce's people. 



What I have seen is entirely on hilly ground, and it seems to me to present some 

 peculiarities which I think necessary to mention. The hill is about 80 or 100 feet 

 high, the soil is of a deep-red color, and a portion of the tract is the locality of the 

 iron ore, which had been dug for in former years, some of the tea trees growing 

 out from the mines or wells. 



The tea trees are tall and slender with a whitish bark, and the leaf does not ap- 

 pear to me to be so coarse or of so dark a color as I had before observed, and the 

 seed is very small : the soil is no doubt congenial to the growth of the plant as 

 seedlings are plentifully scattered about. The jangal is bambu*. 



This tea tract in its general appearance comes nearer to the idea I had formed of 

 the localities of this plant in China, than any I have hitherto seen. 



I have, &c. 



(Signed) S. Hannay. 



Captain Lloyd, presented 22 birds and 1 squirrel obtained on the Sun- 

 darbun coasts. 



Specimens of Caoutchouc, manufactured by Dr. Scott, were laid on th» 

 table. 



* Generally with exception of a few very large trees. 



