PART 2.] Mallet: On the mineral resources of R&mri, Cheduba, <^c. 
207 
pne spot an extensive basin or hollow is formed at some height, which contains 
muddy pools in a constant state of activity, throwing out, with more or less 
force, white mud mixed with petroleum. This is indeed a strange looking place, 
and I am told by the Singphos that at times there is an internal noise as of 
distant thunder, when it bursts foi-th suddenly, with a loud report, and then for 
a time subsides.^ ” 
On the borders of Western India, in the Beluchistani District of Lus 
(north-west of Karachi), numerous mud volcanoes are scattered over a lai-ge area. 
They have been described by Captain Hart,® and subsequently by Captain Robertson^. 
A copy of one of the latter officer’s sketches may be found in Lyell’s Principles 
of Geology. Although some of the cones there would appear to be on a larger 
scale than those in the Ramri group of -islands, no mention is made of violent 
eruptions, either with or without flames,'' nor of ejected stones. In one case, 
indeed. Captain Hart specially mentions that the entire cone is of mud, without 
stones. If eruptions at all resembling those of the Ramri salses had taken place 
within the memory of the then existing generation, the above observers coxild 
scarcely have failed to hear of them. It would seem as if the cones have been 
raised by emissions of mud, insignificant individually, but continued during lengthy 
periods, or else that the period of violent eruptions is over, and that the stony 
ejecta have been covered by the later more tranquil emissions of mud alone. 
On the mineral resources op Ramri, Cheduba, and the adjacent Islands, 
by P. R. Mallet, F.G.S., Geoloijical Survey of India. 
In 1877 the existence of coal in the southern part of Ramri was brought 
^ to the notice of Colonel Sladen, Commissioner of 
Arrakan, by Mr. W. Savage, who had examined the 
coal-bearing locality, and who forwarded a short memorandum on the subject. 
In this he described the excavations he had made at Tsotama, and pointed out the 
favourable position of the coal with regard to water carriage. The Hon creek, 
Mr. Savage remarked, is navigable for boats of 6 or 8 tons to within a quarter 
of a mile of the coal, while the mouth of the same creek is open to vessels of 
500 tons. Specimens of the coal, sent to the Geological Museum, proved on 
assay to be of passable composition. Subsequently I was directed to visit the 
islands and examine this locality, as well as any others in which indications of 
coal had been observed. 
Previously to my visit, Mr. Duke, the Deputy Commissioner, had issued 
instructions to the Tehsildars to send information, accompanied by specimens, of 
any coal-like substances known to occur in their respective townships. Altogether 
' Journ. As. Soc., Bengal, XIV, 819. ^ Trans. Bombay Geograpb. Soc., II, 87. 
^ Journal Bombay As. Soc., Ill, 8 (January 1850). 
I Captain Robertson mentions that a lighted stick held ovor an aperture from which bubbles 
of gas were escaping produced no effect. It would bo somewhat rash, however, on the strength 
of this solitary and somewhat rough experiment, to assume that the gas generally is non- 
inllammable. 
