1843.] Mineral Resources of India. 563 



restrain the manufacture of iron, and from attempting to exact from those concerned 

 in it, any dues or payments which have not been customarily rendered. 



The landholders on the other hand could not prevent any individual from taking 

 ore from the established mines, and carrying it to any of the aurungs of the owner 

 of the mahal, nor could they exact any fines or consideration for the ores so taken. 



The decree of which the above is the substance, was passed in July 

 1811, by Messrs. Harington and Stuart, and completely defines 

 the rights of the loha mahal: It is necessary to state, that the 

 Collector in disposing of the loha mahal in 1799, did not specify to 

 Government whether he had put up the entire mahal, but entered 

 it as part of the jaedad of a particular district, Dehoche. The 

 Court therefore referred the matter to the Board, (previous to their 

 first decree,) enquiring whether they were willing to agitate any 

 claim on behalf of Government with regard to the property of ore in the 

 whole district. The intention of the reference was, that the Board 

 might take some measure to subdivide the mahal, conveying to each 

 lot the property of iron within its limits. No answer was ever returned 

 by the Board, and the Court consequently limited the powers of the 

 holder so specifically as is done above, to prevent the capricious or 

 selfish crushing of all industry. The tenure exists on these conditions 

 at the present day. — [Sudder Bewanny Reports, Vol. I. 337 et seq.~] 



N. B. — During Farquhar's labours, I find from an old newspaper, 

 called Hickey's Gazette, published in Calcutta, that the market price of 

 Beerbhoom hook iron was 5 Rupees per maund, Balasore hook iron 

 at 6-8, and English at 10 and 11. 



4 E 



