138 On the Coal fy Iron Mines of Tdlcheer $ Ungool, fyc. [Feb. 



From Atturva we proceeded up the south bank of the Brahmenee 

 to Talcheergurh, where we arrived on the seventh day, encamping at 

 Nadurra. and Kumalung, the distance travelled being 30 Ooriya coss 

 of 2£ miles to the coss on an average. , 



We halted one day at Talcheer, and interchanged visits with the 

 Raja (who is a very intelligent man, and has travelled all over India) 

 likewise his eldest son. I presented the old gentleman with a musical 

 snuff-box, with which he was much delighted. 



After duly examining the coal beds I proceeded to Mungulpersad, 

 a stockaded village on the borders of Ungool, the distance seven coss in a 

 westerly direction, over an undulating country, with, generally speak- 

 ing, indifferent soil and much shingle. 



We remained one day at this place, and having inspected the coal 

 beds, &c. returned by a more direct (though crooked enough) route 

 through the states of Talcheer and Ungool, to the bank of the river (at 

 Mungulpoor) along which we proceeded, via Nadurra, Nagnath, Chund- 

 pal, Kapeepoor, to Kewatbund, near to which place the river enters the 

 plains, throwing off that branch called the Kursooa, which is the only 

 navigable channel to the sea. We reached this place on the 26th, thir- 

 teen days from the date of our leaving Cuttack. 



The country is neither so mountainous nor jungly as it is represent- 

 ed to be, but for the most part, much neglected ; although the soil 

 appears generally good, and productive. 



The lands in the immediate vicinity of the Brahmenee are very 

 rich. Great quantities of cotton, sugar-cane, castor-oil plant, lin- 

 seed, &c. &c. are grown for home consumption, as well as for expor- 

 tation ; the chief profits of which are monopolized by the Mukhteears 

 and Survurakars of the states, who farm the villages from the Raja, 

 and make the most of their bargain by extorting the utmost fraction 

 from the cultivators, who are in fact mere slaves ; indeed so are all 

 the inhabitants of these hill provinces; they nevertheless seem happy 

 in their poverty and degraded state. 



A great deal of very fine tobacco is grown along the banks and 

 on the muddy deposits of the river, and such lands fetch an exceeding 

 high rent ; notwithstanding which the profits on this article of com- 

 merce are very great. 



Wheat and barley are cultivated in small quantities, and what 

 little I saw appeared to grow most luxuriantly; maize, &c. is also 

 grown on the high lands by the meaner classes, but rice is the chief 

 article of food. 



The land in Talcheer and in Ungool is not so good as in Dher- 

 kuomal ; and the trees are stunted in growth owing to the shingle, 



