378 Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. [March, 



Gneiss ? make its appearance on the higher land and the sandstone again appears 

 on either side of the Damooda valley ; no doubt coal would be found in abundance 

 in* all these tracts. 



Sandstone of a less decided kind is found in the valley of the Barrakur, close to 

 the great trunk road, where I quarried a large quantity for the public works, still 1 

 am of opinion that it belongs to the coal formation. 



1 have picked up rolled fragments of coal in the Mohana, which crosses the trunk 

 road beyond Dunwa. I intended to have traced this coal, but public duties have 

 ever prevented me. I believe coal would be found in the upper valleys of all the 

 large rivers flowing from the Vindhia hills. 



Having seen the Burdwan fields and those further west, which follow both the 

 Barrakur and Damooda, as well as those just mentioned, I should lay great stress on 

 the subject of the Orissa coal fields. I therefore now beg to assert that I feel con- 

 fident that an extensive field exists in the valley of the Mahanuddee close to Cuttack, 

 (below the surface,) and that the field I first brought to notice in 1837, called the 

 Talcher mines, is fully as extensive as at first supposed by me. I can now safely say- 

 that the coal could be worked close to the river side (Brahman's) as low down nearly 

 as Kurugpursad, below which the river is navigable the greater part of the year. 



I would suggest that the valley of the Byturnee be also examined, though I con - 

 sider the Brahman's coals to be the most valuable on account of the immense supply 

 of iron ore of excellent quality found in the same locality. Now that we are about 

 to have rail roads with the consequent demand for iron, the subject of iron and 

 coal fields becomes of first importance. 



I must beg indulgence for this rambling letter ; the will must be taken for the deed. 

 I am anxious to convey as much intelligence even of the slightest importance as 

 chance throws in my way, with a view to stimulate others to do the same ; perchance 

 I may convey some useful hint among the many. 



M. KlTTOE. 



The marked thanks of the Society were directed to be conveyed to 

 Captain Kittoe for this communication. 



From Babu Debendernath Tagore, recommending that pundits from 

 Benares should be employed in the publication of the Vedas. 



Minute on the intended publication of the Vedas by the Asiatic Society. 

 *1 Chaturtha Arunya Gana. Though there are, as will be seen on 



2 Chandaggya Brahmmana. perusing the list of Vedaic manuscripts 



3 Agni Brahmmana. 



4 Atharva Veda Brahmmana, specified in the margin* sufficient ma- 



5 Atharva Veda Sanghita. terials, in the library of the Society, 



7 AthSSf Sattangira Kulpa. wherewith to commence the intended 



8 Atharva Rahasya. publications, yet I am of opinion that, 



9 Atharva Sanghita. for the reasons mentioned below, without 



10 Arunya. 



11 Arunyakopunishad. the assistance of Vedaic Pundits who 



12 Arshya Brahmmana. have studied the Vedas regularly as scho- 



