18 43. J. in Kumaon and Ghurwal. 463 



cipice, east of this mine, near the village of Bungtul, but at present 

 the outcrop is covered with rubbish ; it is in the talcose formation, and 

 has good facilities for working. 



" The Khurua mine is situated in the ravine below Bungtul, near 



its junction with the Nugol river in talc; it was dis- 



Khurua Mine. J ° 



covered by the water of the ravine washing away 

 the strata, and leaving a quantity of ores exposed to view ; these ores 

 were taken away by the Pokree miners, and the mine worked five or 

 six fathoms under the surface, beyond which they were prevented 

 from going by the water. They tell me that the lode at the bottom 

 of the mine for two fathoms in length is one foot wide, of solid cop- 

 per pyrites. Of late years, nothing has been done at this mine beyond 

 washing among the surface, which contains a small quantity of copper 

 pyrites. There is plenty of wood in the neighbourhood of this mine, 

 and water for machinery, but no facility for adits." ' 



Such is the account given by Mr. Wilkin of the copper mines at, 

 and in the vicinity of Pokree, the whole of which he has repeatedly 

 visited and examined, as far as the nature of the ground would 

 permit. Of other copper mines situated in the Ghurwal district, the 

 most celebrated are the Dhunpoor* and Dhobree mines, the former 

 being on the north, the latter on the south side of the Dhunpoor 

 chain of mountains. This chain, rising to an altitude of 9,500 feet 

 above the sea, is on the south or left bank of the Aluknunda river, 

 directly opposite to the Pokree hills, and to the great Himalyan chain, 

 covered with eternal snow. The view from the crest of the Dhunpoor, 

 ridge is beyond description beautiful and majestic. The great castel- 

 lated peaks of Budrinath rise directly in front of the spectator, and on 

 either side of these as far as the eye can reach, appears a long suc- 

 cession of other snowy peaks ranging in form and altitude; but all 

 and each surpassingly grand and sublime. No view that I know of in 

 Switzerland, equals this in vastness and extent; and in altitude the 

 peaks of Gungotri, Kedarnath, and Budrinath to the left, of Trisool, 



* These mines are leased to a farmer at the sum of 1,900 Rupees per annum. Some 

 villages are attached to the mine, and the land revenue derivable from them is included 

 in the above. It would amount to about '200 Rupees per annum as a separate item. 

 The inhabitants of the villages work in the mines, and receive a share of the produce ; 

 they are what Mr. Wilkin calls " tributers." 



