12 GENERAL OBSERVATIONS ON THE 



probably from the valley of Sambhalpur. We next trace the laterite, as 

 the overlying rock, through the district of Medinipur, and thence con- 

 tinuing northward by Bishenjmr and Bancora to Birhlmm, reposing 

 sometimes on sand-stone, but more frequently on granite or gneiss. At 

 JBancora, the calcareous concretion called Kankar, begins to cover the 

 surface of the granitic and sienite rocks, which rise above the surface to 

 considerable elevations in that district. 



Thence we pass on to the great coal field that occupies both sides 

 of the river Damoda. The boundaries of this formation have not yet 

 been accurately ascertained : to the southward we trace its associating 

 rocks ( sand-stone and shales) to within a few miles of RagJmndthpur, re- 

 posing on granite and sienite — about forty miles north by east ; from that 

 place we come to the first colliery ever opened in India. The late Mr. 

 Jones, an enterprising miner, had the merit of commencing these works 

 in 1815, at a place called Rani Ganj, on the left bank of the Damoda. 

 Mr. Jones describes this as the N. W. coal district of Bengal : he states 

 that he observed the line of bearing for sixty-five miles in one direction, its 

 breadth towards Bancora, (on the S. W, side) being not more than eleven 

 or twelve miles from the river ; and he conjectures that the same coal 

 formation crossing the valley of the Ganges, near Catwa, unites with that 

 of Sylhet and Cachar, which he denominates the N. E. coal district, and 

 from which abundant specimens of coal have been produced. An accu- 

 rate survey of this extensive and valuable deposit seems to be called for, 

 by obvious considerations of the most important public advantage. 



The principal rocks that compose this formation are varieties of 

 sand-stone, slate-clay, and shales, with occasional dykes and veins of trap 

 SLTid green- stone ; the shale immediately covering the coal, abounds with 

 vegetable impressions, and some animal organic remains ; amongst these. 



Dr. 



