G82 Trip to Pind Dadud Khan and the Salt Range. [July, 



clined sides of the Pattri by a stream of water skillfully applied. The 

 residue is then rubbed up with a little mercury, which quickly amal- 

 gamates with the gold sand, leaving the black portion behind. The 

 mercury containing the gold is then removed from the Pattri, enclosed 

 in a fragment of cotton cloth, and placed on a bit of live charcoal, by 

 which means the mercury is speedily vaporized, leaving the yellow gold 

 behind entangled with the tinder of the cloth, from which, by rubbing, 

 it is easily removed. In this state it is taken to the goldsmiths, who by 

 fusing it with borax remove all impurities, which they say amount to 

 2 ruttees per tola weight, a fact however which we are inclined to 

 doubt. The gold of the Gambir is considered of very fine quality, and 

 of a rich yellow colour, differing from the Mokhudd gold, which is said 

 to be sufaid (white). At Nukha 15 troons are constantly at work, to 

 each of which 8 or 10 men are attached, 2 or 3 being occupied with 

 the operations of washing, while the rest are employed digging the 

 sand and bringing it to the troon. In the two rainy months 3 or 4 tolas 

 weight of gold are collected by each troon, which sells here at Us. 18 

 in its crude state per tola. On the Illaqua of Tillah a tax is levied by 

 the Sirkar of Rs. 110 per annum on account of its gold. 



The auriferous sandstone strata seem to stretch along the N. side of 

 the salt range, dipping under the plain situated between this and the 

 Hazara country, and extending west to the Indus. 



Note. — From repeated enquiries among the gold sand washers I 

 could not discover that Platinum occurs, though this is most probable, 

 — these two precious metals being generally found associated. It would 

 remain behind in the heavy black sand after the mercury is removed by 

 amalgamation. The natives, contrary to their usual careful habits, 

 take no means for recovering the mercury used in the extraction of the 

 gold, apparently not being aware that such could be effected. In the 

 Hazara country the grains of gold are sometimes found of such size, 

 it is said, as to be capable of removal by picking them from the sand 

 in which they are contained. 



April 9th. — Tillah. — Sunday. Despatched diary to Lahore. 



April 10th. — Tillah to Lingewalla, 10 kos. — From Tillah came on 

 to Lingewalla, through a flat barren country, the soft sandstone strata 

 being close to the surface and covered only by a very shallow soil. On 

 this march water is very scarce, though to be found at a considerable 



