1829.] Notice of Shells found in the Gangetic Provinces. 263 
3. Retrospect of occurrences , and opinions formed thereon , while searching' for 
coal in Bengal. 
The N. W. coal district exhibits a considerable degree of confusion, increasing 
as you proceed upwards, and is admirably adapted for the use of an indolent race 
of people ; as coal, sufficiently good for common purpose, is within the reach of 
every body. Knowing that dislocation of strata, always occasions the coal to be 
foul and dirty, I opened the works in a situation where I expected to be most free 
from it ; but the plan of the works will show, that 1 was not quite successful, 
although I have ascertained a most valuable point, viz. the wheeling of the strata 
in the most desirable direction that could be wished, crossing the great line of navi- 
gation somewhere about Kutwa, where 1 have not the least reason to doubt, that 
coal will be found, and the advantages that will result must be abundant. Taking 
into consideration the various occurrences in the N. W. and N. E. quarters of Ben- 
gal, I am induced to think that the coal formation of both countries joins under 
the delta of Bengal, and that the alluvial deposit is of no great thickness ; the dip 
of all the coal seems on the N. E. frontier, favours this opinion, and it is not impro- 
bable that this great line of coal enters China. From the Garrow hills into Cachar, 
I am satisfied of its continuation, as 1 discovered coal and its attendants the whole 
way, and found a piece of coal imbedded in a slate rock in Cachilr. The best inform- 
ed people of Manipur assured me of their having traced it into the Barma country, 
but they do not use it in Manipur for any purpose ; it is called by them, “ amuba- 
lang.” I am inclined to think this coal district marks the easiest and best road 
into China. The Surma river is navigable for small boats into Manipur ; but the 
people on this frontier are averse to travellers proceeding into their country, and, 
when they have power, resist it. 
One of the principal advantages which I anticipate from the introduction of a 
cheap and plentiful supply of coals into Calcutta, is the being able to burn lime with 
it, at a moderate expense- At Sylhet, the whole of the lime is burned with wood, 
an article that has of late become both scarce and dear, so that they are now obliged 
to depend on a foreign country, Cachar, for their fuel ; and for which, large sums are 
annually sent out of our country. But in the event of the limestone being brought 
to Calcutta, and there burned with coal, that article could he had fresh and much 
superior to the lime as now brought, which has been burnt at least, perhaps, a year 
before. Besides the saving in quality, from the freshness of the lime, the deteriora- 
tion sustained by the lime getting wet in crossing the great rivers, and the boats 
taking in salt-water in the Suuderbans, will be obviated ; and the expense of carri- 
age would be less, from the boats requiring no roof, and from the insurance being 
less, the goods being of little value, aud subject to no detriment from being wet. 
The Shergerli district abounds in iron ores ; and l find that immense quantities 
can be procured there at very little expense, and from the experiment I have made, 
I have no doubt but extensive forges might be wrought in that district advantage- 
ously. Of other ores, there is lead in the neighbourhood of Lakshmipdr, in the 
Bhagalpiir Zillah ; and I have reason to suppose, copper maybe found in Dholbhum 
near Rajwhha, in a stream called Gura Nadi, that empties itself into the Subanric, ha. 
Y . — Notice of Shells found in the Gangetic Provinces. 
In the notice in page 114 of the Glean isos, enumerating the shells procured on 
the banks of the Ganges by Capt. Franklin, in liis progress to execute his scientific 
survey, it is mentioned that several genera of shells, designated as “ crag shells," 
were found : some of these shells appear to be fluviatile ; others terrestrial ; and one of 
them, “ Scalaria,” unless there is some mistake, is a marine shell. The two former, 
it is probable, have been deposited by the river, which carries down, during the 
season of the rains, upon its surface, multitudes of both land and light fresh water 
shells, both univalve and bivalve, accumulating them with other refuse in creeks 
where they are deserted by the retiring waters, and in the next season, are either 
buried under beds of clay or sand, or are carried still farther down the stream. The 
Scalaria on the other hand is probably a diluvian fossil ; although in the course of my 
researches in the Gangetic tract, I have never yet met with any fossil shells, but 
those which are still to be found in the rivers or feeding on the shrubs of their banks. 
These I have sometimes found incrusted, or filled with calc tuff, which is forming 
.every day iu the streams. 
