1845,] On the Assam Petroleum Beds. 819 



Asphalte like that of Pyremont. Our coal is, I believe, considered to be 

 that of the higher series of secondary rocks, if then we could find bitu- 

 men springs at the foot of the high range on N, B. of the Burrampooter, 

 possibly a rock of the description would be found, but this is a question 

 for Geologists to determine. 



Jeypore is not the only Petroleum locality in Upper Assam ; Borhath, 

 Teroogong, Magawn, Namdeng and Namtchuk Pathar are noted for 

 their earth oil springs. These are all situated in the low range of hills 

 forming the base of that vast range of mountains which, bounding the 

 Kymdwar valley on the West, would appear to run down to Cape Ne- 

 grais. The first locality to the Westward is close to the Dekho River, 

 south-east of Seebsagur ; but it is said that amongst the Nagas on the 

 Western branch of this river, salt wells do not exist :* on the Eastern 

 branch of the river, however, there are many salt wells, and near the 

 source of this branch, in about Lat. 26° 20' the mountain range above- 

 mentioned separates from the more western Naga ranges which run 

 towards Cachar. The great Salt, Coal, and Petroleum deposits seem 

 therefore to commence with the east branch of the Dekho, and con- 

 tinued east as far as the Namtchuk river. At Namtchuk Pathar, near 

 the mouth of the river, the Petroleum exudes from the banks, and a bed 

 of very fine coking coal runs across the bed of the Namtchuk. The 

 hills here are also intersected by ravines, and in one spot an extensive 

 basin or hollow is formed at some height, which contains muddy pools 

 in a constant state of activity, throwing out, with more or less force, 

 white mud mixed with Petroleum. This is indeed a strange looking 

 place, and I am told by the Singphos that at times there is an internal 

 noise as of distant thunder, when it bursts forth suddenly, with a loud 

 report, and then for a time subsides. Whether this may be the effect 

 of distillation going on in consequence of the great mass of vegetable 

 matter which lies under the surface, or from some more remote cause 

 connected with volcanic action, it is impossible for me to give an opi- 

 nion ; but from the connection of the Potkae with the Arracan range 

 of mountains, the known existence of mud pools like these, in that 



* This is a mistake, there are salt springs on the banks of the Nambar and Dhunsin 

 rivers, and it is supposed there are many more, but the Nagas West of the Dekho do 

 not make salt, except at Semkur in very small quantities. By their traffic in cotton 

 they obtain salt perhaps cheaper than they could make it. 



