1848.] and on its Coal and other Minerals. 515 



from the top to the hollow of the range seem to dip to the N. E. at an 

 angle of 45° . 



From the preceding details of the character of the coal seams, it will 

 be apparent, that a very considerable quantity of fuel could be obtained 

 from the various localities mentioned. At present however no beasts 

 of burden could reach the places where the coal crops out, these being 

 near the top of the range, and hence, until a road or path could be made, 

 a work in these rugged hills of some difficulty, the mineral would have 

 to be carried by coolies to a depot, from whence it could be removed by 

 bullocks, mules or camels, to the banks of the Indus or Jhelum. 



By working the coal from the surface when it crops out, and parallel 

 with the seam, it could be easily obtained, although considerable an- 

 noyance would be experienced from the falling in of the soft strata and 

 loose boulders of rock which cover it. Until some locality is found 

 where the coal seam appears of regular thickness and not developed in 

 nests or patches, as we are inclined to believe is the case in the salt range 

 generally, we could not recommend to government the propriety of 

 attempting mining operations, except on a small scale, and by way of 

 experiment. Perhaps Baghanawalla Davee and Keurah would be the 

 most favorable positions for such attempts, which could be made at a 

 moderate expense, labour being so cheap in the district and the inhabi- 

 tants experienced in mining. 



Jet Coal. — Besides the coal seams we have noticed, we met with 

 a variety of coal at Kuhar, on the north side of the salt range, and at 

 Kalibag, on the Indus, totally different both as to the geological position 

 in which it is found, and in its physical characters, but in a commercial 

 point of view, likely to be much less valuable than that we have previ- 

 ously described. It is what is known to geologists and mineralogists 

 under the name of Jet, and never occurs in quantity sufficient to render 

 its mining a work of any practical importance. 



Kuhar Jet Coal. — This coal occurs among the soft calcareous sand- 

 stones which skirt the base of the hills. It is best seen at a place called 

 Nurwa, a little to the N. of Kuhar, where a clear stream of fresh water 

 has cut its way, to the depth of at least 200 feet, through soft sand- 

 stones interlaminated with beds of red and blue indurated clays, which 

 dip to the N. N. W. at an angle of 25° . The coal occurs in flattened 

 masses resembling the compressed trunks of trees, is of a glistening 



3 Y 



