1843.] of the Punjaub and part of Afghanistan. 221 



Quartz Rock. — The quartz rock occurs in various modifications, 

 either in beds, veins, or amorphous masses ; in colour generally white 

 or greyish white, and it being much harder than the sandstone, it 

 stands out in bold relief. 



Scenery. — The scenery on the banks of the river is uniform in the 

 extreme, nothing being presented to the eye but bare, barren rocks, and 

 white sandy beds, rendered more so by efflorescences of rock salt from 

 springs, which issue from the banks in great numbers. 



Gold-washing. — Between Attock and Kalabagh, about three hundred 

 individuals are engaged in washing the sand for the gold it contains, 

 which occurs in small flattened grains. They go in parties of seven 

 and eight, and use eight different kind of implements ; 1 . large wooden 

 trough for receiving sand; 2. pick for removing stones to get at the 

 sand; 3. shovel; 4. sieve. On it the sand is thrown and washed 

 through into the large trough with water raised by 5. a wooden scoop, 

 which prevents any stones entering the trough with the sand — 6, 7 and 

 8 are different kinds of wooden vessels for receiving the sand after being 

 properly washed. It is then carried to their houses and mixed with a 

 little mercury which attracts the gold, and by exposing it to heat, the 

 mercury is driven off again and the gold left, which is sold at the rate 

 of sixteen rupees per tola — four drams. A fourth of this, however, is 

 exacted by the Mallicks. The washers seldom realize more than four 

 annas per diem, generally about three annas, the gold extracted per day 

 varying from one to two mashas, which is equal to the twelfth part of a 

 tola. The sand which yields the gold, being that left after the wash- 

 ing, has in general a deep black colour, and is obtained in greatest 

 abundance immediately after the river falls. The variety of gold is the 

 purest gold — yellow gold. 



Having examined the country beyond Sharkee, and meeting with 

 nothing but the sandstone, we returned to Kalabagh, in order to proceed 

 to Peshawur via Shuckardurrah, Elrichi, &c. As Wood and Burnes had 

 mentioned the existence of coal in this direction, and as no person had 

 made a geological examination of the country, we were desirous to 

 ascertain whether the carboniferous series was to be met with in this 

 direction. 



On crossing the river at Maree, we ascended the Gossai nullah, which 

 during the cold weather contains but little water, and proceeded in a 



