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CONTENTS


PAGE
Introductory remarks h 3
Observations on the diﬂiculties to be encountered in endeavouring to make the
Nerbudda a navigable river . .. 4
Description of the course and general character of the Nerbudda .. . ib.
Description of the ranges of hills on both banks ... ib.
Aﬁiuents supplying the river * 5
Course ofthe river .. ib.
Depth ofwater ib.
Declivity ofthe river " ib.
Current ofthe river 6
Falls, or descents of the river ib. 1
Bed of the river . ib.
Peculiarity of geological and physical formation of the bed of the river . .. . . . ib.
Numerous fords 7
Character of the bed of the river “a ih.
Rapids p ib.
Nerbudda boats ib.
Basins ofthe Nerbudda ib.
Description of the banks of the basins . .. .. 8
The true Valley of the Nerbudda -.. ... ib.
Mineral deposits of the marine lakes or basins ib-
Tribes of the hilly districts . .'. ib.
Objects of river navigation a. . . . ib.
Diﬁiculties of the Nerbudda 9
Character of rivers in the immediate neighbourhood of mountains ib.
Notice of the reaches, and sheets of Water, in various parts of the river... ib.
Capabilities of the Nerbudda for purposes of irrigation .. . 10
Parts of the river navigable .. 10, 12
Lieutenant Keatinge’s route down a part of the river ' .. . 10
Captain Fenwick’s route ib.
Captain Evans’s route ib.
Voyages of Captains Fenwick and Evans compared . . . . .. . . . . . . ib.
Mineral resources of the Nerbudda Valley
Introductory remar Is . . .
The principal mineral products found in the upper basin. . .
o / ‘


CONTENTS.


, PAGE
ess and value of the district... . . . . 15
diiictions ofthe basin l .1.‘ ib.
koal‘ﬁelds enumerated’ I16
titu'de of the Nerbudda ﬁeld . . . . ib.
(Eherapoonjee coal .i. ib.
Situations in the upper basin of the Nerbudda in which coal is found ... ib.
, Thickness of the seams ib.
Pyritous coal—ﬁeld of Betltn'iree Ghat . 17
Mine at the Towah ﬁeld . _ . . . .. ib.
Quality 'of the Nerbudda coal . . . . ib. .
Its resemblance to the Cannel coal of the British mines ill-
Analysis of Nerbudda coal... 18
Practical comparison with Glasgow coal on board .the Indus steamer ‘ ibg
Practical trials of the Sonadeh coal 19
Observations relative to the means of transport of the coal from the Nerbudda... ib.
Expectation alone to be directed to the railroad as the means of transit... 20 ’
Present average monthly consumption of ‘coal in Bombay .. ib.
Estimated expense of bringing down Nerbudda coal by rail ib.
Estimated expense of river carriage 21”-
Comparison of expenses between the conveyance of English and Nerbudda '
coal to Bombay ib.
Advantages to be gained by working the minerals of the Nerbudda Valley ib.
Mr. J acob’s statistics with reference to the Nerbudda iron... 22
Chemical analysis of iron ore, as found in different situations .. . . ib.
The great advantages of working the Nerbudda iron ore noticed. . ' ' ' 23
Value of railway communication between the Nerbudda Valley and the ports 0
Bombay and Kutch noticed ,h 24
Great increaseof traﬁic by the‘ opening of trunk roads in various parts of India
noticed ib.
On the subject of the coal-beds in the vicinity of the Nerbudda, and the question
of the adaptation of the coal for steam purposes .. . ' .. . 25
Summary of Government records relative to the expense of bringing down coal
from the Nerbudda 27
The subject resumed in 1847 by Sir G. Clerk .. 28
Statement showing the result of Captain Lyneh’s experiments of the Nerbudda
~ with English coal ib.
Interest taken in the matter'by the Resident at Indore . . . . 29
r. J ohnstone’s experiments, and Sir R. Hamilton’s calculation of the expense of
transporting the coal I ~ l ib.
Ir J ohnstone’s experiments approved by Government, who place 10,000 at
ir R. Hamilton’s disposal ' ' 30
Resident’s estimate of monthly expense mi ib.
.\
’ Notice of Captain Fenwick’s voyage down 110 ‘miles of the Nerbudda, with a
CONTENTS.


quantity of coal... Diﬁiculties encountered during the voyage .. . ‘ . . . . .. . .. Description of Sonédeh coal, found on the ‘left bank of the Bohra nudee ib.
Captain Fenwiek’s land journey with 226 bullocks, conveying 462 maunds of
coal from Sonadeh to Dharee 32
Description of Captain Fenwick’s voyage from Chikulda in eight boats I . . . ib.
Great diﬁ‘iculties met with... ... 33
Sir R. Hamilton’s Report on the difficulty of the undertaking 34
Notice of Mr. Jacob’s Report on the Mineral Resources of the Nerbudda Valley,
and Mr. Berkley’s and Colonel Kennedy’s Reports on the Rail... ib.
' Enumeration of the advantages to be derived to the country by opening a railroad
to the valley 37_
Correspondence regarding the mineral resources of the Nerbudda Valley... 41 to 48
Report by Committee appointed to test in the Steam Factory, Bombay Dockyard,
specimens of the Nerbudda coal... Instructions issued by the Resident at Indore, for the guidance of Mr. Johnstone,
and other Officers examining the coal-ﬁelds in the Nerbudda Valley... 51 to 54
Letter from the Resident at Indore to Government, relative to his visit to the
49
coal-ﬁelds. of the Nerbudda 55 to 57
Letter from the Resident, submitting copy of one from Mr. J ohnstone, replying
to queries regarding the coal at Sonadeh 58
Quality ofthe coal ... .~.. ib.
Thicknessoftheseam... . ib.
The best mode for working i . . 59
Transmission of the coal to Bombay... ib.
Expense of digging and carrying away the coal .. . ib.
Extent of the coal basin ib.
Further correspondence submitted by Mr. Hamilton s 60 to 67
Reply from Government 67
Further correspondence between Mr. Hamilton and the Government 69 to 71
Despatch from the Government to the Honorable Court of Directors, regarding
the Nerbudda Valley as a coal district 72 to 7 4
Further correspondence submitted by Mr. Hamilton 74
Captain Fen‘wick’s Journal from the 5th to the 23rd April 1848, kept during
a_ voyage ﬁrom Dharee to Hurun Pall, in charge of boats laden with
Nerbudda deal 77 to 86
Further correépondence on the subject of the conveyance of Nerbudda coal
to Bombay‘? 86 to 92
Captain Fenwioli’s Journal from the ‘29th July to the 9th August 1848, kept
during his voyage from Chikulda to Broach . . . . .. ' 92
Captain Fenwiek’s Journal ‘ 93 to 101


Further correspondence 101
Reply from the Honorable Court i . 10.
Letter from Mi‘. Hamilton, regarding the cost of conveying coal from the
N erbudda to Bombay ' .


CONTENTS-


. - PAGE
,ement exhibiting ‘the rates of the several tenders for the supply of coal to‘
he Indian Navy received betweeriiAugust 1844 and December 1847. . . ., . 106
etter from the Superintendent of the Indian Navy, submitting the result of a
trial of the Nerbudda coal made on board the steamer Medusa . . . ib.
Report by Lieutenant Grounds on ditto 108
'Correspondence between Mr. Hamilton and the Government of India regarding
the sinking of a shaft in the coal-ﬁeld at Sonédeh . 111
Further correspondence between the Resident and the Bombay Government . . . 113
Correspondence between the Bombay Government and the Government of
India 114,115
Extracts from a Report relating to the Nerbudda River and Valley, by Mr. J . J.
Berkley .. 119
Observations ‘relative to the route taken i ib.
The line comprised in Section No. 3... ib.
Ditto ditto No. 4... .. \ 120
Ditto ditto No. 5... 121
Ditto ditto No. 6... 122
Ditto ditto No. 7... t ... 123
Observations regarding the course of the Nerbudda ib.
Observations regarding the presumed traﬁ‘ic on the line ... ib.
Observations regarding the minerals to be found on the line . . . ib.
The traffic on the Agra and Bombay road, taken at Akbarpoor, for twelve
months, from April 1853 . 126
Observations relative to the returns, estimates, and cost... 127
Extracts from a Report by Lieutenant Colonel Kennedy, Managing Director of
the Bombay, Baroda, and Central India Railway Company 131 to 133
Estimate by Lieutenant Colonel Kennedy of the proximate cost in constructing
an average mile of single truck railway, by each of three methods 134
Report on the Iron and Coal Districts of the Nerbudda Valley,’ from Ponassa to
* Jubbulpore, by Mr. Jacob, Assistant Engineer, and Geologist to the Bombay,
Baroda, and Central India Railway Company 136 to 141
Report in reference to the Line required to open up the Mineral Districtsiof the
Nerbudda Valley, by Mr. Jacob 141 to 144
Report on the Nerbudda River by Mr. J. T. Green, First Assistant Engineer to
the Bombay, Baroda, and Central India Railway Company 144, 143
Qmv
“ Correspondence . .
ALPHABETICAL INDEX.

Aﬂinents . . . . . . . . 5
Agra . . . . . . . . 126
Akbar-poor . . . . . . ib.
WAltitude of coal-ﬁeld . . . . 16
Eases ofthe coal .. .. 18
B
Banks of basins . . . . . . 8
Basins .. .. .. .. 7,59
Bed, geological formation . . 6
Bed of the Nerbudda river ib
Berkley, Mr. , .
Bethéree Ghat coal . . . . 17
Boats . . _. . . -. . . 7
Bohra nudee . . . . . . 31
Bombay .. ‘ .. .. .. 24
C
Cannel coal . . i . . . . 17
Cherapoonjee coal . . . . 16
s . a . . . . Clerk, Sir G. . . . . - ’ . . 28
Co‘al basin . . . . . . 59
Coal-bed . . . . . . . 25
Coal-ﬁelds . . . . . . 16
Coal, transmission of . . . . 59
Committee, Report of . . . . 49
Consumption . . . . . . 20
60, 101, 108, 113
Costs .. .. l .. .. 127
Course of the Nerbudda river 4, 5, 123
Court of Directors . . 72, 103
Current . ., . . . . 6 "

