2 
Records of the Geological Survey of India. 
[ VOL. V. 
former occasion, when this important district was first visited by the Geological Survey in 
1856-57, no maps of it existed, and to give even an approximate idea of the structure, it was 
necessary to construct a sketch map as our work progressed. This, of course, had no preten¬ 
sions to great accuracy, and it was therefore important to take advantage of the publication 
of the regular survey maps at the earliest date. Towards the close of the season, 
Mr. Medlicott, I regret to say, suffered from a very severe attack of fever which incapacitated 
him for work. Hoping that a little rest and change of air would restore him to health, 
he obtained three months' privilege leave and proceeded to England, but the attack proved 
so severe and continued that he was obliged to obtain an extension of leave on medical certi¬ 
ficate. Finding himself quite well again, he has returned before his leave expired, and 
has taken up the continuation of his old work on which he is now engaged. It is hoped 
that he may have no return of the attack. He resumed work at the commencement of 
December. 
Mr. W. T. Blanford, who had at the opening of the season proceeded to the 
Godavery river to report upon the various places where coal had been said to occur in the 
vicinity of the great works for the improvement of the Godavery at Dumagudium, very 
successfully completed the careful mapping of the coal-hearing rocks within the British 
territory, and carried the lines of boundary into the country of His Highness the Nizam on the 
opposite side of the river. Two sets of boring-rods had been sent out from England for this 
district, and these were placed under the immediate charge of Mr. J. Vanstavern, C. E., 
Executive Engineer at the Godavery works. Previously to the arrival of these tools, 
Mr. Vanstavern had been carrying out a series of short borings with some small tools at 
his disposal, but immediately on receipt of the others, he commenced a systematic examina¬ 
tion of the entire area of coal rocks on the British side of the river, acting strictly in com¬ 
pliance with Mr. Blanford’s suggestions. Mr. Heppel was also moved down from Chanda 
district, and for a short time superintended the actual borings. After his departure, and up 
to the present time, Mr. Vanstavern has with much skill, intelligence and system carried 
out the series of borings agreed upon, and there only remain now one or two still required 
to give a very complete insight into the structure of the area in question. It is unnecessary 
here to enter into details, as Mr. Blanford’s results have been already published. Unfor¬ 
tunately there is little prospect here of any hut a very limited supply of poor coal. The 
area of the rocks which occurs in British territory in this vicinity is very small, and the beds 
of coal which occur are most extremely irregular and thin. Mr. Blanford’s estimate of 12,000 
tons may he added to in consequence of more recent borings, hut at best the supply is 
limited. And the larger portion of the coal must ho sought for on the opposite hank of the 
river in the territories of llis Highness the Nizam. 
One of the first matters to which Mr. Blanford directed his attention on arrival at 
Dumagudium was to take advantage of the accurate local knowledge of the countries they 
inhabit, which is always possessed by the wilder tribes inhabiting tlio jungles and more in¬ 
accessible portions of the districts, by a well directed distribution of small fragments of 
coal over all the country, thus showing to the people actually what it was, for the discovery 
of which a liberal reward had been ofiered by the Government of the country. The success 
of this plan was not long after attested by the report to the local authority of the existence 
of thick beds of coal in the valley of a nullah not very far from Pakhall, in the vicinity 
of Warungul, There would seem to be here a thick bed of coal well exposed, said to he 
dipping at the high angle of 45°. The country around is all jungle, at present frequented by 
wild elephants, hut it could be easily opened out. I have no doubt that other similar reports 
of coal will he brought in from time to time. 
