Bepori of the Coal Committee. 



S57 



Arracan,, 



The more we know of coal, the more are we impressed with the fact, 

 that it never presents false indications of its presence. There ishardiy 

 an instance either in India or elsewhere of its appearing at all, that it 

 dues not do so under circumstances to render it in the highest degree 

 important to Society ; and although at first the quality and extent of 

 the beds in any new district may be for a time doubtful, yet experience 

 teaches us, that where these indications do not improve in proportion 

 to the intelligence and enterprise directed to their complete develop- 

 ment, the mineral is not true coal, but a substance, the peculiarity of 

 which is easily detected, as the brown coal of English geologists. 

 The samples of coal we received from different parts of the Arracan 

 coasf, were such as to leave no question whatever as to the beds from 

 which they were taken belonging to the true coal formation. 



Coal has been found composing a part of Oogadong, a small island 

 opposite to the harbour of Kyak Phyo, in two situations not very far 

 from each other. The sample supplied was much impregnated with 

 pyrites, it was however a caking coal, belonging to the true coal mea- 

 sures. It would be a desirable object to try how far the Oogadong coal 

 might answer for the reduction of Rambree iron ore, which is very abun- 

 dant. Red Hill being said to be composed entirely of an ore that was 

 formerly worked to some extent by the Burmese, a small quantity of 

 the ore and coal might be sent to Calcutta for trial, and if the result 

 proved satisfactory, trials on a larger scale might be repeated on the 

 spot, where experiments of the kind must always be cheaper and more 

 satisfactory than when made at a distance. Coal has also been found 

 on Paget, or Adam's Island, south of the great island of Rambree. It 

 has also been found in small seams in one of the Bolonga Islands, as 

 well as near the beach at Sandoway ; but the necessary information is 

 wanting to enable us to conclude any thing from these indications, be- 

 yond the fact of the existence of coal, to a great extent, in the Arracan 

 provinces. 



The most promising bed yet found, is one that was brought to the 

 notice of the Commissioner, Captain Bogle, by Lieut. Lurasden, who 

 states that it was found about two years ago by persons employed 

 in coal-finding by Captain Williams. This coal occurs at a place 

 called Hoong, near the head of a river, which descends from a range 

 of hills on the southern extremity of the island, falling into the Sando- 

 way channel. Mr. Lumsden states that large boats may approach to the 

 very spot where the coal is found. On visiting the spot, Mr. Lumsden 

 found " an irregular vein of coal, of about a loot in thickness, mixed 



