jan. — mar. 1857.] PlumlagooJ Kumaon and Travancore. 257 



Hay, on the ground that no material advantage would be derived 

 from the undertaking. He is, nevertheless, pleased to acknow- 

 ledge the exertions of Major Hay, and to authorize that Officer to 

 submit a contingent bill for his bond fide expenses." — Madras 

 Spectator, March 19, 1857. 



Observations on the Graphite or Plumbago of Kumaon and 

 of Travancore, by J. Forbes Royle, m. d. 



Specimens of Graphite and Plumbago have on various occasions 

 been sent from different parts of India and a desire expressed to 

 have their value ascertained in this country, 



Thus at the Exhibition of 1851, there were specimens from Al- 

 morah, Vizagapatam and Travancore. 



The specimens from Travancore are in nodules extremely soft 

 but brilliant, very like the Ceylon Graphite, of which some quan- 

 tity has for some time been imported and sold for about £8 to 

 £10 a ton. Some of the purer specimens of Travancore would rank 

 with them, but all impurity greatly deteriorates its value. The Vi- 

 zagapatam in its present state seems to be worthless. 



Graphite has on several occasions been sent from Almorah as 

 in 1849 and 1850, again in 1851 and lastly on the present oc- 

 casion. It was first discovered by Captain Herbert near Almorah, 

 who describes cutting it into slices of which he made pencils, 

 showing that it had some of the qualities required in that substance. 

 The specimens sent in 1849 and 1850 were examined and reported 

 on by the late Mr. Phillips and also by the late Mr. Brockeden. 

 The latter of whom was well acquainted with the practical uses and 

 commercial value of Graphite, but he pronounced the specimens 

 for any purpose that he was acquainted with as useless, and there- 

 fore worthless. The same opinion was again given to me by Mr. 

 Brockeden before his death. 



If the enormous value (from 305. to 50s. a pound) of good 

 Graphite, is considered, the declared worthlessness of these Indian 

 specimens seems to be unaccountable. It is desirable to ascertain 



