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Notices of Books .* 



fJuLV 



happy to find that Mr. C. Brownlow, an enterprizing and practical man, 

 lately settled at Chirrapunjie is turning his attention to the Kasya 

 mines. Every encouragement should, we think, be given to an esta- 

 blistiment which promises not only to confer immense benefit on this 

 promising district, but to be of essential service to the river steam 

 navigation. 



It is almost premature to speak of other experiments not yet in a, 

 sufficiently forward state for conclusions to be formed as to expense 

 Of these the Chilmari position, on the western face of the Garrow 

 Hills, promises most favorably from its proximi<^y to river communica- 

 tion. A supply thence will be procured as soon as the season permits. 

 Mr. Homfray and Mr. Cracroft have persons now employed searching 

 for the position most accessible and nearest to water carriage. 



But with regard to this locality we would beg here to calk your Lord- 

 ship's attention to the earnest recommendation of Captain Jenkins, 

 that some scientific surveyor should be deputed to examine it fully, con- 

 tinuing his line along the whole of the southern hilis of the Assam 

 Valley ; a series of carboniferous formations which, he assures us occur 

 here, unequalled in extent by any elsewhere discovered in India. This 

 recommendation has our warmest support. 



With the higher parts of the Valley of Assam the successive operations 

 of Mr. Scott, Captains Wilcox, Pemberton, Grant, and latterly of Captain 

 Jenkins himself, and his able Assistants Lieutenant Bigge, and Mr. 

 Bi uce, as well as the recent visit of Dr. Wallich, Dr. Griffith and* Dr. 

 McClelland, have made us better acquaint ed. 



The occurrence of the coal has been traced in most of the tributary 

 streams on the south of the Brahmaputra river, as exhibited in Cap- 

 tain Henderson's Sketch-map. All seems to range at nearly the same 

 distance from the main river or the central axis of the Valley, as if they 

 formed part of the same formation, a supposition supported also by their 

 quality, which partakes more of the nature of lignite, than of the earthy 

 or slaty beds of Burdwan, though these seams are not wanting in as- 

 sociation with the others. 



We have requested Captain Jenkins to send down a few boat loads 

 of the produc<> of such of the Assam coal field? as are most within reach, 

 that we may be better able to judge of its absolute cost landed at Cal_ 

 cutta, but we hardly expect competition from this quarter yet. For the 

 future prosperity of the Valley itself the possession of an inexhaustible 

 store of this and other minerals, will prove an invaluable advantage. 



