284 
M literal Productions 
[OCTR. 
mountains in the rear produce limestone. In the small hills, at the foot of the 
mountains, the ferruginous water running into the sand, concretes into several fanci- 
ful forms, and also converts the sand into nodular stones ; the outside hard, but very 
soft within. 
At Pandua there is the best situation in India for an iron mill, or mills, for the 
manufacture of bar, holt, hoop, or sheet iron. The mill or mills might work at the 
least nine months in the year, and could be constructed at a very moderate ex- 
pense. The C:isias smelt the ore, and make it malleable by one process. They take 
line granular iron ore, like sand, pound and wash it clean, then mix it up with 
water into a soft mass, and dip bits of reeds, sticks, or leaves into it, until they 
take up as much as they will hold, and when become pretty dry, are thrown into 
the top of a small clay cupola furnace, and melted down. By observing the effects of 
this process, it will plainly appear that the iron must, be tolerably pure. They carry 
it down to Pandua from the furnaces, and dispose of it at one rupee and live annas 
per raanntl, which is much cheaper than it could be procured ou the present Euro- 
pean method of manufacturing it. 
This iron might be collected in large quantities, and forged by mill work into the 
usual shapes ; however 1 could not advise it to be attempted, unless iron should be- 
come scarce. In the hill streams about Pandua, are found fragments that indicate 
coal to be near their source. In the second range, limestone of a line quality is 
found and carried out for sale. 
The Berdci mountains contain limestone also, and the small hills at their feet, 
yield the greatest variety of beautiful plants to be found in one spot, perhaps in 
the whole world. In the mountains nearly opposite Sdlager, there is a petroleum 
spring similar to that at Arpin ; it may be found by inquiring at Bangafi Tlianna, as 
the natives use the oil for embrocations, and in cutaneous disorders. The oil is 
called atr. 
Almost all the streams which issue from the Cisia mountains near Lafir furnish 
abundance of fragments, which shew that the waters must have passed through beds 
of coal ; particularly the kind called canuel. The making of coal tar, beads, cups, 
and amulets, from the canncl coal, I imagine has been a trade carried on by itiner- 
ants and the inhabitants about Lafir for many centuries. Faclrs resort to this place, 
and carry away articles for sale. This coal is called by the natives pir pathari , and 
supposed by them to have originated in Musalm&n saints having set lire to a moun- 
tain by throwing his sandal upon it, to couvince a Hindoo Raja of his power. The 
source of the cannel coal is not at present known, but the rains bring down a fresh 
supply every year. I traced it about twelve miles down the mountains. The pieces 
appeared more nodular there, than some which I saw in the plains : I am of opinion 
it is brought down by some of the streams which enter the Potta, from the Garo 
hills-, but it has more than one source, as I have found fragments which appeared to 
be detached much nearer. 
Towards Susing, beyond a place called Seripur or Chcripur,is a small rivulet com- 
ing down from the mountains, in which is traced common coal. The strata which is 
only nine inches thick, is half a mile within a ravine, dipping seven inches in the 
foot, which is an unusual circumstance. The roof is of rotten grey sandstone 
slate, full of mica, incumbent on which, is massy sandstone not stratified. The 
pavement or floor, hard ferruginous sandstone, and the bed of the stream full of 
massy stone and limestone, and bituminous iron ore, with various other frag- 
ments. I tried to discover this vein in the valley, where it uo doubt thickens ; but 
found at twenty-four feet down, marks of the place having been once cultivated. At 
that level meeting with much water, and considering the great angle of the seam, 
I judged it fruitless labour, and abandoned it. 
This vein was shewn to a Mr. Stark by some natives whom he had employed for 
the purpose of discovering it. Mr. Stark attended with me for five weeks, being an- 
xious to learn the method of searching for coal, as his business is in that neighbour- 
hood: i also e m ployed four natives who have much local knowledge, and understand 
the Ciisia language, and instructed them during several days how to search for coal. 
These people found another vein of coal, on the top of the second range of moun- 
tains, to which place I immediately repaired, and found the vein to be two feet thick 
and the coal very pure ; but burns rather rapidly, although it cakes. I cleared the 
face of this vein, and gave Mr. Stark instruments and instructions how to drive a 
gallery into it, and load a few boats to send down as soon as possible, by which the 
quality of the coal will he known, and the expense of bringing it out nearly ascer- 
tained ; but owing to many difficulties to be overcome, I fear it will come too high. 
This seam appeal's dislocated in the strata > the roof is tesselated, but in other re- 
