1843.] On Artificial Fuel. 229 



If it should be objected, that by exhausting the forests, the want of 

 fuel would cause inconvenience, the reply would be, the more this 

 is felt, the more search will be made, (and there can be no doubt 

 with success,) for coal, of which nature in all probability has provided 

 in India an ample supply.* 



Search is making in Berar for coal. The sandstone, f indurated clay 

 with fossils, :f limestone, salt beds,§ give hope. The hills near Guwilghur, 

 after rain, have the shining black sand (found wherever gold exists,)|| 

 in all the courses for water on the laterite plateaus overlying the trap 

 and basalt. The limestone is in ridges at the base of the hills to 

 the south, and generally outside (though much intermixed with) the 

 sandstone. The space between the outer ridge of limestone, and the 

 inner of sandstone, would appear, with reference to its height above the 

 valley of Berar, admirably adapted for lakes of irrigation or reservoirs 

 to feed canals ; but this is looking perhaps, too far forward. 

 I have the honor to be, Sir, 



Your obedient humble servant, 

 George Twemlow, Captain, 



Bengal Artillery. 



Copy form Letter Book. 

 To the Secretary to the Steam Committee, Bombay. 



Aurungabad, 9th August, 1833. 

 Sir, — Permit me to suggest to the Committee, that in the event of 

 u coal" not being procurable in sufficient abundance in India, an arti- 



* When renewing the bund of the lake below the caves of Ellora, I had to dig very 

 deep for foundation ; an unctuous black mud deposit prevailed deep down, which 

 would I conceive in course of ages, have assumed the consistency of coal. All the 

 charcoal dust from the periodical burning of the hills had washed towards the bund, 

 in all probability, and this mixed with fecula of fish, vegetables, &c. may have caused 

 the appearance of the mud alluded to. 



f The sandstone in all degrees of induration and cementation may be seen five miles 

 North of the cantonment of Ellichpoor in contiguity with limestone and indurated clay ; 

 the sandstone distinctly stratified, but subverted as if heaved up. 



X To be seen at Mokhtagherry, six miles North East of the cantonment of Ellichpoor. 



§ Salt beds. Cattle thrive in Berar from the salt leeks. Salt is made rudely, by 

 evaporation, at a village beween Omrouttee and Ellichpoor. 



|| Shining black ore, perhaps sulphuret of iron ? Some of this has been sent in a 

 letter to the Curator of the Museum of Economic Geology, to be tested. It was the 

 common titanifirous Iron sand of India.— H. P. 



