1851.] Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. 367 



a report of the result of any analysis of the ore in question which you may 

 make, for the information of his Honor. 



I have the honor to be, &c. 



(Signed) W. Seton Karr, 

 Under Secretary to the Govt, of Bengal. 

 From H. Piddtngton, Esq. Curator Museum Economic Geology. 

 To W. Seton Karr, Esq., Under Secretary to the Government of Bengal. 

 Sir, — In reply to your letter No. 118 of the 28th ultimo, I have the 

 honor to report that the specimen of lead ore forwarded by Major Jenkins 

 contains no silver, or so minute a portion as not to be detected by examina- 

 tion of such small quantities, and certainly none to render it worth working. 

 It contains 3 or 4 per cent, of Antimony. 



2. I fear Major Jenkins has been imposed upon, for his specimen is no- 

 thing more than a rolled lump of common galena probably picked from some 

 torrent, and certainly not one from any wrought vein or bed. From the 

 dread which natives entertain of Europeans obtaining any knowledge of 

 their mines you are doubtless, Sir, aware, that nothing is more common, espe- 

 cially with native chiefs of all ranks, than to give, purposely, worthless spe- 

 cimens analogous in appearance to those of any value ; and their followers 

 dare not act otherwise. A notable instance or two has occurred of this 

 within my own knowledge, and particularly one with the late Major Ouseley, 

 in which smelted copper was given as the produce, and a red iron ore which 

 did not contain a particle of copper, as the ore from which it was obtained I 



I have the honor to be, &c. 



(Signed) H. Piddington, 

 Curator, Museum Economic Geology. 

 Calcutta, Wth March, 1851. 



Messrs. Robinson and Balfour have sent to the Museum some specimens 

 of Turquoises with the following letter. 



No. 1671. 



H. Piddington, Esq. 



Dear Sir, — At the request of W. J. H. Money, Esq., C. S. we beg to 



send herewith a parcel brought by him from Captain Lindquist, P. and O. 



Company's Agent at Suez, containing Turquoises picked up on Mount 



Serebat. 



Captain L. would be glad to be informed whether they are of any value. 



Yours, &c. 

 (Signed) Robinson, Balfour & Co. 

 These gentlemen have been informed that the specimens sent are no far- 

 ther of value than as indicating the probability of a vein of these stones, 