3‘
D
PAGE
Decli vity of the Nerbudda river . . 5
Diﬁiculties of ditto . . 9
E
Estimates. . . . . . . . 127
Evans, Captain . . . . . . 11
Expense by rail . . . . . . 20
F
Falls . . . . . . 6
Fenwick, Captain. . 11, 30, 32
77, 93
Fenwick’s, Captain, Journals. .
Fords . . . . ~ . . . . 7
G
Glasgow coal . . . . . . 18
Green, Mr. . . . . . . 144
Grounds, Lieutenant, I. N. . . 108
H
Hamilton, Sir R.. . ‘ . . 29, 30, 34, 51
Hills, ranges of .. . . . . 4
1
India, Government of 32, 114
Indore, Resident at . . . . 29
Indus steamer, trials of Nerbudda
coal on board of the . . 18, 42
Iron, native . . . . . . 21
Iron ore, chemical analysis of . . 22
Irrigation. . . . . . . . 10
viii ALPHABETICAL INDEX.
J .
PAGE
(Jacob, Mr. 22, 34, 136, 141
Johnstone, Mr. . . 29, 30, 51
Journals, Captain Fenwiek’s . . 77, 93
II
Keatinge, Lieutenant . . . . 10
Kennedy, Lieut. Col. 21, 34, 131, 134
Kutch, .. .. .. .. 24
I;
Lynch, Captain, I. N. .. . . 28
.‘
hd
Medusa steamer, trial of Nerbudda
. coal on board of the . . . . 106
Mineral deposits . . . . . . 8
Mineral resources 15, 41, 123
1d
Navigation . . . . . . 8
Quality of coal . . . . .. 17, 58

4?.
Railroad . .
- Rapids
Reaches ..
Resources, mineral
Returns. .
River carriage
Roads, trunk
Route ‘ .
‘ E;
Seams, thickness of ’
Sections, Nos. 3 to 7
Sonédeh coal
Statement by Captain Lynch
Statement of tenders
Statistics . .
1‘
Thickness of coal. .
Towah ﬁeld
Traﬂic
Transmission
Transport
Tribes
VV'
Working, best mode of . .
PAGE
127
..16,58
119tol23
19,31,58
28
.. 106
22
58
17
123
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‘iTEMOIR
ON THE
PHYSICAL CHARACTER
OF THE
NERBUDDA RIVER AND ‘VALLEY;
WITH REMARKS ON THE PRACTICABILITY, on OTHERWISE, “on;
THIS RIVER BEING RENDERED A NAVIGABLE STREAM.
1n
NERBUDDA RIVER AND VALLEY. '

