470 Copper Mines of Pokree, fyc. [No. 138. 



daring which its surface has been gradually drained and brought 

 under tillage, it was considered scarcely habitable to natives. But 

 as the surrounding heights afford salubrious sites for residence, and 

 as population is fast increasing in the valley, an experiment would 

 in all probability succeed at Khetsaree, if to its other advantages 

 could be added a sufficiency of fuel; but the forest is rapidly disappear- 

 ing, and burnable coal is as yet unknown. It is true, many indica- 

 tions of the latter fossil have been found in the Sub-Himalayan 

 ranges, as for instance at the Bullea bridge between Bheemtal and 

 Bhoumouree, and in the streams which issue from the hill north of 

 Nujeebabad ; yet the few poor and immediately exhausted seams of 

 lignite here and there discoverable in the sandstone strata, and 

 upheaved debris of the Sewalics between the Jumna and Ganges, and 

 again between Hurdwar and Bhoumouree, would seem, if shewing 

 anything, rather to point to carboniferous beds buried far beneath the 

 base of the lower ranges, than to hold out hopes of their existence near 

 the surface of the secondary rocks, or among the primary formations^ 

 where the iron and copper ores are developed. 



If happily and unexpectedly, real coal, fit for consumption, and in 

 sufficient quantities, should hereafter be found in the strata opened to 

 view by the Bullea and other streams issuing from the southern face 

 of the Ghagur mountains, or by the Kosilla and Ramgunga in the 

 lower part of their course, the iron mines of Ramghur, now second 

 in importance to Khetsaree, would become of great value; the noble 

 steppes of the Ghagur would be spared from the denudation which now 

 threatens them ; and as the intermediate country is easy, and opposes 

 few obstacles to the formation of roads, the mines of Khetsaree would 

 share in the benefits of the discovery. 



1 have thus enumerated the great obstacles to the success of any 

 mining enterprize of the kind under discussion. On the other hand, 

 there are some considerations to which I proceed to advert, which 

 might at first sight appear to warrant a contrary conclusion. I first 

 allude to the possibility of obtaining a sufficient supply of labor ; and 

 secondly, to the character of the people. 1st. With regard to labor ; of this 

 I think the supply would be found to be sufficient at the rate of 2* to 



* Two annas per diem is the usual rate of hire, but to ensure a constant supply, 

 it would probably be found necessary to raise it to 3 or 4 annas. 



