238 Notes on the Geology of the Vicinity of Tort Blair. [No. 3, 



durable. The results of local experience on this point are desirable. 

 It is not impossible that the time may come when it will be found 

 both practicable and profitable to export some of these as well 

 as the ornamental Serpentines to Calcutta. 



Lime. — An unlimited amount of lime of the best quality might 

 be obtained from the coral reefs. In Calcutta, and Bengal gene- 

 rally, where lime is expensive and often much adulterated, the 

 introduction of lime from the Andamans would be most de- 

 sirable. I am not at this moment in possession of statistics to 

 shew how far this might be expected to prove a profitable under- 

 taking ; but it seems probable that the coral worked by convict 

 labour in the Andamans, woidd bear the cost of transmission to 

 Calcutta, and leave a considerable margin for profit. It would be of 

 course a matter of no small difficulty to cut the coral on the surf- 

 washed reefs. 



Iron. — Mr. Kurz speaks of some very ferruginous serpentine 

 which he thinks might be worth smelting, but he adds that there 

 is no limestone at hand. As to the quality and quantity of this 

 ore I cannot speak from personal experience, but the absence of 

 limestone is scarcely a valid objection in a place where any amount 

 of lime might be manufactured from coral or sea shells. 



Before concluding, I would allude to several notices as to the oc- 

 currence of quicksilver in the Andamans which I have met with in 

 my examination of the numerous accounts of those islands. 



1. The Mahomedan travellers of the ninth century having de- 

 scribed an island inhabited by a race with the characteristics of the 

 Andamanese of the present day proceed to say. " Beyond this is a 

 " mountainous yet uninhabited island where, it is said there are 

 u mines of silver ; but as it does not lie in the usual track of ship- 

 " ping, many have sought for it in vain, though it is remarkable 

 li for a mountain called Kashenal. It once so happened that a 

 " ship sailing in this latitude had sight of the mountain and shap- 

 " ed her course for it, and falling in with the land sent a boat on 

 " shore with hands to cut wood. The men kindled a fire and saw 

 " silver* run from it which plainly indicated there was a mine of 



* This may possibly allude to the quicksilver mentioned in the following 

 notices. 



