554 Mineral Resources of India [No. 139. 



for working a lead mine lately discovered in Ramghur. In compliance with 

 your orders, I do myself the honour of giving you every information in my 

 power on the subject of both. 



In the province of Ramghur, and in several contiguous pergunnas, an iron 

 ore has been discovered these many years past, and worked both by the 

 natives and by families who have long settled here merely to carry on the 

 employ. They have ever met with great encouragement, as it has been pro- 

 ductive of two very good consequences : — an inducement to the Calcutta 

 merchants to negotiate in these parts ; and a duty on its transportation, 

 in which article the greatest part of the Sayer is comprehended, which 

 enables the Rajah to make some addition to the Hon'ble Company's reve- 

 nue : besides a consideration he annually receives from the heads of the 

 trade for his permission and protection. 



The iron is esteemed a very inferior sort, nor has the undertaking ever 

 been carried on anywise extensively, owing to the great scarcity of la- 

 bourers, (the country in general being much in want of ryots,) and their 

 simple and tedious method of working it. 



There is not a doubt from the quality of the ore, that the plan proposed 

 may be prosecuted with the greatest ease ; but not I imagine without being 

 in some measure prejudicial to the country: as so capital an undertaking 

 would require more workmen than these provinces could with convenience 

 spare. Ramghur in particular severely feels that want, for there are many 

 villages in it, and I may say pergunnas, almost wholly depopulated. 

 The tribe of people called Coles are the immediate natives of Nagpore, who 

 seldom leave that country but in small numbers, which even then proves 

 hurtful to the neighbouring countries, unless shortly restored. 



As the Company have never profited by such discovery any further than 

 by a trifling increase of revenue, nor on the present mode does it promise 

 any greater ; should the proposal of Messrs. Motte and Farquhar appear 

 to the Hon'ble Board advantageous, the only public detriment will be 

 their great call for labourers, and the remission which the Rajah would 

 apply for, to be made from his settlement, of as much as the duty and 

 allowance annually amounts to. 



With regard to private property, it would no farther be a prejudice than 

 by obliging those to discontinue the business, who have for many years 

 past been concerned in it, and who have made the necessary advances for 

 a continuation : not that any of the labourers have purchased the spots, or 

 entered into any agreement with the Rajah for his permission for any 

 length. 



The lead-mine having been so lately made known and worked to so 

 trifling a degree, it is not in my power to give you any very particular in- 



