part 3.J Ball: Argentiferous Galena and Copper in Manhhwin. 
75 
veins or small lodes filled with brown haematite. This hill is close to a dih called Jani-jour, 
where there is an outlying house of the village of Dekia, which lies about a mile east 
from Dadka. 
I could not ascertain that the Kumars had met with galena in any other part of the 
neighbourhood, though excavations for iron were plentiful. 
Having found traces of galena on the surface, I proceeded to excavate, and soon obtained 
a number of fine specimens of the ore. It occurred quite independently of the bedding of 
the schists, sometimes in lenticular masses five or six inches long surrounded by quartz, 
and sometimes in a gangue principally composed of brown haematite and quartz; these 
appearances justify the conclusion that this is a case of a true lode. Owing to the excessively 
jungly and broken condition of the ground, I was unable, during the period of my brief 
visit, to trace the lode for any distance, and for the same reason I was unable to ascertain its 
exact width. Although, therefore, much remains to be ascertained regarding it, still, so 
far as it has been examined, the indications may be affirmed to be promising. All 
who have given the least attention to the history of mining are aware of the capricious 
character of lodes, and of the impossibility of forming even an approximately correct opinion 
as to the value of any particular one—which is not laid open by a natural section—until 
some outlay for excavation has been incurred. 
In addition to the fact of the existence in any part of this country of such an ore as 
galena—supposing it to be in quantity—there are many collateral questions and conditions 
to be considered and ascertained before the commercial value can he properly estimated ; of 
these the most important are the presence or absence of other valuable ores or metals in 
association with the principal, the abundance and quality of labour and fuel to be obtained 
on the spot, the means of carriage with the distance of the nearest mart, and, perhaps, not 
of least importance, the healthiness of the locality. 
With regard to the first question, the assay of some of my specimens by Mr. Tween has 
proved the presence of silver in the unusually large proportion of 119 oz. 4 dwts. 16 g-rs. 
per ton of lead*. The assays of most other Indian galenas have given a much smaller amount 
than this. In Europe, from 35 to 40 oz. per ton is considered quite above the average yield, 
and argentiferous galena containing very much smaller amounts is frequently worked for 
silver with profit. 
Mr. Tween has also ascertained tiro presence of antimony in combination with the lead. 
Regarding the amount of coolie labour to he obtained, I have no hesitation in saying 
that it would bo abundant. Such was found to be the case in Singhbbum, when the Copper 
Company was at work there. 
.Of the fuel, it is not easy to speak with so much confidence: undoubtedly there is a very 
considerable amount to be had close by, as the locality is almost in the centre of the 
heaviest tree jungle In Manbhum; hut all experience goes to show that such a source of 
supply is very precarious and uncertain. Possibly it might be found more economical 
to transmit the ore—should it ever he worked—to the neighbourhood of coal, rather than to 
attempt smelting on the spot. 
The means of carriage are indifferent, or rather bad. Dadka is connected with 
Piirulia by a partially finished road, without bridges, which was commenced during the 
famine. From Piirulia to the Barakttr Railway Station there is a road which has for many 
years been in the hands of the Public Works Department, but is still far from finished. The 
distance by these roads is about ninety miles. Prom Dadka to Midnapore via Silda, tin! 
distance over had roads would be about seventy miles. From Midnapore the ore or metal 
might be sent by canal to Calcutta. 
The climate ia not generally considered healthy for Europeans; still there are many 
worse places in the district. Doubtless the removal of the heavy jungle would ultimately 
produce a beneficial effect. 
The nearest locality to this at which lead has been discovered is at Hisato in Chota 
Nagpur. The mitimonial galena from that locality has been described by Mr. Piddington.f 
From the first specimens sent to him by Major Ouseley he obtained silver in the pro¬ 
portion of 70 oz. per ton of ore ; but other specimens subsequently received did not contain 
a trace of silver. 
* This proportion may possibly not be constant throughout, 
t Jour., Asiat. Soc., Bengal, XI, p. 892; XII, p. 736; XV, p. 64. 