AMONG the varied and important subjects that are presented for the con-
sideration of Government, few could be more appropriately selected, or better
calculated to interest the public, whether in a commercial or scientiﬁc sense,
than those which tend to develope or display the resources of unknown or
imperfectly explored parts of the Indian Empire, such as the accompanying
papers refer to.
There are few, perhaps, to which the utility of publicity is more happily
applicable, or in which substantial advantages are more likely to revert to the
governing body, than the promulgation of records which afford either public
officers, or more directly interested persons, the means of acquiring information
thereon.
It seldom happens that official proceedings, which are for the most part
condu ed with some speciﬁc intention, and limited to one object, contain an
epitome of previous information connected with any given subject, which often
extends over lapses of years and voluminous detached records: it is scarcely
' reasonable, therefore, to expect that the formal nature of oﬂicial correspondence
is sufficiently interesting to invite lengthened or patient perusal; hence the
arrangement and abridgment of a series of papers may have an instructive
as well as an attractive tendency. '
The objects of the present records are, the exposition of the navigation of
the Nerbudda, and the mineral resources’ of a portion of the valley of that
river. The period included is from 1838 to 1854.
The subjects are, the actual descent of the river with a small cargo of coal ;
the sinking of a shaft at the Nerbudda coal-ﬁelds; the experiments and trial
of the coal in Bombay; its proven good quality; and the exposition of the
capacity and richness of the district through which the railway is about to run.
That these subjects, so often adverted to, and more. than hinted at by
oﬁicers locally employed, should have remained so long in abeyance, seems at
ﬁrst glance matter of surprise, and has been flung at Government as expressive
of laxity and dislx‘egard on their part for the material beneﬁt of the country,
and of the civil beneﬁts which attend the opening of river navigation every-
where ; but it is not to be forgotten that other interests were at stake besides
the gratification of a quasi popular demand, and it may be demonstrated that
4
it was not without reason and information, foresight, and, it may be added,
justice, that the navigation of the Nerbudda has been left out of the. reckoning
‘of the great works which have engaged public attention.
In a country where trunk roads have been, and are deﬁcient, the value of
any river navigation, having a shadow of practicability, could never be over-
looked, Whether in relation to its inﬂuence in assisting the efforts of human
industry, to the facilities it affords for conveying the produce, and supplying
the deﬁciencies of distant parts, or of exciting the internal trade (in all
accessible directions) of neighbouring provinces, whose products admitted of
exchange,-—the very foundation and essence of all trade. In point of economy
also, ‘attention would naturally be directed to any expedient which promised
-—-as Water-carriage ought—a saving of one-fourth the cost of roads, especially
from districts teeming with the most luxuriant cereals and grains, dyes, woods,
and cotton, besides inexhaustible quantities of valuable minerals—as iron and
coal——_of the very richest quality.
To argue that such afforded no temptation or inducement to a Government
never niggardly inclined, and that such would be foregone without an attempt
to ' realize it, either in the way of experiment, or in the more cautious and
practical form of inquiry, is to believe our rulers insensible to the sentiments
which guide ordinary men in the regulation of their interests.
It may be found, however, that their‘ apparent ‘supineness has been
based on good grounds; for the Nerbudda, in its physical characters and
features, presents such insurmountable obstacles to ordinary calculations,
that it may safely be said to be impracticable as a navigable strea ; and
its valley, so much lauded, is for several hundred miles, in detached portions, _
a barren, hilly, and uncultivable jungle. The great agricultural districts
referred to lie north of its upper portion, while the chief mineral ones stretch
over the south bank of one of its central basins, from 250 to 500 miles from
the sea; in which distance its free navigation, far from equalling that of
ordinary rivers, which is at the least one-fourth of their length, scarcely extends
beyond its limited tideway of twenty-ﬁve miles, through the year round.
A description of the course and general character of the Nerbudda may not
therefore be uninteresting, and may tend to dispel some of the debatable points
which have obscured it, and which a glance at the accompanying map may aid.
It will be seen that, from its source to its debouchure, the Nerbudda is closely
bounded on both banks by two ranges of high hills,.from 200 to 2,000 feet
high: these are the Vindhyan and Bander Mountains on the north bank;
the Satpooras, Kalygong, and Mahadeo Hills on the south ;———the two great
ranges which cross Central India, and which have elevated spots, such as
Amurkuntak, 5,000 feet; Pachmari, 3,000; Mainpat, 2,700; and Jam Ghat,
2,000 feet high. ' _
In no points continuously are these ranges distant from the river above forty
miles, the average being eighteen or twenty; and they run parallel to it through its
whole length. In its upper portion, from Mandla, and almost from Amurkuntak,
5
to Jubbulpore ; in the centre from just below Hindea to Burwye; and lower
down, from the Hurun Pall to Mokree, the hills close in so narrowly as to form
absolutely the banks of the river. The abrupt face of both these ranges is to
the south, their declivity and principal water-shed to the north. The great
afHuents which supply the river are consequently furnished from the northern
aspect of the southern range, the northern feeders being comparatively smaller,
fewer, and shorter. '
The proximity of the hills increases the number of these feeders, adds
immensely to their volume and velocity, and accounts equally for the sudden
ﬂushing of the river in the rains to seventy and ninety feet, often in a few hours,
and also for its shallowness in the fair season; the tributaries being literally the
drainage of the mountain ranges, which rapidly empty themselves, owing to
their short course and rapid fall : their rugged and precipitous nature, in
fact, makes them torrents rather than streams. Of their size, some idea may
be gathered from one (the Towah), whose ﬂood area is stated by Mr. Berkley
to be 1,276 yards from bank to bank in the rains, while it is all but dry in the
fair weather. The Karun also, near Goojree, on the north bank, is nearly
as wide, requiring a bridge of ﬁve large eliptical arches to span it.
The Nerbudda, then, rising in the highest land of Central India, 5,000 feet
above the sea, and pursuing a serpentine westerly course for ‘750 miles
through a hilly tract, which runs parallel to, and borders closely both its banks,
may be said to ﬂow through a longitudinal cleft rather than a distinct valley,
and to present the general characters of a mountain stream more than anything
else. No great depth of water can ever be expected in it, from the nature of
its tributaries, except in the muonsoon; neither‘, were they to promise better,
could it be retained, owing to the great declivity of the bed of the river, which
from J hansee Ghat, near Jubbulpore, to the sea, falls 1,200 feet in 500 miles.
So short a course, with such an extent and approximation of mountain region,
precludes, a priori, much internal navigation, which implies length, and little
elevation.~ In this respect the Nerbudda resembles similarly circumstanced
rivers in mountainous countries, as in the north of Scotland, Sweden, Norway,
and the West Coast of America, the rivers of which are useless for purposes
of navigation. Unlike even the rivers of India, it has no lower or level portion,
except for about sixty to eighty miles from Tullukwara, or Mokree, to the sea,
and even in that distance it is interrupted at low—water by several rapids.
Its *great declivity from its source to its debouchure would seem of itself to
‘augur extreme rapidity as fatal a point to navigation as want of water,
and creative of the latter ; for were the descent direct and gradual, it
would involve a fall of 653 feet to the mile. The Godavery (Colonel Cotton
states) is 2 inches; the Amazon, '700 milesefrom the sea, .02.; and the Ganges
‘about 1 foot‘ per mile, 800 miles from its source. Since, in the ﬂow of
water, a fall of twelve inches per mile is equivalent to a current of one mile
per hour, that of the Nerbudda would have an estimated ﬂow of nearly seven
miles, suﬂicient to drain off the monsoon supply many times multiplied.
6
In the rains, Captain Evans computed the current to" be six or seven miles;
Captain Fenwick eight or nine miles. In the dry weather, Lieutenant Keatinge
found it from three to four; for he performed the journey from Dharce to
Oonkar, twenty miles, in ﬁve hours; and from the latter to Mundlaisir, thirty
miles, in ten hours, by the strength of the current alone, the wind being
unfavourable, and against stream. The decline of the river is not, however, a
gradual slope, but is intercepted by ledges, and drops off from ten to forty feet,
which divide its form and valley into natural basins, in which the stream is
slower, the banks high and alluvial, and shoals and fords are found, owing to
the débris brought down by the force of the tributaries.
Within the ﬁrst 250 miles, the extreme elevation of the table-land leads to
a very rapid descent of upwards of 3,000 feet, for J hansee Ghat, 500 miles from
the sea, is barely 1,300 feet above its level ; Mundlaisir, 210 miles from the
coast, is 698 feet; Chikulda, 150 miles, 583 feet; which would indicate a
decline of nearly three feet per mile for the bed of the river, and a corresponding
increase to the velocity of the current, whose rate is, however, never uniform
or steady, in consequence of the number of drops and ledges, deep pools, and
rapids, which obstruct it.
The ﬁrst of the great perpendicular descents occurs somewhere near Mandla,
150 miles from the source of the Nerbudda, and is said to be ninety feet; but
very little is known of it. A small one of ten feet is also said to exist opposite
Omeria, and the mouth of the Thain river. The second large fall Lieutenant
Keatinge describes at Mundhar, twenty-ﬁve miles below Hindea, and to be forty
feet, preceded by two miles of great incline. A similar fall of forty feet
occurs at Dharee, twenty-ﬁve miles lower, from which there is a tolerable level
for sixty-ﬁve miles to Sahesur Dhurah, where a small fall of ten or ﬁfteen feet
is met. For seventy miles further there is again a tolerable level, obstructed
by numerous shoals and rapids, until the hills close in at the Hurun Pall. From
one mile below this to Mokree, where the jungle ceases (a distance of eighty
miles), there is a constant succession of less remarkable but still serious ob-
structions, extending from a few yards to several miles, consisting of rapid
inclines, barriers, and the projection of immense rocks, with a rushing stream.
The immediate fall over any one of them is not much, but on the whole is 300
feet in the eighty miles ; and as they occur, with one exception (Sahesur Dhurah),
in the heart of an extensive jungle, and masses of rock form the banks, and
protrude in the centre of the bed, they seem to admit of no reasonable removal.
If such grave obstacles present difficulties, the apparently minor ones are
scarcely less serious. The bedof the river in its whole length is one sheet of
basalt, seldom exceeding 150 yards in absolute Width, which has been up-
heaved in ridges, which cross it diagonally in NE. and SW. directions.
These elevations occur every few miles, and cause a kind of natural bund,
above which the water is invariably formed into a pond more or less deep, is
very shallow over it, and runs rapidly off.
It is this peculiarity of geological and physical formation, creative ‘of so
7
many natural barriers, which gives rise to the numerous fords which, in all the
open and cultivated parts of the Nerbudda Valley, are found occurring every
few miles, with a town on each bank; and their very existence indicates the
absence of any extent of navigation, which can only be absolutely free between
limited intervals.
In such a condition of the bed, the only change produced by time is due to
the erosion of the water, whose course being straight, and the force of its
accessary feeders so strong, is much obstructed by the deposit of sand and
detritus, which the transporting power of the monsoon brings 'down, and
carries to spots where some natural impediment arrests them, or where the
rapidity diminishes. '
Thus, where the Nerbudda is closed by hills, its breadth less, and the vehe-
mence of the entering streams intense, the rush of water furnishes and lodges
the large erratic blocks of débris, which the different natural rocky barriers
stop, and which contribute to the formation of rapids, and to the decrease of
water over them in those places.
But in the larger basins, where the banks are high, and of alluvial and vege—
table character, the hills further distant, and the impetuosity of the ﬂood is
lost, the larger débris are left behind; and the detritus, consisting of light
gravel and sand, subsides, and accumulates more, opposite or just below the
entrance of the large tributaries. The character, then, of the bed of the Ner-
budda, in fair weather (independent of the large falls), may be summed up as
consisting of a narrow rocky channel, obstructed by numerous rapids, occurring
in the openings of the bare rocky ledges which cross it diagonally. These
rapids are tortuous, often at right angles with the general course of the river,
and from ﬁfty yards to ﬁve miles in length, very shallow, and rendered still
more so by the accumulation of sand, rock, and gravel deposited at the mouths
of the numerous feeders,.which cause a broken eddying current, with from six
inches to a foot and a half of water over them, and are not safe (in consequence
of projecting rocks) with a rise of twenty feet of water, at which time
formidable Whirlpools, and a strong unmanageable current, subject to freshes of
thirty feet in a few hours, take place. ‘
In the 120 miles between Dharee and the Humn Pall, there are thirty or
forty of these minor obstacles, over which Captain Fenwick had either to
lighten his boats of their loads, to enable them to ﬂoat, or to ease them down
with drag-ropes. The Nerbudda boats being ﬁat—bottomed, and without keels
(their established form for ages), but adds additional testimony to the accepted
character of the river for shallowness.
The basins of the Nerbudda are those portions of the valley which are so
fertile and productive. ‘The upper one, 1,000 feet above the sea, extends from
the marble banks of Beira Ghat, opposite J ubbulpore, to a little below Hindea,
nearly 200 miles in length, but of little width northerly and southerly, the hills
being nowhere above twenty miles distant. ,
The other great basin, 500 to 750 feet high, stretches from the quartz hills
o
'8
1
above Burwye to Chikulda, upwards of 100 miles—At is more open ;' the
Satpoora range, in some places forty miles distant,‘ to the south ; on the north '
the Vindhyas approach to between fourteen and sixteen miles.
The banks of both basins are forty feet high, the soil alluvial, composed of
marl and clay below, the superior stratum being the black vegetable mould.
The upper basin is so level, that from J ubbulpore to Hooshungabad, upwards '
of 120 miles, the fall is little more than ﬁfty feet. In the lower, the fall averages
about 200 feet. The centre of the latter is nevertheless nearly 400 feet below
that of the upper, Mundlaisir being 700, and Hooshungabad 1,070 feet above
the sea ; and Tullukwara, in the inferior or third basin, 100 miles lower down,
is 450‘feet lower than Mundlaisir.
These successive steps, as it were, are occasioned by the perpendicular falls
that intervene, that is from below Hindea to Burwye, and from the Hurun
Pall to lVIokree, and also above .Iubbulpore. ' ‘
The true Valley of the Nerbudda may therefore be conﬁned to the undulat-
ing districts of these basins, which have evidently been marine lakes. In
troughs in them, the sandstone and lime have been deposited, and the coal-
measures and minerals formed, but principally in the upper. In the lower,
sandstone is met only at one place, Baug: from its carbonaceous colouring
and admixture,-—the lime and associated clay—iron of the coal-measures,-——coal
will doubtless be found in the neighbourhood; if so, its height 300 feet above
Chikulda, and 850 above the sea, point to identity of formation and qualities.
It is only in these comparatively level parts that anything approaching to free
navigation can exist. In the hilly districts, until within the last few years,
very few roads or means of intercourse existed, and the country was infested
by wild tribes of Gonds and Bheels, who .were at deadly feud with the British
Government. As late as '1841, Captain Anderson’s boatmen refused to proceed
twenty-ﬁve miles below the Hurun Pall, for fear of Bamun Naique, a Bheel
Chief. Again, as to population, that of the fertile tracts of the Saugor and
Nerbudda Territories, in the immediate Valley of the Nerbudda, was until
recently very scanty : in Nimar it was computed (ﬁfteen years ago) at thirty-
ﬁve to the square mile; and any increase sufficient to represent extended
capital must be a work of time.
The ulterior objects of any system of river navigation, to be of solid beneﬁt, or
to be complete, or permanent, should have reference to such vital points; and it
would scarcely savour of discretion, or judgment, to attempt, with the above data,
large undertakings in a river, the inclined plane of whose bed is so great, and the
velocity and drain of whose current (though equalized by interruption of natural
bunds) is four miles per hour;~—where no assistance can be counted on from winds,
which are generally adverse, and blow for the most part against stream ;'—-in
which, in dry weather, scarcely one foot of water can be insured throughout,‘
over its numerous rapids, formed of solid rock, where obstructions‘ of such mag-
nitude as falls of forty feet occur, and hills and forests form the banks for miles;
--where the monsoon freshes rise to seventy and ninety feet, and the proximity
9 .
of ‘the hills render their currents impetuous to a degree, and fatal to any closed
masonry, except that of the most substantial nature; where the paucity of the
population and wealth in' the immediate vicinity constitute little to hope from
lavish local expenditure, and the territories on the banks do not even pertain to
Government, but to Native States interspersed with them; ‘and where, if free
navigation were effected at a great cost, it would still be precarious and unsafe,
and lead to the questionable result of the diversion of the trade to another sea-
port, shut up for three months of the year, and to the substitution of it in placq
iof the capital of the Presidency, for the trade of Central India and Guzerat.
The fact of no single river in India being as yet fairly navigable, that
depends for its supply'of water on the monsoon, and that none in the world in
the immediate neighbourhood of mountains are so, is incitive of little induce-
ment to an over-burdened Government to experimentalize by preference at
the prodigious cost which locks and canals would impose. Colonel Cotton
states that a single weir across the Godavery cost £200,000; and the large and
far-famed waterworks in Upper Canada, the Rideau and Eric Canals, which
are, properly speaking, rather a succession of raised waters by means of dams,
cost from two to six millions sterling. The differences of level are, however,
only 445 feet, and the gain a water depth of five feet, opening a communication
of 150 miles, which is effected by forty—seven locks, the largest converting only
seven miles of rapids- (ﬂowing from comparatively still lakes) into navigable
water.
In the Nerbudda, on the contrary, the difference of level is at least 1,200
feet, the length 500 miles,.and the sudden impetus of the ﬂood likely to be
destructiye to almost any masonry. An example of the diﬂiculties to be
encountered in the latter respect has been before the public of Western India,
in the construction of the .Iamsetjee Bund over the Motee Moola, near Poona,
a stream not‘ one-third of the size of many of the tributaries of the Nerbudda,
and no closer to the hills. 0 ~
The large reaches and beautiful sheets of water scattered over different spots
at. Jubbulpore, Hooshungabad, and Mhysir, and the slight fall in the basins of
the river near them, never fail to excite in every beholder a general feeling and
exclamation of pity that partial attempts have not been made to render
limited portions of the river improvable; but the great objection is the per-
petual recurrence of the expense, as far as refers to the removal of rocks and
débris. The decline of the bed is so great, and the material “of it so
devoid of softness, that any decisive deepening could only be effected by
the expensive process of blasting; and when accomplished, and gaps literally
cut in the rocky barriers, the effect would be to drain the pools completely, and
to establish a greater velocity, which the little elevated ridges now equalize.
Artiﬁcial bunds and dams would thus be required, in place of the natural ones,
to prevent the entire exhaustion of the water of the river.
Yiizewed in another aspect,-—-that for irrigation,--the Nerbudda presents
scaéiieely piore favourable characters, iaxcept that in this case the chief sources of
n
10
one evil are counterbalanced by the facilities they admit of T otherwise. ‘The
banks in the fertile districts being high, and their level triﬂing, irrigating
canals supplied by the river would have to traverse‘long distances,‘ to obtain
sufficient ﬂow in the lateral channels. In lieu of this, the great number 'of
the nullas and small streams, passing in their course through hills and ravines,
admit of .being bunded at slight cost, and their inclines afford ample and
inexpensive slopes for irrigation, and for the formation of tanks and reservoirs.
Of this the utmost advantage has been taken for some years in the administra-
tion of Nimar, under Sir R. Hamilton, by Major French, Captain Evans,
and Lieutenant Keatinge, new tanks having been constructed wherever the
population and soil required it, and every old one repaired; and with the
usual result——quadrupling the population and revenue in their neighbourhood.
Reverting to what has been actually accomplished on the Nerbudda in the
way of navigation, and to the records published. Unfortunately 300 miles of
the upper part, indeed as far as Hindea, has not absolutely been traversed, or if
so, no report of it is extant. From Ramnuggur, near Amurkuntak, to
Mandla, it is reported navigable, but is not made use of, except for local
purposes ; thence to Jubbulpore is unknown. As the hills approach the banks
closely there, it may be surmised to be of the same character as parts
similarly circumstanced in its course elsewhere. _
From J ubbulpore to Hooshungabad and Hindea, it is believed to be open
for boats of light draught, one fall of ten feet only existing, opposite Omeria.
Colonel Ouseley endeavoured to have it surveyed, but his party was attacked
by the serious remittent fever which the jungles give rise to. '
- From Hindea (from which Lieutenant Keatinge went down), the river is not
applied to navigable purposes, except at the ferries. It is, however, unusually
favourable as far as the Ajnal river, twenty-ﬁve~ miles: there it is double
its ordinary width, and divided into shallow streams, running between rocks
and jungle, with so great an inclination as to give it the appearance of a
. collection of mountain streamlets, which are concentrated into one “large deep
pool at the head of the Mundhar falls, which are nearly forty feet in perpen-
dicular height. T hence to Dharee, twenty-ﬁve miles, it presents the usual
character of pools and shallows, hemmed in between high rocks to one-fourth
of its width, with rapids at every mile. It is, in fact, only just passable for
ﬁfty miles, which occupied Lieutenant Keatinge nine days. At Dharee the.
rock is in abrupt, irregular steps of from ten to ﬁfty feet, and a road could not
be made, even to the water’s edge. The portage distance is 1,490 yards.
From Dharee to Mundlaisir the river presented little ditliculty, and was
traversed in sixteen hours against wind, both in the months of March and
August, on the latter occasion with twelve people in the boat, and a good load
of luggage. -
Captain Fenwick proceeded over this route in the month of April, ‘on the
5th of which he left Dharee, with ﬁfteen tons of coal, in boats having a
draught of two feet and a half. He reached Mundlaisir in seven days; the
11
difference arising from the laden boats. He met with several rapids and shoals,
in four of which his boats were let down, or dragged by ropes.
From Mundlaisir to Chikulda the river has been descended by Captains
Anderson and Evans : both oflicers accomplished the distance, ﬁfty miles,
within two days; it took Captain Fenwick nine. \ -
The general character is the same as from Dharee, namely numerous shallow
rapids, with loose stones, and seldom one foot of water over their narrow wind-
ing channels. The only great obstacle is the Sahesur Dhurah fall, a belt of
rock stretching diagonally over the river, and precipitated over a shelf of eight
or ten feet, with a back-water on the south bank. The portage here would be
about 1,290 yards. Captain Fenwick’s empty boats were eased down with
ropes, and the coal carried on coolies’ heads. He' refers to ten or twelve dif-
ﬁcult s ts, in three of which drag-ropes were needed; he however landed
and stored his whole cargo at Chikulda.
The distance between Chikulda and the sea has only been. performed twice—-
on both occasions in the monsoon. It is perfectly impracticable in the
hot weather, either up or down, and is by far the most dangerous part of the
river; the number and extent of the rapids, Whirlpools, and rocks, the velocity
of the current, and the amount of jungle, rendering it most perilous and
hazardous, and not to be attempted under a rise of twenty feet of water.
Captain Evans accomplished the distance, 160 miles, in 102 hours’ sailing,
though actually nine days under way. He describes ﬁve great obstructions,
the Bhorekeyree and Gunoee Ghat rapids, near the Hurun Pall ; the Beytana
barrier and belt, twenty miles further, resembling the Sahesur Dhurah, the
Balaihori rapid, near Hamp, four miles in extent; and the Mokree falls of ten
feet, six miles from Soolpan,—-which, owing to the height of the river, were shot,
‘and were scarcely perceptible. Captain Evans recommends portage at Sahesur
Dhurah, and the Hurun Pall and Mokree. Hence to Tullukwara the river is
clear. From the latter to Broach, navigation is not open till September, and
boats take ﬁve days. In a low condition of the river, there are seven small
Ghats in this distance, and the journey extends to ﬁfteen days. Captain
Fenwick, with his cargo, took three days longer to perform the journey from
Chikulda, the water being considerably lower. He lost one-third of his freight,
and several boats, and states his conviction that there is not a mile of free navi-
gation on a stretch between Hurun Pall and Mokree, eighty miles ; and that
his cargo was exposed in a manner that would be ruinous to more perishable
goods. One boat was lost in the Bhorekeyree rapid, near the Hurun Pall,
and two others at the Balaghori rapid, below Hamp, notwithstanding that his
arrangements were most cautious and practical. He encountered several
diﬂiculties which Captain Evans did not, owing to the water being lower :
the Dupana fall, Hailkuree Ghat, Gulchee Ghat whirlpool, Nunka Ghat,
Selukda belt, and Peepul Chope rapids, above Soolpan. The nature of these
impediments are best learned from Captain Fenwick’s Report. They were
generally rapids from a hundred ‘yards to four miles in length, and from ten
12'
to ﬁfteen feet incline, studded with rocks in mid-channel, the avoidance of ~
which was prevented by the vehemence of the current.
Sir Robert Hamilton, with whom the impulse and care of this second
attempt originated, comes to the conclusion that the river ’is impracticable for
navigation; that from August to December, it might be facilitated by nautical
science, and be made use of in this its worst portion, but not from January to
June. To test it further, Captain Fenwick returned by water to Chikulda in
the monsoon, and reached it with extreme difﬁculty in forty-three days‘.
To sum up: it appears demonstrated, that in the fair season, 100 miles of
the middle portion of the river only is navigable if cargo is carried, not
without having recourse to portage and drag-ropes ; and that it is just possible to
descend in the monsoon another 100 miles with extreme danger, and possible
destruction to life and property. The forcible conclusion is, that t ‘danger,
risk, and uncertainty which are inseparable from the navigation of 't e Ner-
budda at present, are all incompatible with that steadiness which should attend
a branch of industry and trade which, more than all others, needs a certain and
speedy mode of delivery to ensure success,_or gain encouragement, ‘and affords
little hope to the realization of such projects as Mr. Bourne'propounded with
his steamers of twelve inches draught, 250 tons of cargo, and a speed of ﬁfteen
miles an hour. '
Such was the result of an experiment .to determine a point which was
raised as far back as 1833, which was never lost sight of ‘by the Resident of
Indore, which the Bombay Government supported with alacrity, vigour, and
prudence, and which involved no small amount of peril and enterprise to the
energetic officers who undertook it.
DESCBIPTIVE DETAIL OF THE MINERAL RESOURCES
OF THE
NERBUDDA VALLEY.
‘MINERAL RESOURCES OF THE NERBUDDA
VALLEY.

