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Scientific Intelligence. [no. £, new series. 



be better judges than those looking at bad specimens. It is cer- 

 tain that no specimens have yet been sent sufficiently pure to be 

 sawn in slices or for grinding in the mills. The specimens last 

 sent are valued at not more than £5 a ton. 



Mr, Ruel celebrated for making crucibles (v. Jury Reports) con- 

 sidered that the specimens from Travancore were not worth more 

 than 8s. a cwt. for his purpose though the price is sometimes as high, 

 as 14s. 



A good practical test I am told is that of chewing a small piece, 

 when if not gritty, it will probably be found to be sufficiently pure 

 for grinding up. 



It is possible however that the enquiries now being made by 

 Chemists may devise methods by which the impure specimens 

 may be made available for purposes not yet generally known, I 

 have been asked by one of our intelligent Chemists to ascertain the 

 quantity in which the Travancore Graphite can be obtained and the 

 cost per ton, at which it can be delivered on board-ship. It seems 

 desirable therefore to forward a copy of this communication to 

 Travancore as well as to Kumaon. 



Extract from a letter from the Resident of Travancore and Co- 

 chin, dated 9th February 1857. 



" Two varieties of Graphite are found in Travancore, one in their 

 laminse, another granular, and I sent specimens of both to the Ex- 

 hibition of 1851. 



" The granular or fibrous variety, I have only yet discovered in 

 two localities and both of them in laterite, a few feet only below 

 the surface. One locality is about 5 or 6 miles N. E. of Trevan- 

 drum and the other about 12 or 14 miles N. E., I brought in from 

 this latter locality on my visit to it about 3 cwt. 



" Some small deposits are also found immediately on the W. of 

 the town of Trevandrum, but I have not yet heard of any other 

 deposits of this granular variety, though I think it probable they 

 exist. 



" Graphite in thin scates or laminse is common nearly throughout 

 the laterite tracts of Travancore and Cochin, but more or less 



