418 



Correspondence. 



remarkable that the native manufacturers obtain more saccharine matter 

 from their Canes in the relation of twenty to fourteen, as I have found 

 at Barripore and Benares, &c. &c. than the best European steam mills. 

 The natives water their Cane trash, but the tedium of the process de- 

 composes the subject, and in some instances in short nullifies the advant- 

 age they gain. The method of drying the Cane for manufacture is pe- 

 culiarly applicable to Bengal; for I found in Benares, Azeemghur, 

 Gauzeepore, &c. that the small hard country Cane only yields Ird of its 

 weight in Cane juice, the refuse |ds, containing locked up a very large 

 proportion of valuable matter, which cannot be touched by the very best 

 steam mill. In fact, no crushing process can extract the juice completely, 

 even from the more tender Canes of this Island. I frequently amuse 

 myself in making sugar from the trash coming from a good ten-horse 

 mill, as a proof, by synthesis, of the improved method. I think the 

 drying process one of great interest to Bengal, and one which might 

 lead to very important results. 



" Trais produits principaux qui constituent la Canne." 



Eau 72.1 



Sucre 18.0 



Ligneux.... 9.9 



100.0 



Extract of a Letter from S. H. Robinson, Esq., dated Dhob ah, August 22d, 

 1842, on the Dhobah Coal Mines on the Adji. 



As I promised you, I now enclose a section of the strata at Choukee- 

 danga Colliery in the Burdwan district, of which you are welcome 

 to make any use you please. The situation is, I think, about four 

 mile S. W. of Serapore Ghat on the Adji river, and rather less N. W. 

 of the dak station, Mungelpore, on the great Benares Road. 



The great similarity between these beds, and those at Rannygunge 

 Colliery, as described by Mr. Jones, is remarkable ; and should you con- 

 sider this worth publishing, as the accumulation of such facts would 

 tend to throw great light on the true character of these deposits, I 

 am in hopes the example I have set may be the means of inducing 

 others, who have experimented in the same field, to contribute the 

 results of their experience also towards the general fund of infor- 

 mation. 



I remain, yours truly, 



S. H. Robinson. 



