OF BURDWAN. 169 



be abundant. Taking into consideration the various occurrences in the 

 N. W. and N. E. quarters of Bengal, I am induced to think that the 

 coal formation of both countries joins under the delta Sengal, and that 

 the alluvial deposit is of no great thickness ; the dip of all the coal 

 seams on the N. E. frontier, favors this opinion, and it is not improbable 

 that this great line of coal enters China. From the Garrow hills into 

 Cachar, I am satisfied of its continuation, as I discovered coal and its 

 attendants the whole way, and found a piece of coal imbedded in a slate 

 rock in Cachar. The best informed people of Manipur, assured me 

 of their having traced it into the Burma country, but they do not use it 

 in 3Ianipur for any purpose ; it is called by them, " amiihalang." I 

 am inclined to think, this coal district marks the easiest and best road in- 

 to China. The Surma river is navigable for small boats into Manipur, 

 but the people on this frontier are averse to travellers proceeding into 

 their country, and when they have power, resist it. 



One of the principal advantages which I anticipate from the intro- 

 duction of a cheap and plentiful supply of coals into Calcutta, is the 

 being able to burn lime with it, at a moderate expense. At Sylhet, the 

 whole of the lime is burned with wood — an article that has of late become 

 botti scarce and dear, so that they are now obliged to depend on a foreign 

 country, Cachar, for their fuel ; and for which, large sums are annually 

 sent out of our country. But in the event of the limestone being brought 

 to Calcutta, and then burned with coal — that article could be had fresh and 

 much superior to the lime as now brought, which has been burnt at least, 

 perhaps, a year before. Besides the saving in quality, from the freshness 

 of the lime — the deterioration sustained by the lime getting wet in cross- 

 ing the great rivers, and the boats taking in salt-water in the Suncler- 

 hans, will be obviated, and the expense of carriage would be less, from 

 the boats requiring no roof, and from the insurance being less — the 



u 2 goods 



