1847.] Geological Notes on Zillah Shahabad, or Arrah. 283 



eastern face of the table-land, four miles west of Tilothoo, also in the 

 Sone river, eight miles west of the Koel river, where jutting into the 

 river its causes rapids ; and again at Jadonathpoor, four miles from the 

 Mirzapoor and Shahabad boundary. 



Iron Ore. — This is found in large quantities at and near to Soorkee 

 or Sirkee, so named after the red appearance of the soil, which for miles 

 round about is highly impregnated with the red oxide of Iron, and 

 which is situated on the southern edge of the table-land. The ore lies 

 scattered over a large surface of ground, extending for about four miles 

 east and west, what may be under the surface remains to be seen. 

 The principal manufacture of iron from this ore is at Sunda, a village 

 two miles from the edge of the table-land. Specimen 115 is the ore 

 pounded and broken ready for fusion ; 1 16 is the iron as produced after 

 once smelting, in which state it sells for its weight in rice ; 1 1 7 is the 

 ore three times smelted, and now sells for one and a half ana for a ku- 

 cha seer, or three anas for a pukha seer. Iron ore appears scattered all 

 over the table-land but in small and insignificant quantities generally. 

 At a spot named Sulya, at the head of the Mukree-k'hoh valley, are im- 

 mense heaps of iron slag, scattered here and there amongst the hills 

 and in the jungle, and by the hill men said to be remnants of the exten- 

 sive iron founderies in the days of the now almost extinct races of Khyr- 

 wars and Cheeroos, a peculiar and now scattered race, but who profess 

 once to have been a powerful people, having their own kings and princes 

 ruling over them ; in appearance these men are very like the Kols, 

 Bheels and Gonds of central and western India ; in their customs, religion 

 and roving habits they also resemble {hem, and living in the same range 

 of mountains, the Vindhyan range, as their confreres, there is little 

 doubt that they are one of the scattered remnants of the races who 

 formerly inhabited the Gangetic plain long since driven from that fertile 

 tract by a more civilized race. 



Indurated Reddle — Geru, (Hindustani.) 



Large beds of this mineral are situated on the summit of the table- 

 land, the principal ones being at Mundpa and Chuthans ; great quan- 

 tities are carried away by the Pussarees on bullocks and exported to 

 Benares, Patna and other large cities ; it is used in dyeing, as a pig- 

 ment, and for a variety of other purposes. The beds extend for about 

 two miles north and south, and the spots from whence extracted are 