REGARDING the mineral resources of the Nerbudda Valley, there may be
said to be the minimum of accurate information; and until a scientiﬁc geolo~
'gical survey by qualiﬁed oﬁicers regarding it is instituted, it must remain to
some extent conjectural. .
The estimate formed of them is, however, large,-—the latest reporter,
Mr. Jacob, declares them to be inexhaustible; and certainly, if variety, and
extent of space,——comprising two hundred miles in length and thirty-one in
width,—-—identity of geological formation, and other accessary characters, have
any weight in leading to an assumption, it is not ill-founded.
It is, however, chieﬂy in the upper basin, between J ubbulpore and Hindea
or Dharee, that the principal mineral products abound, though they are not
wanting further down in the lower; and their order, both in respect to geologi-
cal succession, and to the more important relation of commercial utility, renders
this portion of India (circumscribed and excluded as it is, by distance and
want of roads, from intercourse with the seats of commerce) probably the
most favoured of any known district, and on a par, if not more advantageously
circumstanced, in some respects, than the richest coal district in England, viz.
Dudley, where, as at the Nerbudda, the combination of fuel, ﬂux, furnace clay,
and metallic germe, exist side by side. Irrespective of the fertility of the soil,
with its abundantly productive crops of every description, which have not been
in the least overrated ; of the grains which, for want of market, sell for 120 to
160 seers per rupee; of the dyes, sugar~cane, cotton, opium, and oil seeds;
astringent barks and aromatic plants; of the proximity of forests, which furnish
timber of the most enduring nature for building purposes, as well as denser kinds
for charcoal and rougher work, also lac, gums, and resins : independent of
these, which form no, inconsiderable item of at least local transport, the mere
mineral and natural productions certainly appear inestimable, if not exhaustless.
Besides coal and iron, many minor but proﬁtable and much needed produc-
tions Jexist: lithographic stone and statuary marble near Beethari Ghat and
Ponassa; rooﬁng slate thirty miles from the river at Kuan ; also traces of
copper, and it is said of antimony, near Hurda. The former, however, and
.their associated rocks, are the most material; and seem to belong to, and to be
16
contemporaneous with, the great belt of coal which stretches across India,
from Arracan and Rajmahal east, to Kutch west. It traverses the entire
\ continent, forming the ﬁelds at Cherapoonjee, Burdwan, Palamow, and Sohag-
pore and’ the Nerbudda, and follows (if its appearance is not dependent on) the
great volcanic energy which was excited in this direction. In the last-named
place it occurs, as usual, in troughs, about 1,000 feet above the sea, and is an
example of the generic law, that the best coal is that found at the greatest
altitude, having been formed at the greatest depths, and been upheaved with
the rising of the mountains on the flanks of which it outcrops.
The Cherapoonjee coal, 4,300 feet high, affords an illustration, being
ascertained to be the best in India; and‘ with it the N erbudda coal is
identical in character, and associated rocks. In the upper basin of the '
Nerbudda, it is found in numerous places, but at three principal spots: at
J ubbulpore itself; Lem-ata Ghat, where the Nerbudda runs through a vein; ‘on
the banks of the Sakur and Towah rivers, and their feeders,-—-at Mowpani and
Kotra on the former, at Sonadeh and Mardanpore on the latter. Also at
Patroda, and around Hooshungabad, where it is supposed to abound, the most
distant ﬁelds not being thirty miles in a direct line from the river. Further and
more diligent search would doubtless lead to the discovery of many more seams;
_ for the whole valley, though undulating, is of the same geological character, with
limestone underneath,-—affording a further proof of the nature of the Ner-
budda coal as applied to Indian ﬁelds,——thc best being found so; those in which
inferior coal appear, as Burdwan and Rajmahal, being devoid of it. Up to
the present time, the only connected description of the Nerbudda coal is that
' given in the Coal Committee’s Report, published ten years ago. The three beds
as above, are reported to have the same geographical character as the Chera-
poonjee and the best Scotch Clackmannan coals ; they are from one to-forty
feet thick, alternating with sandstone and shale of various thickness. The out-
crop is everywhere close to the surface, and is often exposed by rivers, whose
beds intersect it: this occurs both at Sonadeh and Mowpani. The ﬁeld at the
the latter place is not far from Gurrawara. The seams are said by Colonel
Ouseley to be from twenty to forty feet thick, by which it may be presumed is
to be understood the total thickness of all the seams, and not individual ones.
Mr. Jacob makes the three seams as follows :——-
First . . . . . . . . 8 feet 6 inches thick,
Second . . . . . . 3 ,, 6 ,, 7)
Third . . . . . . . . 6 ,, 3 ,, ”

