3830.] On the Coal field of Pdlamii. 21 7 
IV . — On the Coal field of Palamu. 
Our readers will remember a notice given in our first volume, p. 178, of a 
coal mine which had been discovered in the Palamfi district ; and which had 
been visited and reported on by Captain Franklin, by desire of Government. 
The contents of that notice were chiefly taken from a private 'letter of Captain 
Franklin’s, to a friend in Calcutta, written on first visiting the spot. It was, there- 
fore, so far imperfect ; and it gave an inadequate idea of the extent of Captain 
Fijanklin’s enquiries, as it failed in showing their results with that precision which 
in so important a subject was desirable. Having lately been put in possession of 
the whole of that officer's correspondence and proceedings, together with some still 
more interesting notices on the subject of this coal furnished by Captain Sage, 
Executive Officer at Danaptir, we propose resuming the subject, and attempting 
to give a brief history of the discovery of this coal, as far as our materials will 
allow ; trusting, that should we inadvertently fall into any mistake, those of our 
readers who are better informed will correct them. 
When the project of establishing steam boats on the Ganges was first broached, 
a very serious difficulty seemed to present itself in the necessity of forming depflts 
of coal at suitable distances along the line of river. It became, therefore, a ques- 
tion of great interest — was there any probability of discovering supplies of coal so 
situated as in any degree to diminish this difficulty, and remove the objections 
founded thereon. The question engaged a good deal of attention in many parts 
of the country; and amongst others, Mr. A. Prinsep, Register of the Zilla Court 
of Rdmgerh, who was then moving about the district, issued a proclamation, offer- 
ing a reward to any one who might be successful in discovering the so much 
sought for mineral. A copy which he had of Rennel’s Atlas, afforded some 
grounds for the expectation on which this step was founded ; the words “ cole mine” 
having been found in the map of the Ramgerh district, at a spot not far from 
P&lamu, and close to the banks of the Amanfit,h river. Being encamped at 
Palamfi, he deputed an intelligent native to search for this ** cole mine.” The 
search was successful ; specimens of the coal were brought in, and the report of 
the native forwarded to Calcutta, where it excited much interest. 
About the same time some of the members of the Asiatic Society, considering as 
very desirable the completion of the geological labours of Captain Franklin in 
Bundle, hand, (which had been suspended in consequence of the economical 
measures then in progress all over the country,) had petitioned Government on 
the part of that officer, that he might be permitted to finish that survey on his 
own account and that of the Society, he relinquishing any claim to remuneration. 
Although there did not appear any pressing or immediate occasion for Captain 
Franklin’s services with his regiment, there was still felt to be some difficulty on the 
part of Government in acceding to this application, — till the newly discovered coal 
being suggested as a subject of great and public interest, it was deemed a less 
questionable ground on which to sanction the desired arrangement, than any 
which could be found in the barren and speculative, though perhaps ingenious views 
connected with the prosecution of what was supposed to be a mere geological survey. 
Accordingly Captain Franklin obtained leave of absence for six months, and 
was furnished with instructions from Government as to the special duty assigned 
to him of visiting, examining, and reporting on this highly important (as it 
was supposed) deposite of coal. 
Captain Franklin having quitted the Presidency, lost no time in proceeding 
towards the scene of his labors. His first report is dated 24th April, 1829, and 
it states that he bad, in obedience to the instructions received, visited the coal 
mines of the district of Palamu, lately brought to notice by Mr. A. Prinsep. 
That there are three places in that district where coal had been found, two of 
which are about 12 miles south-west of Palamu, in a jungly part of the country, 
near the spot marked “ cole mine” in Arrowsmith’s map ; the third at the point 
where the Ammanfit,h naddi falls into the Call river, at the village marked 
Sidra (properly Singrah) in that map. The position of the latter being most 
favorable for transport, Captain F. made it the principal subject of his examina- 
tion. In a section* which accompanies his report, he exhibits 5 parallel seams of 
coal, each of which bassets at the foot of the hills forming the scarps of the small 
troughs or vallies by which they are intersected ; the inclination of the seams being 
about 1 foot in 30. The surface rock is described as a coarse crumbly gritstone 
equivalent, as he thinks, with the millstone grit of England ; and under each seam 
is found hard micaceous sandstone, which, occasionally, in the vicinity of the coal, 
