194 Report on the Kooloo iron Mines. [No. 3. 



department and could be made in a very short time. If, as I believe, 

 this opening is practicable, the transport of the magnetic oxide of 

 iron from the live villages could be speedily performed on beasts of 

 burden, and we should then have obtained all the conditions neces- 

 sary for the success of this project. 



Bijowrah struck me as being the most suitable spot to establish 

 the building for the reduction of the iron ores. Its position is not 

 only centrical to the mines and the fuel supplies, but presents the 

 double advantage of being on the direct road to the plains via 

 Kangra and Noorpoor : having close at hand a watercourse, with 

 proximity to the Bias to increase the motive power if required. 



The forest to the East, and the magnetic iron mine situated in the 

 same direction are at about twenty miles from Bijowrah ; the oligist 

 iron mine as well as its neighbouring forests, at about the same 

 distance ; and the Northern forest from twenty to twenty-five 

 miles. 



Such being their situations Bijowrah offers the nearest central 

 spot, both to the mines, and to the fuel, and is the most convenient 

 for the transport of the manufactured iron. The pine prepon- 

 derates generally in these forests, but in the hills to the East, the 

 oak is found in rather large abundance. Ear be from me the idea 

 of exaggerating the resources of the Kooloo forests. I have on 

 the contrary been very moderate in my expressions, because I am 

 anxious that Captain Hay, who is in charge of the district, as 

 well as the topographic work compiled by Major Longden, of 

 Kooloo, should be consulted on the subject. I repeat it, in the 

 part of the Himalayas that 1 am acquainted with, Kooloo is 

 the only spot capable of supplying fuel to works of any import- 

 ance, but we must not conceal the fact, that mountainous countries 

 are far from presenting on this subject the same facility as the plains ; 

 the construction of roads is more difficult, the distances to go over 

 more laborious, and often longer, and consequently the transport of 

 materials, more expensive. 



But where in the actual state of things, can we find any thing 

 better for present wants ? "We must then submit to the necessity 

 of position, and consider it very fortunate to foresee the possi- 

 bility of erecting a useful establishment, in a country situated in the 