_--—
Total. . 18 feet 3 inches;
and all highly inclined, owing to trachyte veins; he characterises them as highly
bituminous lignite, having no sulphur, and little residue. They are found on both
banks, from 20 to 25 feet in depth, 84 yards in width, and 127 yards in length
along the river, with only 6 feet of sandstone above. The Kotra bed, near the
17
confluence of the I-Iurd and Sakur rivers twenty miles eastward from Benz’ir, has
three seams from one to four feet thick. At J ubbulpore station, coal occurs at
a depth of seventy feet, also at Lemata Ghat.
The Bethari Ghat cuts a pyritous coal-ﬁeld, inclined at an angle of 80°,
overlaid by dolomite, and the analysis of both shows the properties to be a
'lfollows :—_-~, ~
Sp. g1‘. Vol. Matter. Carbon. Ash.
1.49 50.0 47.1 2.9
' At the Towah ﬁeld is the mine which was worked by Sir R. Hamilton, close
to Sonideh, and thirty-four miles from Sewnee; coal exists also at Mardanpore,
forty—two miles from Shahpoor, in seams of twenty-one and twelve inches
thick. The superﬁcial limit of .the former is said by Mr. Jacob to be ﬁfteen
miles by seven, at an angle of 75° N by E., and twenty inches thick, between
layers of shale and sandstone, and'covered by a coarse sandstone thirty feet in
depth, with a deposit of ﬁne clay. Three or four ﬁelds in this neighbourhood
are exposed by the nullas, and it was from these and the Benar ﬁelds that the
specimens were sent by Colonel Ouseley and Sir R. Hamilton to Bombay, for
trial and analysis. -
From the above outline, it may be supposed that the seams are of the kind
best suited for mining: the pits are shallow; and as depth regulates the power
and diameter of machinery, no extensive working will at ﬁrst be necessary ;—-
elaborate means for ventilation and drainage may to a certain extent, therefore,
be dispensed with, as these operations can be effected by more simple contri—
vances. The water-power from the neighbouring nullas would be the supply
best adapted; but Mr. Jacob asserts that the drainage may be effected still more
simply by adits. Colonel Ouseley and Mr. Jacob, speaking from personal
inspection, believed the resources to be as unbounded as the most sanguine
could imagine. From the thickness of the seams, it may be surmised that
they are equal to the most extensive demands that can be made on them for
years to come.
The quality of the Nerbudda coal enhances the value of these opinions.
' It has on all hands been admitted to resemble the Cannel coal of the British
or Scotch mines, and is consequently a bituminous variety. However much
high authorities may differ as to the value of a chemical analysis of coal, and
its bearing on the caloriﬁc powers of given specimens, yet as all artiﬁcial
heat is obtained ﬁ*om, and depends on, the combination of carbon and gaseous
products which a coal contains, those specimens in which they are determined
to exist in the largest quantity, and show a minimum of ash, or incombustible
and infusihle material, must be the best adapted as fuel; and it has long been
settled that a bituminous coal, in consequence of the heat evolved by the
volatile combustible matter (the important element of hydrogen being three
. times more powerful than the carbon itself), gives ‘.30 per cent. greater heat
than from’ its own coke, which is chieﬂy advantageous for its great weight
comprisepd .within the small space it occupies, and for the expulsion of sulphur
B393 .
18
and impurities in its manufacture. The N erbudda coal has, however, had the
advantage of the minute analysis and induction of the chemist as well as the
practical knowledge of the stoker; which latter may be assumed to be the
most essential investigation, intelligent stokers only being able to treat fairly
and openly different kinds of coal, according to the very different modes of
ﬁring each needs: a coking and gaseous coal, for instance, not taking above a
few inches of fuel in the bars, and small supply of air; a carbonaceous variety,
as anthracite, requiring twelve and fourteen inches, 'and large supply of air.
The Coal Committee determined the coal to consist of—--

. n Vola~ Ash, and Mi r 1
GOAL‘ Denslty' Carbon’ Galifdlltilafieis. Constitueriltg.a
Benar coal . . I .. .. 1.49 47.0 50.0 2.9
.Iubbulpore coal . . .‘. 1.30 37.0 59.0 4.0 ,
Dr. Giraud’s analysis of former . . 41.0 34.0 24.0 '*
English West Hartley. . . . 54.0 37.0 8.0
Sonadeh coal (Dr. Giraud) . . 38.7 35.3 26.4
Edinburgh coal . . 67.5 17.8 14.5
Dr. Ure’s ditto 57.0 37.6 5.0


The Indian specimens, with the exception of the ﬁrst two, would seem to
have been inferior, and were known to have suffered from exposure to heat
and damp a long while, and to be pulverized. The analysis of such would
necessarily be unfavourable, and the quantity of ash large; on the above
grounds therefore the comparison was scarcely fair. The Benar coal sent by
Colonel Ouseley had, previously to the last analysis by Dr. Giraud, been tried
in comparison with Glasgow coal practically on the Indus steamer, in Bombay
harbour, by Captain Turner, with engines of 60 horse-power, 3-feet stroke,
4% feet in diameter, giving 26 revolutions in a minute, and for a distance of
22 miles, with and against tide, with a speed of 92 miles, and 2% hours em~
ploy, and the result was :—*


. . . . . With both Boilers of’
Com» Quartet Hatter... ruggffgjggﬁgis-
Hours. Cwt. lbs. lbs.‘ lbs.
Glasgow .. . . 12 5 20 19-}; 13.96
Nerbudda . . . . 1%— 2 92 10% 11.05


The Nerbudda coal was therefore 83 per cent. better in raising and keeping
up the steam than the Glasgow coal. It gave little ash; but its defect was a
good deal of clinker on the ﬁre-bars, having been taken indiscriminately dust
and all, to which it was reduced by distance, being carried on bullocks, and
thrown down and loaded daily. . i
Mr. .Iohnstone, in a single trial of the‘ Sonadeh coal at the mine, with an
open ﬁre, found it equal to Scotch, and without residue; and Mr. Jacob states it
to have no sulphur, and little ash. Sir ‘R. Hamilton had previously sent a
19
/
quantity to Bombay that had been excavated. by Mr. Conybeare at Sonadeh;
it was tried in the Steam Factory, and gave the following result :—


Best English Government N erbudda Coal ; Average
Coal per Horse-power. of two Trials.
Time in getting up steam . . . . 38 minutes. 37-;- minutes.
Consumption in that time . . . . '82 lbs. 72 lbs.
Time in evaporating 33 gallons of
water . . . . . . . 30 minutes. 30 minutes.
Quantity used in ditto , . . . . 23 lbs. 28 lbs.
Residue below bars . . . . . . 18 lbs. 11 lbs.


Captain Lynch, who conducted the experiment, reports that it got up steam
quick, burned clear, left little clinker, and not more than a fair proportion of
ash; that it was scarcely inferior to the best coal Government used, and was
very good for general steam purposes. A third trial was made by Lieutenant
Grounds, in the Medusa, which resulted as favourably when sifted :—

1
N erbudda, ,_ N erbudda,
Sifted. Enghs'h- Unsifted.
Time in getting up steam . . . . if 71 minutes. 85 minutes. 62 minutes.
. 56 lbs. wood. 56 lbs. wood. 56 lbs. wood.
Absolute Consumptlon of wood and coal‘ { 336 lbs. coal. 301 lbs. coal. 360 lbs. coal.
Consumption per horse-power for 7
hours’ steaming, with pressure of
4 lbs. . . . . . 7.60 lbs. 7.85 lbs. 9.20 lbs.
Ash clinker per lb. of ‘coal . . 0.210 0.204 0.434

