1869.] Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. 175 



but be struck by the fact that the history of the earliest Aryan colonies 

 in several other countries is connected with mines and mining, or 

 to quote the words of the author of the Annals of Rural Bengal. " A 

 distant colony of the same race (Aryans) excavated silver ore in pre- 

 historic Spain ; and the earliest glimpses we get at our own England, 

 disclose an Aryan settlement, fishing in its willow canoes and working 

 in the mines of Cornwall."* 



Within the last few weeks a paperf by Mr. Bauerman, on Arabia 

 Petraea, has reached India ; in it some ancient copper mines and fur- 

 naces are described, many of the remarks upon which, might, without 

 the least modification be equally aptly applied to those of Singhbhum. 

 Mr. Bauerman writes — tl There are no inscriptions or any other guide 

 to the probable date of these workings ; but it is evident from the 

 extraordinarily poor character of the ore, that they must belong to a 

 very early period, when metals were of nearly uniform value, owing to 

 the production being confined to a few localities. Judging by the 

 present conditions of mining economy, it may be fairly said that no 

 such deposit could possibly be worked now, unless the value of cop- 

 per was to be raised to several times that of gold * * * so perfectly 

 has nearly every visible spot of ore been removed, that we were for 

 some time in doubt as to whether the outer hollow was really an old 

 mine and not a natural cavern." 



The above notes have been put together as a contribution to the 

 little known history of one of the Aryan races. It is hoped that the 

 subject may have some interest for those who are at present en- 

 gaged in researches regarding the early history of this country ; it will 

 be for them to decide what value is to be attached to the opinions put 

 forward in this paper. 



The reading of the two next papers : — 



VII. Observations on the Temples of Pazdan in the Lar Pergunna, 

 Cashmir, by Lieut.-Gol. D. J. F. Newall, R. A. 



VIII. India as described by Dionysius, the geographer, in his voy- 

 age round the world in Vers. 1107 — 1165, by A. L. Clay, Esq., C. S., 

 was postponed. 



After the announcement of the newly elected members, the meeting 

 separated. 



* Annals of Rural Bengal, p. 91. 

 f Quarterly Journal of the Geological Society, Vol. XXV. Part I. p. 17. 



