472 Copper Mines of Pokree, %c. fyc. [No. 138. 



with all its boasted knowledge and civilization, they would present as 

 many points for approbation as the latter. 



I will conclude this report by shortly summing up what I take to 

 be circumstances for and against the success of any mining specula- 

 tion in this province. The obstacles are : 1st, distance of the mines 

 from the low country ; 2ndly, slowness and expense of carriage ; 3rdly, 

 cheapness and abundance of English copper ; 4thly, superficiality of the 

 mines yet known ; and 5thly, want of coal. 



The favourable points of view are : 1st, the excellence of the climate, 

 and 2ndly, the quiet habits and tractable disposition of the people. 

 To my judgment, the reasons urged against the employment of capital 

 appear greatly in excess of those in its favour. If I had funds of my 

 own lying unemployed, I would not, with the knowledge I have of 

 the circumstances of the case, Invest them in any enterprize of the 

 sort. In stating this much, I would add, that I am by no means 

 anxious to deter others from embarking capital in a new experiment, 

 should they, with reference to the account of progress, expenditure 

 and returns now submitted, be of opinion, that my view of this matter 

 is incorrect, and that different results would have been obtained, had 

 the expenditure, or first outlay consisted of thousands, instead of some 

 few hundreds of pounds. 



(Signed) G. T. Lushington, Commissioner. 



P.S. — Specimens of copper ores from the Pokree and all other 

 copper mines of this province have been called for, and will be sub- 

 mitted when received, with names of mines, pergunnahs, &c. &c. My 

 report of 7th June 1839, forwarded to the Secretary of Government 

 N. W. P. at Agra, was accompanied by tabular statements, shewing 

 the number of mines, and amount of revenue derived from them in 

 Kumaon and Ghurwal, and can be referred to, if necessary.* 



* We have applied for a copy and permission to print this. — Eds, 



