180 



Accourd of the Gold Mines, Sfc. 



[No. S2, 



III. With regard to the utility of sending to England for Machi- 

 nery to work the mines, the Committee state that, " they consider 

 they have clearly proved that the productiveness of the mines is by 

 no means such as to warrant the outlay of a considerable sum, 

 with a very doubtful prospect of profit. But even did the precious 

 ore exist in such quantity as to realize the golden dreams of the most 

 enthusiastic speculator, the unhealthiness of the country in which the 

 mines are situated would weigh as a powerful objection on the minds 

 of the Committee, against recommending the purchase of expensive 

 machinery to work them. In the deep forests and jungles of Mala- 

 bar, during six months of the year, from April to October, a fatal 

 form of fever arising from Miasmata, is apt to attack Europeans who 

 venture to reside in them. SuflBcient proof of this has been obtained 

 and a forcible one exists in the letter marked No. 5 from Lieut. 

 Nicolson."^' That gentleman has been thrice attacked with fever, and 

 on the last occasion his life was despaired of for several days. Indeed 

 the Committee doubt if any European of skill and acquirements in 

 science, sufficient to enable him to superintend the operations of min- 

 ing, could be induced, for any salary, to remain in their neighbour- 

 hood during the whole j-ear. 



*' The very time of his absence too, would be that in which the mines 

 could be most conveniently worked from the constant supply of water, 

 and when also the machinery would be most likely to get into dis- 

 repair from exposure to the violence of the monsoon. Instances are 

 not wanting to show how soon machinery in this country left under 

 native management becomes totally useless, nor could natives of res- 

 pectability from other parts of India be induced to undertake its su- 

 perintendence, for their dread of the jungles exceeds that entertained 

 even by Europeans. The Committee repeat that if every other ob- 

 jection were done away with and proved to be untenable in all points, 

 this consideration alone would induce them to dissuade Government 

 from entering upon the speculation. 



"Naught now remains to be remarked on by the Committee, except 

 Lieutenant Nicolson's statement of the existence of gold on the A^eil- 

 gheiTies^ and his suggestion of the propriety of continuing the search 

 in that direction. It has been already surmised that the original de- 

 posits of the precious ore are to be found in the Koondah, Moo- 

 Icoorty, and Neilgherry ranges, and if they were discovered at a suf- 



* See Note at page 173. 



