858 



Report of the Coal Committee, 



[ApRir. 



with broljpn red sandstone, an^l on working below if, he came to a kind 

 of clai/slfite and eventUMlly to water." Mr. Lnmsden, however, states 

 that he was obliged from fatigue to leave the work to a native, who in 

 a few days brought to him 120 maunrls of coal — a larger quantity than 

 we should have supposed a native could procure in so short a time, un- 

 der circumstances described by Mr. Lumsden. A sample of this coal, 

 consisting of four or five maunds, was brought to Calcutta by Captain 

 Bogle, and tried in the Laboratory of tlie Honorable Company's Dis- 

 pensary, and found to burn with a clear bright flame and very little ; 

 smoke. The following are the results of its analysis : — 



Specific gravity, 1.2S 



Inflammable matter, ... ... ... .. 40 



Carbon, ... ... ... ... ... 54 



Ferruginous ash, ... ... ... ... 6 



100 



It is a free burning coal, giving out a strong heat, and would no doubt 

 be found suitable to sleani purposes, as it is quite free from the sul- 

 phureous impregnation which rendered the former samples of Arracan 

 coal objectionable. 



The want of more satisfactory information than we yet possess re- 

 garding Arracan coal is much to be regretted, as there is no part of 

 India in which good coal mines could be attended with more advantage^ 

 whether we regard the situation on the coast, or the peculiar circum- 

 stances of the province itself. This district is chitfly known to Euro- 

 peans by the moitality that took place there during the late war. Few 

 are aware that within tM'erity miles of the town of Arracan, there is a 

 fine elevated chain of mountains, extending parallel to the coast, and 

 alGTording no doubt as fine a climate as any part of the world, although 

 the coast itself is low, and like many similar tracts in the north of 

 Italy, and south of Europe, unhealthy. Let good coal be once disco- 

 vered in abundance in this fertile province, and the deadly effect of 

 climate to persons exposed in miserable boats, or damp huts surrounded 

 by swamps, will disapj ear, and the indolent streams become the track 

 of steamers, perhaps to the very foot of the hills, which might thus 

 become available as places of residence. 



Sylhet. 



Although the attention of the Coal Committee has been constantly 

 directed to this quarter, the only result accomplished since the last re- 

 port, that can be said to be new, is the delivery of i0,000 maunds of 



