94 
Records of the Geological Survey of India. 
[vol. IT. 
At the time Mr. Lushington wrote (1843) the mines of Dhanpur were rented for Rs. 1,700 
per annum in 1812. Under the Ghoorka Government, the rent fixed for mines for the whole 
province was only Rs. 3,500 (Company’s Rupees). Since 1815, when Kumaon was conquered 
by the British, up to 1846, the average revenue derived hy the British Government was for 
copper in Kumaon Rs. 800 to 1,200, in Gurhwal Rs. 2,086, the highest revenue for any year, 
for all mines being Rs. 5,417. Iron yielded an average of Rs. 1,900 in Kumaon, and Rs. 226 
in Gurhwal. (Account of experiment at Khotree copper mine, with notices of other copper 
mines, hy G. S. Lushington, Esq., Commissioner, (Jour. Asiat. Soc., Beng., xii., 453). 
Again, in September 1845, Mr. Sigismund Reckendorf, Mining Engineer, reported on 
the same mines, (Jour. Asiat. Soc., Beng., xiv, 471). Dhanpur and Pokri are on opposite 
sides of the Douliganga, each about six miles from the river, or 12 miles apart. Dhanpur 
is 1,000 to 1,500 l'eet higher than Pokri. Both are said to be on the same layer of talcoso 
slate, which is stated to head north-15°-west. Mr. Reckendorf thinks, indeed, that the whole 
of the known copper mines from the Nepal terai on the east to beyond the Pokri mine on 
the west are only parts of one layer of no great thickness, sub-divided occasionally into 
two or three! He considers the ore not to occur in a regular lode or vein, but in a bed. 
He thought all previous trials had been misdirected, as they had been carried out in the 
old workings, and that new ground altogether ought to be opened up. He formed a much 
poorer idea of the chances of success at Dhobri, but considered that everything tended to 
show that at Pokri copper could be obtaiued in large quantity. He urgently deprecates, 
however, Government attempting anything itself. 
In 1854 the Hon’ble Court of Directors sent out Mr. W. Jory Hemvood, with two 
mining assistants and an iron smelter, to examine and report on the metalliferous deposits 
of Kumaon and Gurhwal. After going over all the districts, Mr. Henwood reported in 
May, 1855. This report gives much useful information, but, so far as regards the copper 
mines, the opinion formed was most unfavorable, and indeed condemnatory. Speaking of 
Pokri he says: “We have never before seen a spot so scantily sprinkled’with ore, and 
offering, in our judgment, so small a prospect of improvement so extensively and perseveringly 
worked.” (Selections from Records of Government of India, Home Department, viii, p. 5). 
The greater part of the report is devoted to the rich iron deposits of these hills, regarding 
which we cannot at present speak. 
Subsequently to this (1855) I know of no systematic attempt to work the copper mines 
of Kumaon or Gurhwal. The native miners have, however, continued to delve out annually 
in a wretchedly insecure way a few hundred maunds of ores, an amount which, from 
Mr. Lawder’s returns given above, appears to be more considerable than I should have expected. 
The Geological Survey has not yet had an opportunity of visiting these hills. 
October, 1869. T. Oldham. 
COAL-FIELD NEAR CHANDA, CENTRAL PROVINCES. 
Since the first notice of this field was published in the Records of the Geological Survey 
(August 1868, p. 23), a systematic examination of the field has been commenced. It was 
fully pointed out by Mr. W. Blanford, in the paper referred to, that the country was in parts 
so covered that it would be impossible to obtain any satisfactory knowledge of its structure 
without boring or sinking. Since then two skilled borers and boring tools have been 
obtained from England, and further sets of tools arc on their way. The season had already 
far advanced before these were available, and as the rains were then near at hand, it was 
considered desirable that these men who had just arrived, and who were therefore quite 
unacquainted with the peculiarities of life in this country and of the climate in which they 
were to work, should, for a time at least, be kept where good house shelter could bo obtained. 
The work was placed under the immediate charge of Mr. M. Fryar, M. E., Mining Assistant 
on the Geological Survey. And he was requested to select spots for boring within reach of 
Chanda or Ballarpur during the rainy season and to keep the men at first together, so 
that they could aid one another in any difficulty which might occur at first starting. 
Under Mr. Fryar’s instructions the first bore-hole was commenced in the beginning 
of June. This bore-hole (No. 1) was very near the south-east corner of the boundary of 
the Nuggeeua Bagh, north of the native town of Chanda. This bore was put down 80 feet 
