1854.] and Mineral resources of the Singhbhoom Division. 105 



The Baghmoondee trigonometrical station which is on one of these 

 hills, is, by the boiling point of water, about 1200 feet above the 

 sea. The rock of this hill shows a disposition to columnar form. 

 I was much puzzled to account for the sharp angular appearance, 

 which the blocks forming the surface of these hills exhibit ; the 

 more, as in many instances the fracture was recent. Careful obser- 

 vation showed that these very hard masses had split of themselves, by 

 the unequal contraction of their parts when, after being heated by 

 the sun, they were suddenly cooled by heavy rain. 



The metamorphic formation appears to extend South to Sumbul- 

 pore and Goornsoor, having basins in it containing secondary strata 

 and coal formations. One of these appears to occupy the territory 

 of Deknal in the tributary mehals, and another to extend from 

 Gangpore South Westerly through the North of Sumbulpore towards 

 Euttunpore. The existence of coal in the valley of the Hutsoo 

 (Husdah) has long been known. I have found it also in the bed of 

 the Maud at Chunderpore ; both these streams are tributaries of 

 the Mohanuddy. The Gangpore coal formation is probably con- 

 nected with that of Sirgooja and Palamow ; but on this point I have 

 no reliable data. To return however to a more particular account 

 of the country which I am desirous to describe. I may observe 

 that hills of metamorphic rocks of various elevations, seldom beyond 

 1200 feet, run Southerly from the table-land of Chota Nagpore, 

 dividing Singhbhoom from Gangpore and Bunnye, another spur of 

 the same range runs Easterly dividing Tamar and Patcoom from 

 Singhbhoom. This range slopes down gradually to the Sooburno 

 Eekka. There are some corresponding ridges east of that river, but 

 these are intersected by Dulma, the rival of Purusnath, which lies 

 Southerly from Pooroolea and stretches still further South, sending 

 off spurs in various directions. This hill exteriorly at least, appears 

 to be composed of metamorphic rocks. It attains a height of 3,049 

 feet. Smoke is said to issue from a fissure at the top, but the inform- 

 ation I possess on this point is very vague. South of Dulma are 

 hills of the same class of rocks of inferior height ; these however 

 abound in mineral wealth ; some assume an Easterly and Westerly 

 direction for instance, the range of Bellipeharee and the Dhoba 

 range ; others, as the Eanga Mittee range, run North and South. 



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