476 Notes on the Pokree and Dhanpoor Copper Mines. [No. 163. 



polished rock, keeps the passenger in many places from falling down. 

 The tools are only a chisel and a hammer ; blasting of course ought to 

 be introduced. 



From what is above said, it will appear as my conviction, that in the 

 copper mines of Pokree and Dhanpoor, capital could most advantage- 

 ously be employed. But it is not Government, in my opinion, who should 

 work there. The best writers on national economy agree, that such 

 speculations do not thrive in the hands of a Government. If Govern- 

 ment would give these mines to any private individual or com- 

 pany, for as long a period as they pay regularly a certain duty from 

 the produce, and would allow to any one else to begin mining wherever 

 he could find an ore, in a very short time, certainly, many places where 

 ore is known, would be taken up, and the revenues of Government, now 

 derived from the mines, would be very considerably increased. Districts, 

 now nearly empty of population, void of cultivation, useless to the trea- 

 sury, would yield revenue, and the population would become acquainted 

 not alone with European luxury, but with European skill and intelli- 

 gence, which would be at first more useful than schools and missionary 

 establishments. As the agriculturist prepares by ploughing the hard 

 soil for the reception of the seed, so we may consider, the becoming ac- 

 quainted with the advanced state of European arts would " plough" 

 the Paharris mind for the acceptance of higher objects, which they 

 might be thought fit for being taught in some future time. 



And did not nature show her intention of civilizing the inhabitants 

 of these wild districts through mining, by her upheaving such mineral 

 riches which, in their present state of civilization, they cannot appre- 

 ciate ? 



With regard to the capital required for the opening of Pokree mine 

 and Dhanpoor mine, I think 40 to 50,000 rupees would be more than 

 sufficient for both establishments, on a footing equal to the advantages 

 which can be expected in the first result of an operation, which may be 

 carried on through hundreds of years. 



Calcutta, September, 1845. 



