396 Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. [No. 4. 



plication was made to the Government of the N. W\ Provinces, some 

 assistance might be obtained towards completing an undertaking 

 which had been commenced by Major A. Cunningham nearly 20 

 years ago. The present Lieut.- Governor, lately a V. P. of the So- 

 ciety, had, it was well known, always taken a lively interest in Capt. 

 Kittoe's proceedings, and would be likely to support the Society's 

 movement. 



The suggestion of the President was approved and adopted by 

 the meeting. 



Communications were received — \ 



1. From the Government of Bengal, through the Under-Secretary 

 Mr. W. G. Young, enclosing copies of correspondence regarding 

 the copper mines of Dhulbhoom. The following is Mr. Ricketts's 

 report on the mines. 



Para. 48. " In consequence of what I heard from the principal 

 assistant stationed at Chyebassa, and also from several parties in 

 Calcutta, I penetrated to the copper mines. 



49. " Those I visited are situated about eight miles North "West 

 from Kalkapoor in Dhulbhoom, and nine miles in the North East from 

 Kessul in Singbhoom. There are traces of considerable diggings in 

 many places, but of very old date. The hills are cleared of jungle, 

 and in the woods below, the heaps of refuse may still be traced. 

 Though the hills in which the one is found are far in the woods, 

 there are no real difficulties of any kind. Already supplies of 

 the common articles of food may be procured at a short distance, 

 there is a small supply of water near the mines, and it might 

 easily be increased to any amount by throwing drains across 

 some of the valleys close at hand. A good road to Kalkapore, and 

 to Chunderluka on the Sabenreka river, may be made at but little 

 expense, besides cutting the jungles. The Rajah of Dhulbhoom is 

 quite ready to give speculators a puttah for the lands on rea- 

 sonable terms. He would give the hills within a circle to be mark- 

 ed out at a very light rent on perpetuity, he receiving a percentage 

 on the produce. He would readily on these terms afford the farmer 

 his assistance in the procuring of people. But no assistance of that 

 sort would be required ; good wages would soon bring the hardy 

 labourers of Chota Nagpore. 



