PAItT 1.] 
Mecllicotl: Wells at Hazareebagh. 
15 
is only in the immediate neighbourhood of the main stream-channels that rougher and 
steeper ground occurs, and also where rocks come to, or near to, the surface, whether on the 
slopes, or on the ridges. But even in this latter case, the summits of such ridges are very 
approximately on the same level as those where no rock is to be seen ; I regret that available 
information does not enable me to give figures. Over large areas, as in and about the Station 
and Cantonments, no rock whatever is exposed. From the few glimpses I was able to get 
in the upper part of unlined wells or in ditches, it would appeal' that such areas are formed 
of a dark stiff sandy clay, tinted with iron, and mottled with concentrated granules of the 
same in varying proportions. The greatest thickness I was able to observe ol' this stratum 
was 14 feet in a partially dug well, where the water level had not yet been reached; hut, 
no doubt, it locally attains greater dimensions. I could not fully satisfy myself, from an 
inspection of this clay, whether it is purely derived from the decomposition in place of the 
subjacent rock, or whether it he in some manner alluvial, a point that would hear importantly 
upon the under-ground distribution of the water. I incline to the former view; but, if 
correct, the rocks must be there unusually free from the quaffta-veins which occur so abun¬ 
dantly in the exposed rock sections, and which veins would remain in position and unaffected 
in the clay. This stratum forms a cold and retentive under-clay: the upper two feet or so of 
a paler colonv, where de- and re-composition lias further advanced, forms a slightly improved 
sub-soil, yielding at the surface a very poor soil. Where the iron and the sand are not in 
excess, the uiuler-clay forms an excellent brick-clay; the upper layer being lit for tiles. 
Below this clay, I am told, there comes suddenly an unknown thickness of incoherent sandv 
or gravelly material, in which the water runs freely ; hut from the very apocryphal descrip¬ 
tions I have received, I am quite unable to say whether this he a diluvial deposit, or merely 
disintegrated rock in place; what has been conjectured regarding the clay may show that 
I incline to the latter view: the evidence of any old heaps or of well-clearings is in favor 
of it. The greatly preponderating rock of the region is a finely granular hornblendio gneiss. 
From a list of measurements taken in 42 wells within Cantonments, and a partially contoured 
plan, both furnished to me by the Executive Engineer, I have made the annexed tabular 
statement, from which a few inferences may be gleaned. In none of these wells, that I 
could hear of, was anything like rock met with. 
3. It is remarked on the list that “ those measured in the evening have often been 
largely drawn upon, as No. 14 on the south side of the Plunge-bath. Early measurements 
for all would have been better, even if it had to he done on consecutive days ;”it would seem, 
however, that the discrepancies thus introduced may balance each other in the averages of 
the several groups ; but the data being thus not comparable, and there being no collateral 
information, one is left without a clue to an explanation of what may he only apparent 
anomalies ; such as Nos. 2(1 and 27, deep wells, exhausted, while much shallower wells in 
the same neighbourhood hold several feet of water. In all such statistics, the original 
depths to which the wells were sunk should be the measure given ; this ought to he in a 
permanent record and with it some attempt, however rough, to describe the materials cut 
through. All should, moreover, he easily referable to the level of the lowest drainage point 
of the region as a datum line. 
4. The table, contrary to what might have been expected, shows no decided advantage 
in the supply to wells at a lower level. 
5. There is a very marked advantage shown, as was of course to he expected, in an 
increase to the depth of the wells; there is at least 6 inches gained in the daily supply for 
every foot in depth below a certain point. I say daily supply, for I do not think that the 
depth of a well would affect its permanent level; thus Nos. 2 and 3 are within 70 yards of 
each other, neither was much in use; and although No. 3 is deeper by 8 feet 6 inches, there 
is only 1 foot 3 inches difference in the water level, and even this is in favor of the shallower 
well. From every consideration it is manifest to me that to have an unfailing supply of the 
best water in Cantonments, it is only necessary to sink a few feet lower than has been the 
practice, and, I might add, to adopt some less primitive mode of drawing water than that 
of hauling in buckets. Where there are oidy a few feet of water, this mode of raising 
makes it turbid and unfit for immediate use. Serious difficulty seems to have been felt in 
attempting to carry the wells even to their present depth ; hut I cannot find that any proper 
means have been tried lo overcome this difficulty, such as the. use of some method of shoring 
up the sides while the work is being carried on in triable, watery ground, and at the same 
time some means of nuwatering more effectual than the obstructive one of baling and 
hauling. 
