Rajmahal Cluster of Hills. 
3 
1831.] 
of change. Among these hills I have found no specimens of the flinty hornstone, yet 
I think it probable, that formerly much has existed, for every where there abounds 
a kind of imperfect khari, which to sight has every external appearence of the real 
kind, but is vastly too hard for use, and in fact is in an intermediate state between 
the proper khari and flinty hornstone. Farther, in a piece of this imperfect khari , 
which I found on the road between Sripur and Majhuya, are evident traces of vegeta- 
ble impressions, which serve to connect its origin Avith that of the hornstone 
of Sakarigali above mentioned. Still farther, in some pieces of imperfect khari, I 
can trace the gradations from that stone to a kind of granular quartzose conc- 
rete, very common in these hills. Although the best khari is white, yet much of 
a proper softness, as well as of the hard and improper kind consists of various pa- 
rallel layers of different colours, sometimes plane, at others very curiously waved : 
the colours are white, red, and dirty yellow : I shall now mention the quarries of 
the proper khari that I saiv, and of some of which I only heard. 
On a hill, called Khari-pahar, the farthest south on the range, which I am now 
describing, is by far the best quarry that I have seen. It is covered by a horizontal 
stratum of stone about three feet thick, under which it extends to an unknown 
depth ; but in their operations the people have not exceeded 6 or 7 feet. It is dis- 
posed in vertical plates from one to three inches thick, and separated by an ochra- 
ceous matter, among which I observed traces of mosses. The plates run north and 
south, and are of various shades of white, but the whitest and softest alone are se- 
lected for market, and freed from the ferruginous matter. The khari seems to be 
Avhat naturalists call a porcelain clay, and of a very fine quality, and perhaps, as 
ballast, might be sent with advantage to Europe. This quarry has been long wrought, 
and although situated on a hill belonging to the southern tribe of mountaineers, 
and cultivated by them, has been considered as the property of the Virbhum Rajas, 
and on the sale of their estate went, as a separate lot, to Lala Gamhau, who pays 
for it 29 Rs. a year. He sometimes has Avrought it on his own account, and some- 
times has let it to a manager. Whoever works it, gives to the hill people who quarry, 
2J seers of rice for each ox-load of three maunds, and this he sells at Murshidabdd 
for about 1$ Rupee. He annually digs about 1,000 maunds (58^5 Sa. wt. a seer) 
each weighing rather more than 60 pounds. 
About 3 miles farther north, on a hill called Porgainge, is another quarry of kha- 
ri, which I did not see. When I Avas in the vicinity, in December, 1810, it had 
been only lately discovered, and Avrought for about 6 months, during Avhich 500 
maunds had been procured. 
At Mansa Chandi, a small hill near Phutkipru, Avas a mine of khari, which hat 
been dug from a kind of sloping gallery running through a curious argillaceous 
stone, that Avill be afterwards mentioned ; but the deity of the hill, about 4 > ea 
ago, was supposed to have taken offence at the people’s prying into her secrets, and 
the work was stopt. 
On the hill, called Gadai-Tunggi, at no great distance from the above, and be- 
longing to the northern tribe of mountaineers, is a fine quarry, noAV wrought, 
hill forms the N. E. corner of the range overlooking Rajmahal, and consists most 
ly of whin ; but the surface in some places is covered with slaggy fragments, that 
appear to me to have undergone the action of fire. The quarry is only covered b> 
red earth from 18 to 24 feet thick. Through this earth the workmen dig a slop- 
ing passage, open aboA r e, and perhaps 4 feet wide, until they reach the khari, when 
they dig a gallery into this substance, and take out as much as is Avanted. EAery 
year this must be repeated ; as in the rainy season the water fills up the passage, 
and brings down the roof ; a merchant hires the hill people for the work, and, on ac- 
