PART 1.] 
Annual Report for 1K70. 
5 
The continuance in almost unbroken extension and in thick beds, at no point more than 
70 yards from the surface, of coal, easily accessible, and abundant throughout almost the entire 
length of the Wun district in East Berar along the valley of the Wurdha, has been thoroughly 
established by the Geological Survey in a portion of one season’s work. Not a single boring 
has failed under Mr. Sniythe’s charge, or Mr. Heppol’s, while so engaged. And sufficient is 
now known to justify the actual commencement of sinkings and establishment of collieries 
with a certainty that they can be conveniently placed for working. Mr. Hughes has shown 
much judgment and skill in fixing the localities for these borings since I left, and has been 
very successful in working out the geology of the district. 
Mr. Fedden, during the same time, was mapping in the area covered by the trap rocks 
to the north, north-west, and west of the coal-field, so as to fix accurately their boundaries 
in the vicinity of the coal-measures. There is a, very large area to the north which has not 
been yet visited. And this work is being continued in the present season. 
More recently the recurrence of the coal-bearing rocks to the north of the area covered 
by the outlying portion of these great trappeau Hows near to Wurrora has been pointed out 
by Mr. Fedden and at once communicated to the Central Provinces Government, so that 
trial borings may he carried out in that locality. It is near Khandalla, a village about 
5| miles nearly due north of Wurrora. This area had escaped the notice of the party who 
have been boring all the season close to Wurrora town. 
In the number of these Records for May 1870, I gave a brief sketch of the knowledge 
which had then been obtained of the structure of the coal-lields in that part of the country. 
Since then there has only been little more than a month’s work, so that there has not been 
much addition to this knowledge. At the close of last April also, I am happy to say the 
charge of the actual trials and borings within the area of the Chanda district was trans¬ 
ferred to the Government of the Central Provinces, and for any explorations made in that 
area since then the Geological Survey is not responsible. Before leaving the field for the 
monsoon recess, Mr. Hughes pointed out a proper locality for boring near the town of 
Wurrora, south of the trap rod's already spoken of, and coal has been found nearthere. I had 
also stated in the report alluded to, (Records, Geological Survey, India, 1870, No. II, p. 43,) 
that a boring would probably be required in the vicinity of that town. I am informed that some 
fourteen or sixteen borings have been undertaken there, and that coal has been proved in three 
or four. It proves to he, exactly as was anticipated, irregular and less abundant than 
in the adjoining territories. 
As there would seem to have been some misapprehension as to our views, arising from 
a hasty reading of the expressions in the report referred to, it may be well here to refer 
again to the statements made. In calculating the area under which coal could fairly he 
estimated to extend, the portion of the district covered by the thick flows of the trappeau 
or volcanic rocks was rejected from any present consideration, because it was said, “ this 
“thickness of trappeau rocks effectually conceals everything beneath them, and, looking to 
“ Ule S reilt irregularity with which the coal rocks are overlapped, and the impossibility of draw¬ 
ing any sound conclusion either as to the place or depth below the surface at which coal might 
“be found, fully justifies our putting the entire of this area out of calculation in estimating 
“the extent or quantity ol the coal in these Wurdha-river fields. A boring will he put down 
to the north of this large area of trappean rocks, where the lower bods are again visible 
over a small area near Panjoorni, a village about six miles north-west of Wurrora, and pro- 
“ bably near Wurrora itself,” (that is, to the south of the same area). “But with this exception, 
there will be little use in testing the rooks further on that part of the field at present. It 
“is not at all intended to assort that the coal group does not extond under a considerable 
“part of this area, hut if it does so extend, the chances of finding it are so uncertain, and 
“ the depth at which it probably occurs so doubtful, and in any case so much greater than in 
