36 HUGHES: SOUTHERN COAI.-FIEf,DS OF RKWAH c6nD\VANA BASIN. 



North area. — Johilla Coal-field. 



This portion of the coal-field extends over an area of 1 1 £ square 

 miles distributed on each side of the Johilla river 



Area. 



and forming a band of varying width between the 



Talchirs and the supra-Bai akars. 



The attention of several previous observers appears to have been 



. . drawn to tbe fact of the occurrence of coal in 



Previous observers. 



the Jdhilla valley. This is probably due to the 

 conspicuous manner in which the coal is exposed, and its propinquity 

 to Pali, one of the usual and most favourite halting-places en route to 

 and from Sokagpur. 



For travellers progressing eastward, Pali is the last village at which 

 supplies can be procured ; and there is a great temptation to steal a 

 day in one's programme of marches to enjoy the shady mango groves, 

 the beautiful prospect, and the wild duck and snipe-shooting that the 

 large tank and rice-runs afford. 



In 1840 Dr. Spilsbury, in the Journal of the Asiatic Society of 



Bengal, 1 mentioned coal as being- found in the bed 

 Dr. Spilsbury, 1840. ° . h . . 



or the JOhula river near rah, and likewise m a 



small stream near Kalesar-Umaria of Rewah. At that time the Sing- 

 JdhMa valley former- wara, and the whole of the Jdhilla coal lands were 

 ly under English rule. under English domination, but after the Mutiny 

 they passed, together with the Sohagpur taluk and the shrines of Amar- 

 kantak, into the hands of the Rewah administration. In 1854 Major 

 "Wroughton stated that coal occurred in the Jdhilla. 



Major Wroughton, Mr. 



Grant, Captain Hyde, In 1860 Mr. Grant and Captain Hyde, of whom 

 mention has already been made, passed by the 

 Jdhilla in the belief that the coal was no better than that of the Umrar 

 river. In the same year Mr. J. G. Medlicott inserted, in the Memoirs 

 of the Geological Survey of India, Vol. II, Part 2, a short paragraph 

 concerning coal near the village of Maliagura, and mentions that it was 



1 Journal, Asiatic Society, Bengal, Vol. IX, Part 2, p. 903. 



( 172 ) 



