1839.] On the Coal $ Iron Mines of Tdlcheer $ Ungool, $c. 139 



laterite, and sandstone rocks which are near the surface. There is more 

 jangle and waste land on the opposite side of the river. 



From the third march from Atturva to the plains (commencing at 

 Kewatbund) the level lands vary much in extent, the hills in some 

 places coming within 3 or 400 yards of the river, and in others, receding 

 for two or three miles, forming no connected chain, but all more or less 

 isolated (apparently of volcanic origin), the land between them being 

 perfectly level, except where ravines or beds of laterite and kunker 

 occur to interrupt it. At Atturva the hills recede gradually, till at 

 Kurugpursad they branch off in a south-westerly direction, through 

 the state of Hindole into Ungool, towards the Mahanudde ; the hills 

 on the opposite side of the river also recede in a north westerly 

 direction towards Keonjur and Bounnaragurh. 



Shortly before reaching Kurugpursad the country commences to be 

 undulating, and extensive beds of shingle occur, with red marl. Sand- 

 stone rocks are met with at Mungulpoor, protruding through the soil, 

 which are very close grained and white ; granite also sometimes occurs 

 in huge detached masses, which have a very singular appearance, parti- 

 cularly at Kukurdung, in Ungool, where they rise in detached blocks 

 of sixteen and eighteen feet in height, and of most fantastic shapes, 

 somewhat resembling the Stonehenge. The land on the north bank of 

 the river is likewise undulating, with rocks. No hills of any magnitude 

 are to be found within twenty or thirty miles of Talcheer and the coal 

 localities visited by me. 



From Talcheergurh to Mungulpersad, a distance of sixteen miles 

 or more, I saw much shingle and rising ground, on which there is 

 iron ore and laterite, also kunker (calcarious nodules) and sand- 

 stone rocks. I observed near the different villages much scattered 

 cultivation beneath the sal and other jungle trees, the underwood 

 having been cleared away ; this is the consequence of overtaxing the 

 arable and clear lands, and taking nothing for cultivation of this kind, 

 which is little inferior to the best. 



There are no wells, and but few tanks throughout the country. 

 Except in the low lands, in the vicinity of the river, water is very 

 scarce, and what little there is, is of bad quality, particularly in 

 Ungool, where some of the wells and tanks contain naphtha. 



There is much waste land overgrown with long grass, which affords 

 excellent pasturage for buffaloes and cows ; there are consequently 

 very fine herds of both descriptions of cattle, which are far superior to 

 those of the Mogulbundee (or plains). There are but few goats and 

 sheep. 



The people of these states are more artful than even the inhabi- 



