1855.] Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. 251 



positive than as above. I could only trace in the whole of the solutions 

 a doubtful trace of platinum ; none of palladium or rhodium. 



" But I have now to request that you will, if possible, obtain for me, say 

 at least a quarter of an oz. of the gold dmst from the same locality, and a 

 quarter of a lb. of the washed sand, the cost of which I shall be glad to 

 pay as you may direct, if you cannot put it into a contingent bill ; but if 

 possible I should be glad that it should be washed out before a confiden- 

 tial person, should you not be able to attend to it yourself. Mr. Samuells 

 informs me that the gold-washers thereabouts do not use mercury as they 

 do in the N. W. Provinces. I despatch however to you, per dawk, a pam- 

 phlet on the method of saving the greater part of the mercury, but if 

 this new compound exists in any quantity that may be the reason why 

 they do not use mercury. The Burmese are said to throw away the 

 platinum, calling it Devil's metal, i. e. because they can do nothing with 

 it. Do your washers know any thing of any Shailan Ka gotee in their 

 products?" 



From Dr. Campbell of Darjeeling we have received two specimens of 

 Copper Ore, being one from his farther diggings at Pushak, an ore al- 

 ready examined as above and another from a new locality called Mahal- 

 diram. 



My reply to his letters, is as follows : 



A. Campbell, Esq. Darjeeling. 



Sir, — I have, as you requested, examined the specimens from the far- 

 ther workings of the Pushak Copper Vein, and I think (differing herein 

 from you,) that there is an evident improvement though not in the ore, 

 yet in the matrix which seems much softer, and I have moreover picked 

 from amongst the specimens two or three small fragments approaching 

 to the pavonine or peacock ore of the Cornish miners which is much richer 

 in copper than the common pyrites. If you reach a vein or bed of this, 

 you may probably find something well worth your search. 



The Mahaldiram specimens are, as to abundance, a much more pro- 

 mising ore ; though as with the former Pushak, its matrix is tough and in 

 some parts siliceous, but there are good sized lumps of massive ore which 

 make it altogether a far better vein to work at present, than the Pushak, 

 supposing both to be of pyrites only. 



I must not, however, forbear to repeat to you that surface indications 

 are next to worthless, till a shaft of some depth has been sunk. I should 

 sink as deep, or drive a gallery as far, as the workmen will go ; for these 

 poor ores often overlie much richer deposits of copper ; and in America 

 even of silver ! 



H. Piddington, 



Museum, \Wi Jan., 1855. Cur. Mus. Eco. Geology. 



