4 
Records of the Geological Survey of India. 
[vol. VII. 
curiously repeats the characters of the seams on the same horizon in the Jabalpur group of 
the Narbada region. In the Wardha field two pits have been sunk to the coal, one at 
War ora in the Central Provinces, and one at Pisgaon in East Berar. 
Mr. Medlicott took up his work in the Satpura, with the understanding that he was to 
carry out the examination of the formations so closely connected with the coal-measures there, 
and by which these are concealed; while at the same time he was to afford geological guidance 
for the borings he had recommended in the Narbada valley. The executive management of 
these was entrusted by the local Government to Mr. Collin, a mining engineer, or coal- 
viewer, sent out from England for the coal exploration in the Central Provinces. Both the 
personal and material provision for these trials proving utterly inadequate, Mr. Medlicott 
was afterwards called upon to supervise the execution of the work. Thus the geological in¬ 
vestigation was stopped, in the vain hope of preventing the inevitable collapse, under existing 
arrangements, of the experimental work. The work Mr. Collin had executed was so bad that 
it had to be abandoned; while Mr. Medlicott, owing to this fruitless interruption, was only able 
to complete his examination of the lower JDudlii valley, with a view to fixing the sites for the 
bovings there. Late in March the borings at Gadarwara and Sukakheri were recommenced 
under the immediate charge oi Mr. Stewart, a very intelligent and trustworthy employe on 
the Great Indian Peninsula Railway, whose services were obligingly placed at the disposal of 
Government by the Agent, and under the supervision of Mr. Cooke, the Executive Engineer 
at Narsingpur. 
These trials were undertaken upon the fully discussed possibility and a reasonable 
probability that the Satpura coal-measures might here extend from the Sitariva field beneath 
the alluvial plain. No depth could he assigned for these covering deposits. From 200 to 500 
feet was given as the probable range. Considering the delays and difficulties to be contended 
with, the progress up to date must be taken as very creditable to those in charge of the 
Work. Insufficient and defective piping has been throughout the chief difficulty. The boring 
at Gadarwara had to be stopped at the end of October, as the piping could not be driven 
beyond 226 feet, and there were no pipes of smaller diameter to sink within those that had 
stuck. The rods were put down to 251 feet, still in alluvial ground; but the hole could 
not be kopt clear without the piping. At Sukakheri work was in progress at the 
close of the year, the piping having reached a depth of 330 feet, still in alluvial clay. Thus, 
of course, we as yet know nothing as to what rock underlies these deposits; the great 
thickness of which will prove a great impediment to mining enterprise should coal be 
found beneath them. 
In view of the great extension of boring operations in all parts of India, it is to be 
regretted that there is still much misapprehension regarding the nature of the work, and 
consequently want of system and concert in the management. Next to the important object 
of these operations, the work of the Geological Survey is the chief sufferer from this defect. 
Among homogeneously civilized communities it is duly recognised that boring is a branch 
ol engineering ; that although the geologist might give the safest indications for the position 
and prospects of a boring, lie would probably make a bungling attempt at executing the work, 
t he mining engineer is supposed to, hut very rarely does, combine these two branches of know¬ 
ledge so radically distinct. In all new and intricate cases the greatest safety lies in the combined 
action of independent experts. This combination might no doubt he obtained in India as it 
commonly is in Europe, both elements being present. Such undertakings are, however, new to 
this country; and we have not got beyond the primd facie point of view: because the 
majority of engineers will declare that they know nothing about boring, and the geologist 
cannot disown his connection with the business, it is assumed that the latter must be the 
best man foi the whole job. The mistake is very similar to insisting upon a zoologist 
