1855.] Report on the Kooloo iron Mines. 193 



distance from the mine, insurmountable difficulties presented them- 

 selves, the rapid declivities which we had to ascend and descend 

 rendering it impossible for us to reach the bed of this ferru- 

 ginous deposit, to study its extent. Natives on the contrary, 

 circulate in these dangerous places with surprising facility ; the 

 most intelligent of my servants after having received my orders 

 repaired to the spot, in company with guides, who work a little of 

 this iron. They brought me back specimens of the mineral, part of 

 which has been sent to the Chief Commissioner, and they repeated 

 to me that which I had already learnt from a Native, that the 

 iron was extracted from a vast cavern, and that it existed in 

 streaks of great thickness, alternant with quartz. It must not be 

 thought, that the obstacles which prevented us from reaching this 

 mine are difficult to overcome, for a road could easily be made which, 

 would render access to it easy, and I am convinced, that orders to 

 that effect will soon be given by the Commissioner of the Kangra 

 District, it being important that the question connected with the 

 development of ferruginous resources should be seriously taken 

 up. This- oligist iron mine promises by its position in a well 

 wooded country, to furnish largely to those resources. Let the 

 distance of about 200 miles, from Kangra to Kote Kaei be surveyed, 

 that is to say, the range of mountains in which is found the mineral 

 of magnetic iron, what fuel is there to be met with? A few 

 trees scattered here and there, scarcely sufficient for the manu- 

 facture of a few pounds of iron daily ; it is a fact, nothing or 

 nearly nothing is- to be met with ; whilst in the greater portion 

 of the Kooloo district, a rich vegetation exhibits itself. It is 

 then in Kooloo, that I propose establishing iron works, on a large 

 scale, and I would there collect the produce of the neighbour- 

 ing mines of Nolata, Core, Durmany, Surmany, and Currany, they are 

 all in the Kangra district, and in the vicinity of Kooloo, and if 

 necessary, a call could be made on the Mundee mines. One question 

 only remains to be solved ; that is, to ascertain if the Natives of the 

 five villages just mentioned can communicate with Kooloo, with- 

 out passing over the old road of liarabagh, &c. and to find out if the 

 mountains to the East, which separate these two localities would 

 permit of a road being made, This enquiry belongs to the Engineer's 



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