230 
Analyses of Books. 
The iron mines are numerous; and considerable quantities of the metal are manu- 
factured, but by such a rude process, that the article is very inferior, and indeed 
scarcely fit for the construction of those tools and implements in the preparation of 
which may be found the chief source of the demand. The ore is attempted to he 
reduced in an open forge hearth, worked by a pair of air bags; the reduction is so 
imperfect that a great deal of labour is required by repeated beatings and hammer- 
ings to bring it into workable order. The ore is commonly the red oxyde, sometimes 
hrematitic (Dliuneeakot on the Cosillah), sometimes in masses composed of loosely 
cohering glimmering scales, soiling strongly, and feeling unctuous to the touch (Rim - 
gar) ; sometimes in the form of a breccia, the fragments being reunited by a calcareous 
incrustation, (Katsfiu on the Ramganga.) This latter variety' is said to produce a 
good iron, probably from the adjustment by nature of the calcareous flux; for the 
miners do not appear to be aware of the value of such an addition, and never use it. 
The yellow or hydrated oxyde is found at Cbaogerka both ochry and compact. The 
former sometimes contains crystals of octahedral, magnetic iron ore; and in the 
neighbourhood were found pieces of conglomerate consisting of grains of this mine- 
ral and of quartz, each of which was a natural magnet, and had two or more poles. 
At Sil in Bissaliir is a mine of this ore. It is found disseminated in mica slate 
in such quantities as in favourable specimens to equal half the weight or one-third 
the bulk. The specific gravity of this ore is 4,8. The iron obtained from it is 
highly valued. Similar suggestions are offered for the improvement of the iron 
works as of the copper, but we must hasten to conclude this already too lengthy 
abstract. 
The lead mines are numerous, but those most worked at present are situated on 
the Tfins river at no great distance from the Debra I > u n . There are three places 
where works are carried on, AiySr, Maiyar, Bordla. The first named place is onthe 
right bank of the river below the village of Bhulndr and within the limits of Sirmfir. 
The other two are on the left bank, and in JaOnsfir, a pergunnah the superinten- 
dence of which is vested in the officer commanding at Dfhra. The latter two mines 
produced formerly 6000 Rs. they have dwindled down to 1650. 
The mine at Bbntndr or Aiytir is situated in clay slate. The rock is tender and 
fragmentary, and the galleries though supported hv timbers frequently fall in. The 
ore is found sometimes in quartz veins, sometimes in the slate itself. At Maiydr 
the containing rork is the same, but harder and more firm, so tlmt. propping is not 
required. The labour of excavation is however greater. At Borgia the containing 
rock is limestone supposed to be a bed in the clay slate. This also affords durable 
galleries, without further expense than that of the excavation. 
The ore at all three places is the same, a steel gray fine granular galena, having a 
specific gravity of 7,2. At Maiyir it is accompanied by iron pyrites and in one gal- 
lery by sulphur. The mode of reducing the ore is the same as that practised in the 
case of the copper and iron ores; but it answers better in the case of this metal than 
of those. A curious fact is, that the ore and reduced metal sell by weight for the 
same price at Kalsi, the nearest mart. Perhaps the sulphur which may be collected 
pays the expense of reducing the ore. 
XI' I. Tables exhibiting a daily Register of the Tides in the River Hugh at Calcutta 
from. 1805 to 1828 ; with Observations on the Results thus obtained. By James Kyd, 
Esq. pj>. 259 to 267. 
This article we shall re-print. 
The volume contains maps and sections fully illustrating the geological papers. 
Of these the map of Bundelkhand and Biigilkhand, by Captain Franklin, is very well 
executed, and affords a favourable idea of the state of the arts in this country. There 
is no name to it, so that we cannot give credit to whom eredit is due. 
The two coloured plates of Ruceros Nepalensis, executed at Mr. Smith’s Press are 
also very good. The last paper has five very full linear tables showing all the most 
interesting phenomena of the tides. Upon the whole, we think we may congratu- 
late the Asiatic Society as well as the public, on the result of this attempt to extend 
the sphere of their inquiries. 
