283 
1829 .] of Bengal . 
have not as yet had time for the perfect examination of it, but I have samples of it 
by me. 
Silhet, with the exception of a few clay hills near the station, is invariably low ; 
and when it is not cultivated, covered with grass and reed jungles. The earth, 
which is considerably impregnated with iron, generally rests cm a submerged forest, 
from six to thirty three feet below the surface. This stratum of decomposed wood 
and grass is now mostly formed into turf or peat of a tolerable good quality : when 
it is laid bare by the rivers cutting into it, it appears in strata from sixteen inches 
to four feet thick, and in some places in double strata, separated by six feet of fer- 
ruginous clay and sand, but may be found much thicker near large j } h\L y, where the 
incumbent earth is thin. 
When the population increases and the cultivation becomes more general, fuel will 
then be scarce ; and this turf will become a valuable article to the inhabitants of 
Silhet, although at present they have no idea that it is combustible. Iu the vicinity 
of a village called T,halihar near Dahl, a good strata of turf may be found. 
Two of the rivers, the Surmah and Radii, are navigable for large boats to within 
two or three miles of the frontier mountains, and are under the influence of the 
tides nearly as far. My boats swung to the ebb and flood during the springs of 
January. 
A good distance above Mai man sink, the Surmah is navigable for large boats, of 
one thousand mauuds as far as Clmttac during the whole of the year, and for small 
ones from thence through Cachiir, and three days journey into Manipur. 
The Bauli river is navigable for large boats all the year round, as far as Seripur 
or Cheripur, and from thence to the Patiij it is nearly dry, except in the rainy months, 
which commence in April: near Leafir there are two rivers communicating with the 
hill rivers, and the Bafili one called Jaduc&la, the other Dumliah ; both partly filled 
with sand and pebbles, but very wide. 
Although lime burning is the principal business carried on in the Silhet districts, 
there is neither limestone or fuel to be had there ; it is all imported during the rains 
from the mountains belonging to the neighbouring independent rajas: the stones and 
most of the wood from the C&sia mountains, near Latir andPandua; and some wood 
from Jaintia aud Cachdr ; and the whole of the timber for building boats from the 
latter place, with the exception of a small quantity from the southern hills towards 
Tipara. 
The hills near Silhet produce iron ore in thin concretions, like cast iron plates*, 
yellow ochre, sand, and different kinds of clay ; hut they all rest on blue day to a 
great depth, bearing an alluvial character. At the foot of the hills, to the depth of 
upwards of seventy feet, soft blue clay appearing as if deposited by frequent inun- 
dations. 
Opposite Silt^c, in the Cach£r Raja’s country, where a choci is kept to prevent 
strangers going to Caspur, his capital, there is a nullah which runs into the Tipara 
hills; it is narrow, and has fall sufficient to turn water-mills. The stream is constant, 
and may be navigated by small boats. At about two miles from the mouth of it, is 
a cluster of high round hills composed of sandstone and whitish clay, and a little 
below the base issues a very fine petroleum oil from a stone similar to that termed 
by the colliers grey post : this stone is inclined to blue, and strongly impregnated 
with oil. I dug four feet through it, and found it turning slaty, which strongly indi- 
cates coal to be near. The oil is only to be got supernatant on water, which ren- 
ders it tedious to collect; however, it might be procured by pumping water into a 
high vessel, with a number of holes, the water would be drawn off, at the lower 
ones, and the oil from the top. These hills cau be easily found, and the experi- 
ment pushed further if necessary, 
There is a Musalm^n Durga on the summit of one called Arping or Arpin.to which 
many people resort. The oil will be found in two rocks adjoining to it, and also in 
another near the plain opening into the Honorable Company’s dominions, the road to 
which is from Badapur Tlianna ; I could not carry on my researches at the above place 
to any great extent, without making arrangements, which would occasion expense 
and great loss of time; and as the season was advancing, I proceeded round the 
frontier mountains towards Susang : but if desirable, I can give instructions to la- 
bourers, under the direction of the magistrate, to examine this place further. The 
mountains in front, round Cachar and Jaintia, are in general sandstone, below which, 
at a great depth, it is probable coal would be found. I have reason to believe the 
Quaere ? No assistance from MS.— Ed. 