‘*—
The great defect in reference to the Nerbudda coal is, that with such excellence
in the mineral itself, and such reputed advantages for mining, the informa—
tion regarding the amount available for an extended supply should be so
bare. Beyond the assurance that the coal is to be found in several places,—
that it is close to the surface, and of good quality,—there is literally nothing
upon which a miner or capitalist would act, or that would justify him in
commencing operations. As competition, after all, is the climax to which
all'computations have reference, as well as the incentive to enterprise, and it
is with the English market and companies that India has to do, the data, to
satisfy them, ought to be tangible and close, and the information minute and
precise,———the great desideratum being to render Bombay independent of
England in respect to coal, both in point of time, cost, and quantity. Under
existing circumstances,—with the Nerbudda closed to navigation, except for
three months of the year, and with trunk roads few,—-the transport of coal to
Bombay is not to be thought of by the latter; it is a six weeks’ journey, and the
cost about Rs‘. 80 per ton on bullocks. By the imperfect and unsafe route of
the river in the monsoon, Sir R. Hamilton computes that it could be carried
from Sonadeh to Tullukwara for Rs. 20 per ton: but the loss by swamping of
20
I
boats, which equalled one-third, has been left out of calculation; also the cost '
of mining, estimated at the unprecedented rate‘ of 9 annas per ton; likewise the
conveyance from Tullukwara to Broach and B'ombay, computed to be 10 annas
per maund, or Rs. 17 per ton, independent of the risk and injury to the coal
from exposure, wet, frequent portage, pulverization, &c. &c. To the railroad,
.therefore, and to it alone, can expectation be directed; and even with the ex-_-
pedition and cheapn'ess that attends its establishment, it involves an extremely
nice calculation whether the Presidency market, where the chief source of
expenditure of Bombay is centred, can be rendered independent of England at
the same prices. The consumption of coal at present, though affording ‘no
criterion for the future, is about 3,500 tons per month, as detailed below,
costing, exclusive of waste, from Rs. 16 to Rs. 26 per ton, which is equivalent
to about Rs. 10,00,000 per annum:——
Great Indian Peninsula Railway Company . . . . . . . . 80 tons monthly.
Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company. 1,100 ,,
Government . . . . . . . . . . '. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,200 i,,
Bombay Steam Navigation Company . . . . . . . . . . . . 300 ,,
' Total. . 2,680 ,,
Mint, and other factories . . . . . . . . . .1. . . . . . . . . . . . .. 100 ,,
Small steamers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120 ,,
Out-depfits ..... .... .. 600
J)
Total. . 3,500 tons monthly.
By the Great Indian Peninsula Railway line, Mr. Berkley makes the dis-
tance from Bombay to Sewnee (thirty miles from the nearest coal-ﬁelds on the
Towah) 438 miles ; to Garrilwara (ten miles from the richest Ben-a1‘ or Mow-l
pani) 532 miles; average 485 miles. Now it may be assumed that the very
lowest remunerative rate at which a railway could afford atﬁrst to carry coal,
or any merehandize for long distances, would be 1d. per ten per mile. Some
English and American lines do it for ,l,d., and even id” but scarcely at the first
outset, as it is a charge which none but a highly prosperous company can
endure, except for particular ar\d local purposes, and short‘ distances, since every
mile of length augments the co‘ t, by the necessity of carrying back storing
carts, unless the upward traffid\is extensive. The Great Indian Peninsula
Railway (and also the Baroda Railway) mileage rates are put down at 2d. per
ton per mile; but the Bengal Railway, having a strong river competition to
contend with, have already reduced their charges to 3 annas per maund, or
Rs. 5 per ton from the Burdwan coal-ﬁelds to Calcutta, l20‘miles, that is 1d.
per ton per mile; at that figure conveying 300 tons daily: the Bombay estimate
would be about 150 tons. ~
This item alone, therefore, at the above computation‘ of distance, and the
lower rate of 1d., at once ﬁxes the high ﬁgure of Rs. 20 per ton for the coal
landed in Bombay, irrespective of the cost of raising it at the mine, which Sir
~
21
R. Hamilton states to be 9 annas per ton,-—a proportion which has no relation
to that of any English mine, which is at the ‘lowest from 3s. to 5s. per ton.
Eventually, doubtless, the mileage rate will be reduced to the lowest ﬁgure at
" which it is possible for the railway to work; and it will be more than something
gained to feel that India can be independent of wars, and the ﬂuctuation in
freight which the discoveries and openings of other countries impose on her. .
Some years ago—and not in a season of pressure—Mr. Crawford, the Ac-
countant General, calculated the cost of English coal to Government at 15
annas per maund,—-about Rs. 25-4-0 per ton; which will probably be found
to be little above the average, when all sources of loss and damage are taken
into consideration. By no other means than the railroad can the coal of India
ever be brought within this sum’; for with every latitude and allowance for the
difficulties of the Nerbudda, the expense of river carriage is about Rs. 37 per
ton, exclusive of the great proportional losses of time, uncertainty, and the
establishment of depéts, which there seems no reasonable method of lessening.
The principal causes of the low price of English coal in India are the cheap-
ness of delivery at the mouth-pits, and of the freight out, which used to be com—
pensated to shippers by the freight home. In the ﬁrst of these, the Nerbudda coal
is computed to have the advantage; in the second the reverse, as just shown.
Unless unforeseen causes (which are not legitimate, because speculative grounds
for rational conclusions) should occur to raise freights, and obstruct trade, it
will be dubious whether the Presidency at least can for some years be rendered
altogether independent of England. Sir R. Hamilton estimates that at the
Sonadeh pits 35 tons per day could be raised at each shaft, or 10,920 per
annum, on 313 working days; four or ﬁve shafts in full Work would therefore
be necessary to meet the present necessities of the Presidency alone. But this
‘ scarcely lessens the immense importance that the coal-ﬁelds open out to the
railway itself, as a great impulse must be given to trade by the employment of
capital, even on a limited scale. The extension of the rail also, northward and
westward from the Nerbudda, to which coal would otherwise have to be con-
veyed from Bombay, will call for a large consumption for all the branch lines
at any distance not exceeding 200 miles from the Presidency. The presence
of coal will likewise enable mills for the sawing of wood to be set up; also ma-
chinery for working and draining mines; and not least, will supply the great
and urgent want felt in all other parts of India, wherever iron is found, viz.
fuel for smelting the ore close to the mines, and in abundance. This has been
one of the great obstacles to the Porto N ovo works, and compelled the
erection of saw-mills at the Baipore foundries; and it is in this peculiarity,
. and that of the approximation of ﬁre-clay for furnaces, and flux for the mineral,
that the chief and peculiar value of the Nerbudda Valley lies.
To exhibit the essential advantages, and almost indispensable necessity for
the establishment, on scientiﬁc principles, of these resources, Colonel Ken-
nedy gives a statistical account, affirming that the difference of cost on his
line would be nearly £3,000 per mile, viz. £4,000 for Native against £7 ,041
\
for English material; all things taken together, a certain saving by Indian»
iron of £1,500 per mile. Leaving out of calculation the application of iron
more largely in all public undertakings, as in bridges, piles, and other
structures attainable to Indian iron, the superiority of Native local iron con-
sists in‘ the saving of freight from England, and in the mining operations; the
equality of the iron, the proximity and abundance of ﬂux, fuel, and cheap
labour, affording most favourable and unquestionable conditions“ lVIr. Berkley
states that the cost for a single line of permanent way varies from £2,810
to £3,160 per mile, half of the mileage of each section arising chieﬂy from
the high prices of English iron material, and the great expense of conveying it
from the port to the interior of the country; and this points to the great ‘
advantage of expediting the establishment of Native ironworks, which on the
Nerbudda are enhanced by the valuable character of the iron; and though the‘
axiom of Mr. Berkley in the 67th paragraph of his Report is most assuredly
true, that their utility must depend primarily on the means of transport, yet
doubtless very much can be effected by promptness and energy, as tons of
chairs, spikes, and even rails, may be in readiness long before a locomotive
reaches the Valley of the Nerbudda. The amount of iron through the whole
of Central India is scarcely known, and has never been attempted to be ascer-
tained or ﬁxed. For ages it has been worked in the Nerbudda Valley, at
Kautkot, Chandgur, Bauglee, Tendukheira, and further down at Bang,
and twenty different places in the .Iubbulpore district, for local consumption.
This has been done in the most rude way, with little providential attention to
the product, which is pretty much the same all over India; and it may be
assumed that the ore is naturally rich, easily extracted, and the fuel employed
good,—-three of the most material points needed elsewhere.‘ However,
the cost of transport and want of skill and appliances have interfered with
its price, and with the demand; and English iron and steel, both wrought and
cast, in convenient shapes and sizes, beats it out of the market. Mr. Jacob,
of the Baroda Railway Company’s establishment, has recently entered more
fully into the statistics of the Nerbudda iron, and has reported other ﬁelds at
Ponassa and Makeraban. He seems to have visited those already named,
and considers them rich to a degree. At Kautkot, in Holkar’s territories,
on the north bank of the N erbudda, the variety is that of brown ironstone
hydrated peroxide, yielding to the dry process 37.22 per cent., which ought
by theory to be more,- It is worked unfavourably, without flux, and silica
being abundant, absorbs one-third nearly of the metal. The yield by the
Native method is one-ﬁfth, and 80 per cent. of loss, the charcoal being in the
proportion of 4 to 1. With better appliances, this might be reduced one-half.
The price of iron ore is 4s. 6d. per ton; of charcoal 9.9. 6d. per ton ; when
worked ‘£6 16$. 11d. At Chandgur the iron is reported to be red hematite, a
still richer ore, which occurs‘in holes from six inches to ten feet deep, but friable,
owing to the disintegration of metalliferous rock below. It is easily dug, and
the veins exposed, every stream bringing down quantities. The Nerbudda cuts
'23
four veins, 122 feet broad, ‘which are perpendicular to the bank. At Tendus
kheira it is also a red hematite; at Penaghur, near J ubbulpore, micaceous and
specular, and consequently rich; at Burwye very silicious, and poor. At P0—
‘nassa, two miles west of the town, iron is described as loose, and to be collected
on the surface at the rate of Is. 362. per ton, and associated with dolomite, a
bed of which, four miles in extent, exists. No shafts or pumps would, it is said,.
be required for working the mines, which could be drained by adits. The
‘dolomite is a short distance from the coal-ﬁelds, and good water abundant. At
Bang, the ore has more the character of the clay iron ore of the coal-measures,
which (conjecturally) all the iron of the valley might be supposed to be, but for
the volcanic agency and its greater richness. Coal cannot be far off at Bang,
from the carbonaceous colouring of the sandstone, and presence of ironstone and
indurated clay around. The Baug ore yields by quantitative analysis, according
to Dr. Giraud, 40 per cent. of ore,--about the per-centage of clay iron ore ; it
is very argillaceous.
It can scarcely be denied that these estimates, rough though they be,
furnish ample grounds to justify a commencement at least; and if the value
of iron depends on the richness of ore, facility of extraction, and the
existence of eligible adjuvants, no more favourable conditions could surely
exist. Want of transport is the only impediment which may retard for a time
'the availability of the product; but as soon as the most recent improvements
‘and machinery, which cheapen and expedite iron-working, are capable of
being introduced,——"~such as Mr. N eison’s hot blast, which reduces the con-
sumption of fuel nearly one-fourth; the economizing of waste gases on the
‘continental plan; the American process of pulverizing the ore and charcoal,
rapidly deoxydizing the former; and the application of electricity to iron while
hot, enabling it to imbibe carbon, and converting it by the shortest process
into cast-iron or steel; Nasmyth’s hammer, &c.,~—-the full capabilities of the
Nerbudda Valley in this particular mineral will be appreciated. It is argued
that the ore is too pure; that, as in the Porto Novo mines, it will, in the
absence of complicated machinery, either be more advantageous to send it to
England, or too expensive to cast it; but it is forgotten that the purest wrought—
iron is as much needed for rails as cast—iron, and that it may be run into any
shape by very simple and inexpensive means; and also that for cast-iron, poorer
or inferior kinds are absolutely requisite, and are named and speciﬁed by
scientiﬁc engineers to ironmasters—chairs and girders having their known pro-
portions of pure and inferior metal. By the Native method in Central India,
the ore is never roasted or pounded: they use pure and dense charcoal, some—
times in equal proportions, oftener at 3 and 4.- to l of iron, the former placed on
the hearth of the furnace, which, being small and limited, and the blast
constant and forcible through it, the iron, and a great part of the slag, run out
together 1n fromten to twelve hours, and the latter, being soluble in much less
heat, spurts outlm hammering, and is got rid of; the metal imbibing little of the
Carbon. Were the process which is adopted in other parts of Central India,
24
of pulveri‘zing the metal and coal used, and placing it in layers or balls, and
inferior iron selected, the ore would, in having to pass down through layers of
several feet, take sufficient carbon for any purpose, without any expensive ma-
chinery at all. For 'coal a quicker and more powerful blast is of course required
than for charcoal; but even if portable land—engines of from 10 to 20 horse~~ .’
power could be applied or transported, water-power is so plentiful as to suit most
purposes, at least until weighty machinery can be brought to bear. In short,
very little reasoning need be adduced to show that with the metal computed at
ls. 3d. a ton, a noni-sulphureous coal at 9 annas, or even ten times that, ﬂux
and ﬁre—clay at hand, and fuel not twenty miles distant from any mine, an ore rich
enough to dispense with roasting, and a loss of about 80 per cent., every in-
ducement exists to railway companies to explore carefully both the coal-ﬁelds
and iron mines, and to bring them speedily into operation. ‘
Regarding the subject in its broad light,—-—the improvement of the country by
employment of capital, and the impulse to industry that will be generated; and
setting aside the commercial success and proﬁt that is anticipated,---there is
abundant reason to concur with Mr. Berkley, that no statistics could present
a correct estimate of the traffic that would be created if the Nerbudda Valley
possessed a communication with the ports of Kutch and Bombay.
As an instance of .the creation of it, by the opening of trunk roads, that of
the Kilner Ghat may be named, the tolls of which in ten years, that is since its
opening in 1845, have been multiplied ten~fold, from Rs. 6,000 to Rs. 60,000.
By similar means, brought into operation through Nimar, under the manage-
ment of Sir R. Hamilton and Captains Evans and Keatinge, the trade of one
line of road in that province, the growth of ﬁve years, amounts to 12,000 tons,
and 26,000 passengers. On the Kilner Ghat Road, the traflic is nearly 100,000
passengers in a year, 25,000 laden cattle, and 18,000 carts. Considering that
ﬁfteen years ago the imports and exports . of Nimar were known to be
Rs. 5,60,000, and the transit merchandize north and south Rs. 2,95,200,
excluding, however, the opium for China, and piece goods to Central India,
and that the Saugor and Nerbudda Territories at the same ‘period yielded
transit dues Rs. 70,00,000, in imports and exports Rs. 5,50,000, and in duty ‘
Rs. 3,16,675, of which the present trade of one district, J ubbulpore, is said to
be 26,000 tons, some estimate may be formed of the attraction a railway is
likely to cause and possess. That the line selected by the Great Indian
Peninsula Railway Company, and adopted by Colonel Kennedy, possesses
these to the full, admits of little question; and Mr. Berkley’s assurance
to that effecti‘ needs little support. When, by the labours of such energetic
oflicers, so little is left discretionary or dubious, and provisionary precepts are
admitted and satisﬁed, expectation largely points to the rational assent of the
ruling powers.
*1‘ Vide extracts from Mr. Berklcy’s Report, contained in a subsequent part of this Selection.
ANALYSIS
OF THE
PAST CORRESPONDENCE OF GOVERNMENT
ON THE SUBJECT OF THE
COAL-BEDS'IN THE VIOINI'I‘Y OF THE NERBUDDA;
AND OF THE PRACTICABILITY OF THE NAVIGATION
~ OF THE RIVER.
4n
COAL-BEDS IN ‘THE VIOINITY or THE NERBUDDA.

