1847.] 



in the Province of Malabar. 



16T 



I. The productiveness of the gold mines in the Zillah of Malabar. 



II. The machinery that would be required, and the expense of 

 working them. 



III. The propriety and utility of sending to England for machine- 

 ry for such purpose." 



" On these different subjects, information has been derived from 

 three sources. 



1st. The correspondence of thti former Principal Collectors of 

 Malabar and the Officer conducting the search for gold with Govern- 

 ment or its servants. 



2d. Personal inspection of some of the places where gold is found, 

 and 



3d. The examination of persons connected with the mines." 



The Committee then express their regret that they could not obtain 

 such positive evidence on all points, as they would wish to have laid 

 before Government. They had to derive their information on many 

 subjects, from persons connected with the mines, who were interested 

 either in concealing or enhancing their value, and they had therefore 

 to guard against wilful misrepresentation on the one hand and ex- 

 aggerated statements on the other. 



I. On the Productiveness of the Gold Mines. 



" In attempting to ascertain this, the Committee directed their in- 

 quiries to the eight following heads. 1. The number of mines in the 

 Zillah. 2. The number of persons employed in mining. 3. The 

 length of time the mines have been worked. 4. The taxes levied at 

 different times on the produce. 5. Present state of the mines of Ca- 

 pul and Mamhaat and the native mode of working them. 6. Quan- 

 tity found by one man per day. 7. Quantity annually produced. 8. 

 The condition of those connected with the mines. 



"1. Previous to noticing the number of mines, it may be useful to take 

 a brief survey of the country in which they are found, and of the geologi- 

 cal features which it presents. Nearly the whole of the Province of 

 Malabar^ except that part immediately along the Coast consists of lofty 

 mountains covered with dense forest or thick jungle. The principal 

 thain more immediately connected with the present subject is formed 

 of the Koondah and Mookoorty Hills to the south-east of Calicut^ the 

 Neilgherries to the east, and the Wynaad mountains to the north- 

 east. These send off numerous lateral ranges between which are 

 deep vallies in most places closely covered with forest. The most 

 e.xten^ive of these is that Nclamboor including nearly the whole 



