198 Report on the Geology, Zoology, fyc. [No. 135. 



sion of the rude articles now in use. The experiment is well worthy 

 of a trial, whether executed by Government or by private means ; if by 

 the latter, and encouraged, it would no doubt yield a good return. 



Proceeding along the hills in a W. by N. direction, we reached the 

 village of Aagan wallah, distant about four coss. The inhabitants are 

 principally Awans ;* we ought rather to say were, seeing that it is 

 almost entirely deserted, owing to the rapacity of Raja Goolab Singh's 

 soldiery. To reach the village we proceeded up the banks of a small 

 ravine, and as we approached its vicinity, we found the road all paved with 

 rounded boulders, which are strewed over the whole country. On the 

 hill above them is a fort garrisoned by 200 of the Jummoo troops. 



Gypsum in enormous beds of 13 feet in thickness and upwards is 

 here met with; and associated with it, the pure crystalline variety, 

 named selenite. 



Jutaneh Salt Mines. — A few miles further to the W. and by N. is 

 the village of Kewal, where we pitched our camp, and proceeded to 

 examine the salt mine of Jutaneh, distant about 4 coss. The road lies 

 along the base of the mountains, and abounds with ravines. On the 

 acclivity is seen the pretty village of that name, surrounded by palm 

 trees ; it is the residence of the miners, and contains about two hundred 

 inhabitants. The mines, however, are about two miles further on, but 

 beyond this all the water is either salt or brackish, and to reach them, 

 we proceeded up the bed of a small nullah, by the action of the stream 

 of which the strata have been well exposed. The mines, three in number, 

 are about 45 feet above the bed of the stream, and have been opened 

 20, 30 and 35 years respectively ; the shafts are about six feet in height 

 and three in breadth, varying in length from 140 to 180 yards, and 

 sunk through the red marl, in which rock the rock salt occurs imbed- 

 ded. It also contains large imbedded masses of gypsum, which in many 

 places are highly polished by the mere friction of the miners' bodies in 

 passing and repassing. The descent is down a gradually inclined plane 

 till we reach the principal bed, when we descend into the body of the 

 mine by steps cut in the salt. Before arriving at the principal bed of 



* The Awans, according to Elphinstone, belong to the class of Hindkees; they form 

 nearly the whole population of the country on the East side of the Indus to the South 

 of Attock. Some part of the country is occupied by the Khuttuks and Bauricks. 



