490 Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. [No. 6. 



used in the arsenal here as " Samy stone" by the native Sickleghurs, and in 

 addition to them they use 4, 5, and 6, none of which were found at Pohorah. 

 I dare say however they are to be had there if a careful search could be 

 made. The Commissariat supplies the arsenal with all these kinds under the 

 name of " Country Emery." It is purchased in the bazaars, where it is 

 brought by the Brinjarras, Beparries, &c. &c. No. 6 is called by the Madras 

 Sickleghurs the real " Samy stone," because it will scratch or cut tempered 



steel. Next to it, in their estimation, comes 3, all the rest are good enough of 



their kind and do well enough for cleaning brass work. Pohorah is situated in 

 a hilly country. The only hill however known to contain these stones is the 

 one in which the quarry is. Not far from it is a hill containing ' soap-stone' 

 some of which the people brought to me." 



So far Dr. Macintire's chit. — The stones however are of two different 

 classes and have no relation to Major William's Samy stone which is an 

 Agalmatolite, and rather used, it would seem, for burnishing. But in the 

 eight specimens Dr. Macintire furnishes us with, are two new varieties for 

 our cabinets, one of which is very remarkable ; the specimens are as follows : 



No. 1. Decomposing Fibrolite. 



No. 2. Common white Corundum. 



No. 3. Grey mottled Fibrolite. 



No. 3. Mottled Corundum. 



No. 3. Black Corundum ! 

 * 



Nos. 4 and 5. Common rose and lilac coloured Corundum. 



No. 6. A very fine white Corundum. 



The Black Corundum is a very remarkable variety, and though distinctly 

 giving the re-action of the Corundums before the Blowpipe, i. e. the Sapphire 

 blue glass with nitrate of cobalt, I have failed to detect iron or manganese 

 in it. We must wait for a supply of it to know what the colouring prin- 

 ciple is. 



H. PlDDINGTON, 



Curator, Museum Economic Geology. 



Report of Curator, Zoological Department, for July Meeting, 1850. 



Sir, — The donations which I have now to record consist of, 

 1. The skin of a young Assamese Goral, resembling that of an adult for- 

 v merly received, and both differing from the ordinary Himalayan Goral in 

 being of a bright rufous colour. Presented by Major Jenkins, of Govvhatti. 



