PRODUCTIONS OF THE HIMALAYA. 



253 



of the working ores, it must be confessed, that I have yet examined, ex- 

 cepting one, is of the same species, as the Swedish. 



Specimens, however, of this ore have been found in different places ; 

 and it is very probable that it does exist in sufficient quantity, to become 

 an object of consideration to the Government. The Bunclellchand iron, 

 which is said to be one of tlie best after that from Gwalior, is manufac- 

 tured from the red oxide. The Gwalior ore I have never seen; but con- 

 clude it to be of the magnetic species, from a circumstance I recollect 

 being mentioned by Captain Gerard, when surveying that country, of an 

 unusual deviation of the magnetic needle. The mountain iron would, 

 however, if carefully manufactured, have a sufficiently fair market, without 

 any chance of being interfered with by either of those other kinds : and 

 even supposing that the common ores should hold out little inducement to 

 expend much on improvements in their reduction ; still in the one known 

 source of the magnetic ore, there is, apparently, a sufficient supply to 

 authorize at least an experiment on a small scale. 



It may, perhaps, be said, that a full improvement of the quality of 

 this iron, would interfere with the sale of English iron : but it appears to 

 me, that it would chiefly supply the place of the Swedish in the market ; 

 which is known to be in great request amongst the natives, under the 

 name of " Francese Loha." English iron has not an extensive sale in 

 India ; even in England it is now well established, that all the best steel 

 is manufactured from Swedish iron. English bar iron, however, bears a 

 higher price than the Gwalior iron ; though the latter is more extensively 

 used amongst the natives. The former is sold at Moraclahad, for 4f 

 seers the Rupee ; the latter at 6 seers. The mountain iron sells on the spot 

 for 8 seers generally, that is about £14 a ton, which was the highest 

 wholesale price to which the English iron attained during the war; at 



3 s present 



