1839.] of Hindu Architectural Remains. 385 



The four female figures holding the emblems of the Nag (hooded 

 serpent) the Pudma (lotus), the Gadha (mace), and the Trisool, (trident), 

 represent Sakhis, or attendants. The two upper figures represented as 

 flying with cornucopias and wreaths in their hands, are probably intended 

 for bearers of offerings, and called Powri, but have no other purpose 

 or meaning than for ornament to the entire piece of sculpture ; such 

 additions were entirely at the discretion of the sculptor. 



The idol is about three by one-half feet (every part inclusive,) and 

 is worked in black chlorite; it is exceedingly well executed, the jewels 

 and the embroidery on the drapery are most exquisitely cut, and the tout 

 ensemble may be pronounced a beautiful specimen of Hindu sculpture. 



M. KITTOE. 



Art. V. — Papers relative to the New Coal Field of Tenasserim. 



No. 1. — Report on the Coal Field at Ta-thay-yna, on the Tenasserim 

 river, in Mergui province. By J. W. Helfer, M. D. 



This newly discovered coal field is a part of that great coal deposit 

 which occupies a considerable part of the Tenasserim dis- 

 trict, in Mergui province, and which beginning from the old 

 town of Tenasserim, to judge from geognostic appearances, extends 

 about forty miles to the north, about fifty towards the south-east, and 

 to an unknown extent towards the north-east. 



All this tract of country seems to be a great basin encircled by pri- 

 mitive, but much more transition, formations, which in 

 cmmtry. ^ isoIated ranges emerge also in different parts of this basin, 

 but which are easily traced and recognized as the offsets of 

 their more distant relations. 



The present coal field lies at the southern skirt of one of these tran- 

 sition ranges, and the country to the south of it is apparently a great 

 plain, densely covered either with tall forests or bamboo jungle; the 

 Tenasserim river winds through this plain in a direction chiefly from 

 north to south. 



In the neighborhood of the present locality no geognostic signs of 

 the existence of a coal bed are to be observed on the river side, 

 features* 110 save °PP os ite to the village there is a large lump of a forma- 

 tion holding the medium between red sandstone, varie- 

 gated sandstone, and slate clay — in this country a certain prognostica- 

 tion of the vicinity of coals. The river banks shew besides sandstone, 

 conglomerate, plastic clay, marl, and alluvium; the upper stratum, 

 of a thickness from fifteen to thirty feet, is almost universally tinged 