THE records submitted for publication may be beneﬁcially summarised'and
detailed, each subject being pursued and connected throughout the corres-
pondence, which opens with a letter from Major Ouseley as far back as
November 1838, to Major Felix, Private Secretary to the Governor of Bom-
bay, forwarding 206 bullock-loads of coal, which, from the Coal Committee’s
Report, appears to have come from the Benar ﬁelds for trial in Bombay. It
was imagined to be anthracite, and taken at random from the exposed seam,
The expense (being at the rate of Rs. 80 per ton, viz. lO bullocks at Rs. 8
each, carrying one ton) was justiﬁable as an experiment; but the method adopt-
ed to carry it out precludes at once, and for ever, any such system in future. On
‘a most fair and impartial trial for two hours and a quarter in Bombay harbour,
in a small Government steamer, (Glasgow coal burning in opposition,) the Ner-
budda coal was found to raise steam quicker, with about half the expenditure,
being as 10.‘; lbs. to 19%,- lbs. per horse—power: there was little ash; but the objec-
tion was, that there was a good deal of clinker on the ﬁre-bars, accounted for
by the pulverization the coal had been subjected to by the mode of conveyance.
The Bombay Government at once took up the subject, and in reporting on it
to the Honorable Court, recognised the importance of the proximity and value
of the Nerbudda coal ; the Supreme Government was at the same time requested .
to authorise measures to give full effect to bring the coal into extensive use.
The Court of Directors likewise regarded the experiments with favour, and
recommended further trial with Slangennach, Lewis Crown Valley, and West
Hartley coal, which they consigned to India for the purpose: they however
feared rather than encouraged the naturaltliﬂficulties of the journey. There
seems no record whether these intentions or experiments were ever carried
out, though the subject was again mooted in 1841. In that year Government, on
a letter from the Assistant Commissioner in the Saugor and Nerbudda T errito-
ries, addressed the Collector of Broach, requesting to know the-cost of coal from
Tullukwara to Bombay, which was found to be 10 annas per maund, or Rs. 17
per ton. From the report of the Accountant General, Mr. Crawford, it also
‘appeared that English coal cost at Bombay Rs. 25-4-0 per ton, or 15 annas
per maund, hamallage not included. Government, however, authorised the
Assistant Commissioner in the Saugor and Nerbudda Territories to send ﬁfty
ora hundred tons of coal down the Nerbudda, experimentally.
28
In 1844 the Military Board, to whom reference was made, reported that
they considered the important point was the means of transport; and as no
coal existed in the Bombay Presidency, recommended‘either a railroad or the
opening of river navigation, believing that where obstructions in the latter
existed, they might be obviated by portage along the banks. In respect to
railroads, they stated that these involved a consideration of the general traffic
of the country, on which no information was before them. Dr. Giraud
at this period analysed specimens of the Nerbudda coal in conjunction with
some from Kalabagh, Attock, and English Cannel coal, and found it abounding
in combustible hydrocarbonates, but deﬁcient in carbon, with a large quantity
of ash; which properties demonstrated it to be a good gas—producing coal.
' In 1847 Sir G. Clerk, acting on a letter from Sir R. Hamilton, Resident at
Indore, took up the subject again warmly, and ordered a trial of some coal
from the Sonadeh ﬁeld, 150 miles lower down the valley, which had been
obtained by Mr. Conybeare at Sir R. Hamilton’s instigation. He directed the
. result _to be sent to Sir Robert, with a request for further information
from him, likewise soliciting the opinion of Sir R. Oliver, Superintendent
I. N.—-Captain Lynch, 1. N., who was appointed to conduct the experiment,
in handing up his Report of this coal, says that it got up steam quick; burned
clear, with little clinker, and not more than a fair proportion of ash; and that it
was little inferior to the best Government coal, and well adapted for Govern-
ment purposes. The ﬁgured statement which he forwarded showed that its
heating powers were as quick as the best Government coal, the consumption
being 12 per cent. less, and the residue below the bars one-third less.
There may be introduced here afurther trial, in 1848, by Lieutenant Grounds,
I. N., who reported unfavourably of the coal, viz. that it left a large amount
of clinker in proportion to English coal, showing a great quantity of income
bustible material, and that it stopped draught, by being soft, and spreading over
the bars. This was the coal brought down by Captain Fenwick; it gave, how-
ever, a much better result on being sifted. The Resident of Indore upon this
urged a further trial, which was conceded by the Bombay Government, and
Captain Lushington, Superintendent I. N., after again subjecting it to practical
tests, considered the'Nerbudda coal in all respects equal to the best coal usually
imported for the use of Government; he conceived it a great acquisition,
rendering Government independent of foreign supply. The only drawback
was its great state of pulverization, which, when sifted, gave ‘most satisfac-
tory results, as follows :-4

‘ Consum tion er Hour
Time in raising Steam. p p >

per Hol-Smpower. Ash and Clinker. .
Min. lbs.
Nerbudda coal, sifted . . . . 70 ' 7,60 0210
English coal.. .. .. .. 86 7.85 0.204

29
.The Resident at Indore, on receipt of this, urged the propriety of excavating
and working the coal, in order to avoid the chance of a short stock in Bombay.
He applied for the services of a qualiﬁed miner, and obtained those of
Mr. Johnstone, of the Indian Naval Department, who joined his camp on '
15th January 1848, and ' proceeded with him to the Sonadeh ﬁelds, which
were half a mile from the village of that name, on the Bohra nulla, thirty-four
miles from Sewnee, with a bad pass at Nandwara, hardly practicable for carts.
Mr. J ohnstone subsequently hit upon a better route, avoiding this pass, which
Captain Fenwick afterwards travelled over, and which it was calculated could be
made practicable for Rs. 500, vid Peepliah, Gowasing, and Mukrai, to Dha—
ree, the point on‘ the Nerbudda below the fall which it was desirable to fetch.
Sir R. Hamilton left with Mr. .Iohn'stone full instructions to ascertain the
limits, depth, and all particulars regarding the coal, and its associated iron, and
directed,,pther places to be searched. His personal observation determined him
‘to raise 20 tons ; and for this purpose he directed the sinking of an experi-
mental shaft, for which he furnished Mr. Johnstone with means and tools, and
- obtained the assistance of Captain Fenwick,_a retired and energetic oﬂicer of
the Nizam’s army.
Mr. Johnstone reported the iron equal to the black main of Scotland; the
coal to be in beds of twenty inches thick, at an angle of 75° N., between
layers of shale and coarse soft sandstone, thirty feet of which were above the coal.
He pronounced it, on trial on an open ﬁre, to be equal to Scotch, as it burnt
without residue,——a fact opposed to the chemical analysis of it, which gave a
large amount of incombustible material. He described the limits of the basin to
be ﬁfteen by twenty miles. He also visited the Mardanpore ﬁelds, referred to
by Colonel Ouseley, two miles from Bohra, in the bed of the Sookee nulla, about
100 yards from its junction with the T owah : the seam of coal here was two
and a quarter feet thick, sp. gr. 1.229, at an angle of 20° in a N ‘\V. direction.
Sir R. Hamilton calculated that the coal thus obtained could be deposited
at Tullukwara, three days’ sail from Broach, at Rs. 20 per ton, viz :—
Transport to Dharee from coal-ﬁelds. . . . 7 annas per maund.
,, - from Dharee to H urun Pall . . 2
,, _ ,, Hurun Pall to Tullukwara. . 3
~—
97 7!
3) 7,
_ Total.. 12 annas; independent of
the expense of working the shafts.
After the shafts had been sunk, and the required quantity raised, consider»
able time was occupied in arrangement with the Brinjarees; with whom it was
so difficult to deal, and upon whom it was so impossible to depend, that it was
thought as expedient to make a rough cart-road, avoiding the Nandwt’u'a Pass,
as no inducement could persuade them to do otherwise than throw otf their
loads, as if they were grain, which was better adapted to their bullocks than
the angles of the coal. Captain Fenwick, with a great deal of tact and patience,
at length induced the Brinjarees to proceed, and succeeded in transporting to
30
Dharee, a distance of 100 miles, 462 maunds (about 17 tons) ‘of coal, on 226
bullocks, each bullock thus carrying 140 lbs. or 11 cwt., at a cost of 6 5 annas '
per maund, or Rs. 11 per ‘ton.
From the experience ' gained in sinking the shafts, an estimate was formed
of the cost of one large enough for pumps. These Mr. J ohnstone calculated
would be Rs. 6,344 per annum for each shaft; from which 35 tons could be ’
raised daily when fairly at work, i. ‘e. 10,920 tons per annum, at a cost per ton of
9 annas and 4 pies. The shaft it was assumed would be sixty feet deep, ‘and
could be drawn with bullock-power, or a small steam-engine. The proceedings
so far were reported to the Bombay Government, who most promptly acted on
them. In a most able and statesmanlike minute they thanked the Resident for
his exertions, recognised the importance of the subject, irrespective of the even-
tual result to steam, marine or railroad; they offered all the encouragement in
their power, which was limited to permission for Mr. .Iohnstone to rgmain as
Superintendent, and to placing Rs. 10,000 at Sir R. Hamilton’s disposal, to be
expended as his increasing experience might dictate ; they hinted that more
should not be done to roads than mere clearing. Urging economy, they proposed
that search should be made for other coal»beds nearer the river, and as there was
no immediate want of coal in Bombay, recommended magazines to be formed at
different spots on the Nerbudda, and the coal to be ﬂoated down to each, as time
and conditions would admit ; they suggested to the Resident’s consideration
the subject of leasing the soil, and the right of working the mines, and asked for
information on the tolls and customs on the banks of the river, and in transit.
The Resident, in his reply, furnishes an estimate of the proposed shafts, which-
be divided into three departments :—- ~
One of superintendence, at . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Rs. 700 monthly.
One of transport, at . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300 ,,
One of establishment for shafts, at . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 532 ,,

