1865.] Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. 87 



of fine sandy particles and of minute scales of mica shew that this has 

 been its origin. 



" As a fuel, the material is of very slight value. It yielded to assay 

 the following. 



Fixed Carbon, 16.5 



Volatile matter, 48.0 



(13.3 water.) 



Ash, 35.5 



" The fixed carbon, which may be taken as the index of the relative 

 value of fuel for heating purposes is not £th of the whole, while the 

 ash, perfectly useless for the purpose of a fuel, amounted to more than 

 one-third. It can be used as a fuel doubtless, and for ordinary domestic 

 purposes mixed with wood, it would give a steadiness and permanence 

 of heating power, which wood alone could not. But for general pur- 

 poses, it may be pronounced next to useless as a fuel. 



" As a manure, it would doubtless be useful to mix with poor thirsty 

 sandy soils, in which there is a deficiency of humus or of vegetable 

 matter, but it would be of little use as mixed with soils of ordinary 

 character and richness. For garden purposes it would be useful. 



" There is no question that an oily extract could be obtained by dis- 

 tillation, but the amount of this would never be sufficient practically, 

 to pay for its extraction. 



" I am also instructed to state that in all probability, Captain Ouseley 

 will find that this deposit is by no means so extensive as he appears 

 to suppose, and that he will most likely find, on further investigation, 

 that it is limited by the area of the jheel from which it has been 

 derived, and that even over that area it will be found to be irregularly 

 distributed. 



" Capt. Ouseley's letter in question is returned, a note having been 

 made of the locality where the specimens were obtained. 



" The decomposing wood subsequently sent is loaded with moisture, 

 and would therefore require several days' exposure to a dry atmosphere 

 before it could be used as fuel. It contains besides a large quantity of 

 earthy impurity. The tooth and portions of bone shall be given to 

 Mr. Oldham on nis return." 



