174 



Notices of Books ^ 



[JULV 



" Captain Low says that the province of Mergui abounds with tin ore> 

 especially to the southward ; tin, and antimony also occur at Tavoy.* 



" Burdwan and AJji Coal Districts.— The Burdwan coal district is 

 certainly next in importance to that of Silhet, that part of it in which 

 the Collieries are situated is 140 miles N. W. of Calcutta and is travers- 

 ed by two rivers, the Damuda and the Adji ; the first enters the Hoog- 

 ley about 25 miles below Calcutta, and the second enters that branch 

 of the Hoogley called Bhagarutty about 70 above that city. The point 

 at which the Damuda forms a junction with the Hoogley is 160 miles 

 from the site of the coal mines ; whereas Cutwa, the town at which the 

 Adji joins this river is only 1 10 miles from the mines, while it is 70 

 miles nearer the great line of navigation on the Ganges, making a 

 difference of 120 miles in favour of the Adji compared with the Damuda, 

 as a line of conveyance to that part of the Ganges for the navigation of 

 which the provision of coal is now chiefly required to be made. As a 

 drawback however from this very marked advantage, there would be 

 a land carriage of ten miles across the country from the present mines 

 on the Damuda to the Adji ; but as these rivers extend parallel to each 

 other for the distance of 40 miles (according to Arrowsmith's map), 

 the rcost favourable portion of this space might be selected for the 

 construction of a rail road from the present mines on the Damuda to 

 boats on the Adji. 



" The advantage of the Adji compared with the Damuda as a line of 

 conveyance, has here only been considered with reference to coal al- 

 ready worked; but the assistance which the Committee is receiving 

 from the communications of Captain Forbes with Mr.Erskine, a gentle- 

 man residing on the spot, leaves scarcely a doubt as to the existence of 

 good workable coal close to the Adji itself; and in a letter received" 

 from Mr. E. dated 6th July 1837, four situations are pointed out in 

 which good coal may be raised, and delivered into boats at an expense 

 of from I to i an anna per maund. He moreover announces the dis- 

 patch of 2,000 maunds which will be delivered at Cutwa, at the rate of- 

 3 annas per maund including all contingent charges. f 



" The first situation in which Mr. Erskine points out coal is, Mammud- 

 pore, two coss south of the Adji Ghat at Seedpoorie, — land carriage 

 per maund |ths of an anna, but this coal as 'it appears on the surfac« 



" * See Glean, of Scien. 1-223 and Asiat. Res. 1829." 

 + In a subsequent letter Mr; Erskine states that he had raised 4000 maunds, and that the 

 additional 2000 aaunds were also dispatched, but that he feared the expense would be 4 

 finnas per maund, which is however only half the present contract price. For this import ~ 

 tant result the public are entirely indebted to Captain Forbes and Mr. Erskine." 



