part 1 .] Foote; Supposed Coal near Goo Ip. 17 
In the latter case the carts would have to pass within a few yards of Dr, Hunter’s 
supposed coal-field. 
Among the remains of Mr. Barnett’s coal depot at the crossing over the line, to which 
my attention was directed by Mr. Barefoot, the very obliging Locomotive Foreman at Gooty 
Station, I picked up various pieces of slaty north-of-England coal identical in appearance 
with the specimens from Yerragoody hill, which Dr. Hunter exhibited to His Excellency 
Lord Napier and the members of Council on the occasion on which I was desired to attend. 
2 .—Indications of Coal near Cuddapah. 
Dr. Hunter’s informant as to the existence of good indications of coal near Cuddapah 
was, I believe, a Mr. Adams, a soi-disani * experienced coal miner from Chanda.’ 
The spot indicated as showing such promising indications of coal lies about five miles 
north-north-west from Cuddapah where the limestones (here belonging to the Kurnool 
(Karnul) series) have been largely quarried in deep pits, a little to the east of the village 
of Chinna Mazapully. These pits at the time of my visit were quite full of water, but 
the waste heaps, which I went over carefully, showed not the faintest indication of coal or 
coal shale. 
In addition to the negative evidence afforded by the waste heaps, I ascertained from 
Mr. Higginson, the Irrigation Company’s Engineer at Cuddapah, who has worked the self¬ 
same quarries largely, and for weeks together been in the habit of constantly visiting them, 
that he has never seen the smallest trace of carbonaceous matter in any part of the rocks 
there exposed. 
As Mr. Higginson is not only an experienced Civil Engineer, but also a careful and 
thoughtful observer of facts, bis evidence may be very safely accepted as conclusive of the 
non-existence of coal or coaly matter at this place. 
Dr. Hunter did not, I believe, visit this place personally, but merely brought Mr. Adams’ 
supposed discovery to the notice of the Madras Government. 
3. —Fossil shells and petroleum near Ryalclieroo. 
In his letter to the Madras Government above referred to, Dr. Hunter further stated that 
he believed coal occurred in the rocks lying between Ryalcheroo (in Bellary District, fifteen 
miles south-east of Gooty) and Cuddapah, and advanced three reasons especially for such 
belief; firstly, the presence of fossil shells ‘ TerebrCltulce' in the limestone near Ryalclieroo ; 
secondly, the presence of petroleum in limestones at Khoua Oopalapad, six miles north-east 
of Kyalcherroo ; and thirdly, the black color of some of the limestones occurring between 
Tadputri (Taudapurtec) and Cuddapah ! 
Dr. Hunter produced before the Council two fossil shells (Terebratulm of a species 
somewhat resembling T. hastata) which he stated came from Ryalcheroo, where they had 
been found some years ago by Major Bissett (since deceased, I believe), and added that the 
late Mi-. Robert Cole, Inspector General of the Indian Medieal Department, Madras, had 
also collected similar fossils at the same place. 
As Dr. Hunter could give me no information as to the exact locality near Ryalcheroo 
whence the fossils came, and I had not the maps of that neighbourhood, prepared by my 
colleagues, a great deal more time was required to investigate this point than would have 
been otherwise necessary. 
I examined a very large number of beds of limestone with intercalated slates, shales, 
quartzites, Ac., &e., without finding the slightest trace of any organic form, some very 
doubtful worm-tracks excepted. 
