550 Mineral Resources of India. [No. 139. 



This undertaking would certainly prove very advantageous to the pro- 

 vince of Ramghur, by procuring employment for a tribe of people found 

 there and in the neighbouring provinces called Coles, who at present live 

 in the jungles almost in the state of nature : yet although totally unac- 

 quainted with the conveniencies and comforts of a settled and civilized state 

 of life, they are easily induced to quit their retreats, and are then found to 

 become tractable and good labourers. 



But we find our letter has extended to a length we little thought of: we 

 shall therefore, Gentlemen, intrude no further upon your time, dedicated 

 to affairs of so much greater moment, than to propose to you the terms 

 which we think would enable us to carry our plan into execution. 



After having obtained the best information in our power, we are of opi- 

 nion that the pergunna called Jerriah, lying between the rivers Dummooda 

 and Barracar in the province of Pachete, is the fittest situation for the iron 

 work. The river Dummooda is navigable as high as that place ; it abounds 

 with iron ores, and has the singular advantage of being contiguous to the 

 coal mines of which Messrs. Sumner and Heatly have a grant. 



We propose then : — 



I. That a sufficient quantity of land in the pergunna of Jerriah in Pa- 

 chete, (or in any other province if appearing more advantageously situated 

 for that purpose,) be assigned to us, for erecting the iron furnace and ware- 

 houses, and for the habitations of the workmen and labourers, to be held 

 by the same tenure, by which Messrs. Touchet and Prinsep hold their 

 lands. 



That a like quantity of ground be granted to us for similar purposes, 

 and on the same condition (if at present paying rent to the Company) at 

 the lead-mine, but if Jaghire, that we be permitted to buy from the Ja- 

 ghiredars such lands as may be requisite for the settlement of our people, 

 and particularly Dungherra valley, without which it would be impossible to 

 carry on the work, as the Jaghiredars we well know would levy such heavy 

 contributions on our workmen, were they in their power, as would prevent 

 them from working under higher wages than we could afford to give : — 



II. That we be granted the exclusive privilege of working iron and steel 

 in the European manner within any part of the Honorable Company's 

 possessions which lie on the west side of the meridian of Burdwan, and 

 of selling the produce of such manufacture, free from duty, in any place 

 under the presidency of Fort William, for the term of nineteen years. 

 That we be granted likewise the exclusive right of working the mines of 

 whatever ores or minerals are not at present wrought by the country peo- 

 ple within the aforesaid limits for the same number of years. By this ar- 

 ticle, however, we have no idea of prejudicing the rights of Messrs. Sumner 

 and Heatly, who, you know, Gentlemen, have the exclusive privilege of 



