00 
Records of Ike Geological Survey of India. 
[VOL. 
durability and facility of dressing. Mica schist seems to form the principal beds for 
some distance to the east and west of Almorah, reaching to Dwara Hat and Massi 
on the west, Pali, Ranikhet, Siahi, Devi, Dole, and towards Kali kumaon 
to the east, and also in the formation of the Jagesur and Binsar ranges to the north. 
At Naini Tal the stones used are limestone and clay schist. 
At Ranikhet a pale colored gneiss forms both a handsome and a lasting building 
stone. 
Sandstone is abundantly found in the lower hills. 
Gneiss and chlorite schist are used frequently as building stones in the district. 
Imports .—The chief importations are Borax (Tincal),SALT, and Gold from Thibet. 
Borax. —Borax is obtained from the borders of a lake at Chappakanni, a few koss 
from the Kyi ass mountain in Thibet. 
It is collected from June to September and sold at the several fairs—Gan pa, Gup a 
Chin, Sibbillum, Chakra, Taklakhal, Dhabakar, &c. It is purchased here by the 
Bhootea traders and brought down to Bagesur. At these fairs the price of crude borax is 
something under 2 Rupees per maund (about 50 seers), and in the same state it fetches 
from Rs. 8 to 9 per maund at the Bagesur Fair, which is the chief mart of the 
Jowari traders. The borax bought up here is despatched to Ramnagar, where it is refined 
and redisposed of at about Rs. 22 to 24 the maund. 
Traders from the Byanse, Chowdanse, and Darma Passes transact sales of 
borax at Dharchula and Burmdeo, and the Gurhwal Bhooteas from Niti at Ivanaseo 
and Ramnagar, nearly all the borax is disposed of to plains traders— 
Probable amount of borax brought through Milum Pass in 1868-69 ... 17,000 mds. 
Probable amount of borax brought through Darma and Byanse in 1868-69... 15,000 „ 
Probable amount of borax brought through Niti and Mana in 1868-69 ... 15,000 „ 
Total ... 47,000 mds. 
Salt. —Is found at Rliuduk in Thibet, and is sold at the same fairs as borax. It is 
also found at Silungsakka in Thibet— 
Probable amount imported via the Jowar Pass (Milum) in 1868-69 ... 4,000 mds. 
Probable amount imported via Darma and Byanse in 1868-69 ... 3,000 „ 
Probable amount imported vui Niti and Mana in 1868-69 ... ... 2,000 „ 
Total ... 9,000 mds. 
Salt is purchased in Thibet at the rate of 1 Rupee 12 annas per maund (roughly 
measured) and sold at Bagesur or Almorah at from 5 to 6 Rupees per maund. Almost all 
the salt imported from Thibet is consumed in the bills. 
Gold. —Is found in many of the rivers in Thibet; at Silungsakka, &c.; it is sold at the 
same fairs as the salt and borax either in nuggets or in grains. About 10 to 12,000 
Rupees’ worth is brought down annually, some of which is disposed of in the hill 
districts (Kumaon and Gurhwal), probably about one-third, and the remainder most 
likely finds its way to Delhi, Agra, &c., &e. It is sometimes found to contain copper. 
