256 



ON THE MINES AND MINERAL 



a running stream, all the impurities are separated. There remains a black 

 sand ; which however still contains about a fifth of its weight of impurities : 

 this is smelted with charcoal, into a porous mass ; which imperfectly beat- 

 en, is sold to the lower mountaineers at the rate of eight and a half seers 

 for the Rupee. The iron is said to be of excellent quality, and is in great 

 demand for Khukeris. This is the mine at which I think it very desir- 

 rable some improvements should be attempted, as holding out a fairer 

 prospect of advantage. There does not appear to be any reason why 

 this ore, if carefully reduced, should not furnish an iron fully equal to the 

 Swedish. The supply, too, is sufficient to justify the expectation of a con- 

 siderable addition to the revenue. At present, the people state the pro- 

 duce of manufactured iron as not exceeding three hundred Rupees ; but 

 from the flourishing and substantial appearance of the village, I should 

 think it must greatly exceed this sum. 



3. — The Lead Mines. 



The Lead Mines are numerous, and the supply of ore from some of 

 them has been considerable. The most valuable are situated on the river 

 Tonse, at no great distance from the Dehra Dun. There are three 

 places where works, to some extent, have been, and are carried on ; Aiyar, 

 Maiyar, and Borela. The first-named place is on the right bank of the 

 river below the village of JBhatnor, and within the limits of Sirmur. The 

 other two are on the left bank, and are in Jaunsdr, one of the mountain 

 purgunnahs retained by Government; the superintendence of which, is 

 vested in the Officer commanding at Dehra. The Borela mine formerly 

 paid two thousand rupees yearly ; the Maiyar one, four thousand : the pre- 

 sent rents are six hundred and fifty; and one thousand. The mines were 

 always included in the assessment for revenue; and latterly owing to their 

 alleged non-productiveness, the sum assessed has been limited to the 



mere 



