296 
Scientific Intelligence, [no. 4, new series, 
pect with ease to select at least 10 or 12 cwts. perhaps more, which 
will be nearly if not entirely pure and free from laterite, clays or 
particles of quartz, and from which I hope that a fair estimate may 
be formed of its commercial value, when the working of the mine 
is properly conducted. 
*' The plumbago deposit is at a place called Pon^laul in the Oola- 
malakul Property about 10 miles from Trevandrum in a North East 
direction on the road to Areenaud. It is found in a rather loose 
gravelly laterite, and 4 or 5 feet below <^he surface. 
" A hole of about 15 to 20 feet diameter and aj^out 4 to 5 feet 
deep was first sunk to the plumbago which , appeared to form a 
nearly horizontal layer of from 1 to 2 feet in thickness, but its 
breadth was not correctly ascertained. Having laid open the 
whole surface of the plumbago in the pit, and as it seemed to tread 
in a South West direction, a trench B C was dug from the well at 
B towards C about 18 feet long and 3J to 4 J deep until the 
plumbago vein or deposit was again met with, and it was traced as 
far as C where a narrow trench was dug at right angles to B C, 
and the Graphite was there again found. From the limited area 
exposed in the original pit about \\ ton of Graphite was obtained. 
The deposit appeared to be extensive and traces of Graphite were 
also discovered in other holes sunk at various distances from the 
main deposit. The total quantity of crude or uncleared ore 
brought in was about 2,700 lbs., of which perhaps 3 or 400 lbs. 
may have been strictly foreign matter or laterite clays, but in some 
of the masses it required a good deal of trouble to get rid of the 
clay which formed thin seams or partings in the masses of ore, and 
which to separate entirely from some of the smaller lumps, requir- 
ed a good deal of abrasion and loss. With more care and leisure 
which I could not at the time readily afford, I have no doubt I 
might have obtained from 1,800 to 2,000 lbs., instead of as now 
only 1,000^ to 1,200 lbs. of pure Graphite from the crude collection 
of 2,700 lbs. 
" The hire for digging the above 2,700 lbs. crude ore was about 3 
Rupees, the carriage by men to Trevandrum 12 Rupees or total 15 
Rupees or at the rate of about \ Rupee per 100 lbs., or for the 
