166 



Account of the Gold Mines 



[No. 32, 



The request for additional means being supported by Major 

 Crewe, orders were issued for the despatch of two 3 inch cylinder 

 pumps, and 8 chests of mining tools from the stores ; and as it 

 appeared that cranes and troughs could easily be made up at Paul- 

 ghaut, authority was conveyed to Major Crewe to have the requisite 

 number prepared. On the 19th November, Lieutenant Nicolson re- 

 ported that on arriving at Paulghaut and making all inquiries, he 

 learnt that, the only substantial article procurable for manufacturing 

 machinery was wood, and that iron and all other requisites were of 

 the coarsest possible quality; that no workmen could be found ex- 

 pert enough to put them cleverly or substantially together, all be- 

 ing carpenters of the most ordinary description ; and that troughs 

 and rakes were the only articles to be depended on at Paulghaut* 

 He then proceeded to suggest the propriety of assembling a Com- 

 mittee at Caput of such persons as might be considered most compe- 

 tent to form a correct opinion on the present state of the mines and 

 the most practicable mode of working them, as also of the advantages 

 likely to accrue from sending direct to England for machinery. In 

 conclusion he mentioned that at the time of his writing there was a 

 very large quantity of gold for sale at Paulghaut and Coimhatoj'e, at 

 prices, which although much higher than at the mines, were still ac- 

 tually lower than the intrinsic value of the metal, as determined by 

 the Mint Master, and solicited permission to buy up on account of 

 Government any quantity of gold he might be able to procure at 

 this comparatively low rate. The quantity which he calculated he 

 could procure in the public bazar was stated to amount to about 

 50,000 Rupees. 



In conformity with this suggestion a Committee was appointed 

 composed of Mr. F. F. Clementson, Principal Collector of Malabar. 

 Captain Ross, Superintending Engineer in Malabar and Canara and 

 Civil Engineer in the Western Division. Assistant Surgeon Ward, 

 M. T>., attached to the Medical Establishment at Tellicherryi with 

 instructions to inspect the gold mines in Malabar in communicatioa 

 with Lieutenant Nicolson, and to report on their probable produc- 

 tiveness, the expense which would attend the working of them, and 

 the most efficient means of conducting the operations. They were 

 farther desired to take into consideration the expediency of sending 

 to England for machinery. 



The Committee sent in their report on the 25th of May, 1832. 

 They commence by stating that " in carrying into effect the orders 

 of Government they have directed their inquiries to three subects. 



