166 COAL MINES 



shafts, a difference of level of only two inches — and a line of dip and 

 of bearing in each different, but the strata the same. Every appearance 

 indicated lower beds of coal, than any yet cut through, and I continued 

 sinking in shaft No. 1, in hopes of finding the low main, with some 

 difficulty in keeping the water under, from not being able to keep the 

 men at work by night on account of the bears and tigers, until I found 

 the last stone bank suddenly change its declination from half an inch to 

 the foot, to an angle of 45°. This great dip would make it appear a 

 primary formation, although, I am inclined to think, it is merely, what is 

 - termed amongst miners, a trouble, occasioned by the wheeling of the 

 strata; I, therefore, did not sink farther, as the coal is always fouled by 

 these occurrences. I am now preparing to work the nine feet bed, from 

 the six inch band, that covers the nine inch seam of coal, up to about six 

 feet with an arched roof, leaving three feet of coal above the arch, the 

 three inches of clay slate that intervene will prevent the water of the 

 eight feet bed from dripping down, and the feeders, of the seam or bed 

 in work, Vv^ill descend below the springing of the arch, and leave the roof 

 tolerably dry. When the mine has been worked in tiiis manner to a 

 certain extent, the nine inch seam and three feet bed, can be readily 

 wrought, leaving the six inches and two inches bands on the floor, as 

 waste or dead ; but if the mine is continued in work for any length of 

 time, it would be prudent to carry the waste up, and leave the floor clean. 

 The coal of all these three beds, is of an excellent quality ; its cleanliness 

 renders it peculiarly adapted for culinary purposes ; — it resembles the 

 Sunderland coal in every respect, but leaves more cinders and ashes. 



An account of the Strata met with in sinking the Colliery at 



Rdmganj, December, 1815. ft. in. 



Yellowish clay, mixed, in some places, with soft black concrete 

 pebbles, ... .... .... .... .... . . * . 6 1 



Grey 



