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heard of some pieces being got perfectly round, as in their original 

 shape. The bark and knots are quite distinct, and you may reckon 

 the rings of its annual growth. I have even seen the roots of the trees, 

 and distinctly traced the ramifications, where they were not covered 

 with basalt, and could readily perceive that they had been laid down 

 by some force pressing against them, precisely like trees blown down 

 by a storm. Those roots were visible on the west side, and the trees 

 must have fallen with their heads towards the east. I can also relate, 

 with tolerable certainty, that all this substance has been fir trees ; 

 there may be some of a different species ; because, where the weight has 

 been greater, the substance becomes harder, and more nearly resem- 

 bling coal, and of course not to be so accurately distinguished. It 

 will not answer for the forge, as it will neither bear the bellows nor 

 stirring. In this country it is known by the name of wooden coal, and 

 when other fuel cannot be had, it proves a useful substitute. For 

 an entire winter I used it ; the smell is unpleasant, nearly resembling 

 that which arises from the burning of a rotten stick. It is also used in 

 burning lime, but from the quantity of ashes which mix with the lime, 

 it makes bad mortar, though good manure. It was first brought into 

 notice by Mr. Alexander Stewart, about sixty years ago (1750), who 

 had been informed that the appearance of it indicated good coal be- 

 neath. Some search having been made at a place called Kiltymorris, 

 near the centre of the county, in consequence of the appearance of this 

 wooden coal, was so far unsuccessful that no other kind was found. 

 I have to add that it was first discovered in the face of the hill above 

 Ballintoy, and from its having been found useful, attempts were suc- 

 cessfully made to find it elsewhere ; but I have not heard of any being 

 found to the east of Ballintoy town. On the west side, however, par- 

 ticularly in the townland of Limincogh, it is got in great abundance. 

 Unfortunately, both there and in Ballintoy the pits happened to take 

 fire, and the latter place continued burning for several years. Various 

 attempts were made to extinguish it, but all proved fruitless ; and 

 finally it was smothered by the falling in of the superincumbent mass. 

 This fossil wood is generally found in veins; where these are of the 

 least thickness, the appearance of the wood is most distinct. These 

 veins are from two inches to four or five feet thick, and universally 

 run from east to west." 



Mr. Dubordieu continues : — " On the eastern shore of Lough Neagh 

 it has also been met with, near Portmore, in large masses. It is there 

 known by the name of black wood." Two beds, each five feet thick, 

 and a third stratum, nine feet thick, at the depth of eighty yards, and 

 eighteen inches more, were penetrated in the fourth stratum ; but, not 

 having sufficient length of rods, it was given up. Also between Bal- 

 linderry and Crumlin, on the same shore, Mr. French was at a great 

 expense on the first stratum, which was thirty inches thick at the end 

 of the level or drive. 



A very curious circumstance has lately been observed at Bengore 

 Head respecting this fossil wood. A considerable stratum is found 



