518 Report on the Salt Range* [Nov. 



crystals in a limestone near the Keurah salt mine, and in a similar rock 

 on the N. side of the range, on a hill called Kuringuli, 2 miles N. W. 

 of Choee. The natives give it the name of Soorma, believing it to be 

 sulphuret of antimony, of very fine quality, and is consequently in 

 much repute among them as a cosmetic. It however contains no anti- 

 mony, its only impurity being a trace of. silver, which is generally pre- 

 sent in galena, and sometimes in such quantity as to render its extrac- 

 tion a work of commercial importance. In the localities above men- 

 tioned the mineral occurs in such small quantity as to be of no value. 



On the Salt Mines. — The mines from which the principal supply of 

 salt is obtained, are those of Keurah, in the vicinity of Pind Dadun 

 Khan, of Surdi, near Kuhar, and of Maree and Kalibag, on the Indus. 



The general superintendence of these is entrusted to an agent of the 

 Lahore state, Misser Gyan Chund, who, with his son Misser Rula Ram, 

 reside at Pind Dadun Khan, where the largest salt depot in the dis- 

 trict exists. 



Salt mine village of Keurah. — The mineral is brought in greatest 

 quantity to the depot, from a village called Keurah, about 4 miles dis- 

 tant, and around which no fewer than 10 shafts are sunk into the red 

 marl for the purpose of extracting the salt. From the foot of the hills 

 a narrow path, strewed with boulders and masses of rock, which have 

 fallen from the height above, leads through a deep ravine to the salt 

 mine village, which is built in terraces on its east side, and is inhabited 

 by the miners and their families during the dry season. In the rains, 

 on account of the heat and musquitoes, they desert Keurah and take 

 refuge in the small village of Tobu, which is built on the opposite side 

 of the ravine, but at a considerable height above the salt mines, and 

 where they enjoy a cool breeze and an immunity from the attacks of 

 their winged tormentors. 



The inhabitants of these villages amount to about 650, four hundred 

 of whom are employed in the salt mines, an occupation which, if we 

 may judge from their appearance, does not seem to be particularly pre- 

 judicial to health. 



Of the mines around Keurah two particularly deserve notice, and 

 receive the names of the Keurah and Sujoo walla mines. 



Keurah Salt Mine. — This is a little to the E. of the village, and on a 

 higher level, the path leading to it passing over red marl containing 