Total. 1,522 monthly ;
the latter comprising miners, carpenters, bullocks, and drivers, &c., which only
it would be requisite to increase with each shaft. T hirty-ﬁve tons per working
day was still adhered to as the quantity that would be raised.
The Resident further reported the arrival of the coal packed in 386 bags at
Chikulda, 150 miles from Broach, on the 20th April, in ﬁfteen days from
Dharee, and requested a steamer of light draught, if unemployed, to be sent, to
take in the coal at Broach. He likewise submitted Captain Fenwick’s journal
of the voyage down 110 miles of the river. _
Government again freely responded to the call, by authorising the steam-vessel,
and applying to the Honorable Court for the continuance of the services of
Mr. Johnstone at the coal-ﬁelds. They desired, however, not to be com-
mitted to a year’s undertaking in the existing and imperfect knowledge of the
navigation of the river, and requested the Resident to feel his way. They
transmitted a summary of all proceedings up to that period to the Supreme
31
Government, with a strong recommendation in favour of the continuance of
the undeltaking.
Though Captain Fenwick reached Chikulda in safety with his cargo and
ﬂeet, which consisted of ten boats, thirty feet long, six feet in breadth, and
drawing two and a half feet of water, each carrying about two tons, his voyage
down this 110 miles of river, accomplished in fifteen days, was not altogether
without difﬁculty. Its general character was a rapid shallow stream, deep
above, and opposite the fords with rapid descents: from six inches to two feet of
water existed over these channels, which were winding and tortuous. Between
Dharee and Mundlaisir he had to let the boats down with ropes in four places,
and at the falls of Sahesur Dhurah they were emptied, and the coals carried
overland for about 600 yards. Boats drawing above one foot of water could
only be used with ease. Sahesur Dhurah was the only direct fall in this
portion of the river, and had a back-water channel, which rendered it less
difﬁcult than it otherwise would have been.
Arrived at Chikulda, Captain Fenwick stored his coals in a godown
attached to the bungalow at that place, and proceeded ﬁfteen miles down the
river, to examine the Hurun Pall, the next formidable pass. He found it
simply a deep narrow gut or sluice, between high rocks, with eight feet channel
in the middle, and no fall; it had only six inches of water in several places,
and laden boats of a draught of a foot and a half, of the length and beam of his
own, could not possibly pass, and even empty ones would have to be lifted.
He found (what Captains Anderson and Evans had reported) that it was
not at the Hurun Pall, but a quarter of mile below it, that the great obstacle
existed——-the Balaghori rapids. In April (the dry season) there were three falls
of a hundred yards each—the ﬁrst of six, the second of three, and the third of
four feet in thirty; with ten feet passage in mid-channel, in which pointed rocks
jutted. The force of the current was intense, with, however, a deep back-water
on the left hand. Judging it, even with this outlet, impracticable for laden
boats at this season, Captain Fenwick returned to Chikulda, and by orders
took 1% ‘tons of anal on two carts to Kumalee, below Tullukwara, which he
reached in fourteen’ days; there he took boats again, and arrived at Broach
‘altogether in twenty-one days from Chikulda. The précis furnished by Sir
R. Hamilton of this part of the proceedings was pretty much the substance
of Mr. .Iohnstone’s Report before alluded to, together with the data furnished
by' Captain Fenwick.
The Sonadeh coal ‘was found on the left bank of the Bohra nudee, at an
angle of 7 5° N., and associated as follows :—
Feet. ins.
Sandstone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 _ O coarse-grained; soft.
Shale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , . . . . . . . . . . O 4
Coal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .; . . . . . . . . . . 1 7
Shale . . '. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ; . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O 4 repeated; the lower
formation being a closer-grained sandstone.
32
Captain Fenwick, with 462 maunds of coal, on 226 bullocks, appeared~~ ’
Left Sonadeh on the 9th Mar., reached Dharee, 100miles, 25th Minn, in 10 days. _
,, Dharce 5th April, ,, Mundlaisir, 50 ,, ‘ 9th April, in 4 ,1,
,, Mundlaisir 10th ,, ,, Sahesur Dhurah, 6 ,, 14th ,, in 4 ,,
,, Sahesur Dhurah 16th ,, ,, Chikulda, 50 ,, 20th ,, in‘ 4 ,,
,, Chikulda 27th ,, ,, Tullukwara, 120 ,, 10th May, in 14 ,,
,, Tullukwara 10th May, ,, - Broach, 60 ,, 13th ,, in 3 ,,
_—_1-_
Total... 45 days.
Thus the ﬁrst land portion of the journey of one hundred miles occupied
sixteen days, owing to the time lost in lading and unlading the bullocks. It
was. undertaken at a great cost, Rs. 11 per ton, with the coal much broken
and injured; ten days were spent besides at Dharee, in arranging the boat-
loads. The ﬁrst ﬁfty miles of river were completed in four days, and the‘
other ﬁfty miles in as many more; the portage at Sahesur Dhurah occupy-
ing two, and the shallow part of the river apprpaching it (being obstructed by
rocks and rapids) four. Further progress beyond Chikulda was impossible in
dry weather. Captain Fenwick consequently proceeded by land, as already
stated, taking 48 maunds (1%} tons) on two carts, vid Ali Rajpore, Oodeypore,
to Kumalee, and below Tullukwara, a land journey of fourteen days, at a cost
of Rs. 1-7—0 per maund, which is at the rate of Rs. 38-11-0 per ton. Captain
Fenwick reached Ukteysur Ghat, below Tullukwara, on his return, in six days,
and Chikulda by land in twenty—eight. Sir R. Hamilton concluded by
recommending depbts for the storing of coal at Dharee, Sahesur Dhurah, and
Chikulda, and urged the excavation of mines.
Government in reply, while admitting the importance of the object, hesitated
to adopt these measures unreservedly, and the Supreme Government, to whom
the correspondence passed, deferred further operations until Dr. McLelland or
Mr. Oldham could be spared to visit the localities. In a subsequent letter the
Supreme Government considered the experiment expensive, and the calcula-
tions indeﬁnite; they required fresh information, and stopped all arrangements
involving expense which were not of a temporary character. .
The monsoon having however set in, and the river risen eighteen feet
(even then scarcely safe), Captain Fenwick left Chikulda on the 29th July
with 400 maunds (15 tons) of coal, in 239 bags, stowed in eight boats, espe—
cially built or selected for the purpose. His arrangements seem to have been
most prudent, cautious, and excellent. He accomplished the distance from the
Hurun Pall to Mokree, eighty miles, in twelve days, the river having high
banks, hills, and jungle ﬂanking it on both sides to the water’s edge. In this
distance he lost three boats and 93 maunds of coal; he met with twelve most
serious obstacles, in the shape of rapids, Whirlpools, shoals, and pointed rocks,
which latter it was impossible to avoid, owing to the force of the current. The
Hurun Pall was reached and passed without difficulty: next day (at one
mile below it) the Bhorekeyree rapids appeared, now converted into one, ﬁve
miles in length, with thirty feet channel, not well deﬁned, and studded with
‘bluff rocks, having high waves, and a rapid current, owing to the direct fall,
One boat was‘ here lost, with 38 maunds of coal. Two miles further was the
Gunoee Ghat, the features of which agreed precisely with Captain Evans’s
Report of them in the Transactions of the Geographical Society; at a similar
distance further on, the Kalukeyree ledge of rock, and the Dussana barrier,
of the same nature, were successively met. On the 31st, at twenty miles, the
Bheetz’rna Ghat rapid (bad for half a mile, and also very much resembling the
Sahesur Dhurah) occurred. It was two miles and a half long, the river
shallow, with high cliffs striking diagonally across—the left one formidable;
and half a mile below it, as usual, was the rapid. The boats were let down by
ropes, and 150 bags taken out and carried. Two miles further, the Hailkuree
gut was met, succeeded by the Sirkuree shoal, leading to N unka Ghat, one of
the worst in the river. On the ﬁfth day, Captain Fenwick reached Hamp, six
miles further, and forty from Chikulda. This was a notable obstacle tradition-
ally, but Captain Evans had already demonstrated that the real danger existed
in the B‘alaghori rapid, a few miles down the river. This is described as being
three or four miles in length,—in fact a series of descents, studded with broken
rocks for that distance ; and the very naturalresults of such, when large volumes
of water of great velocity rush along between scarped, conﬁned banks, viz.
Whirlpools, high waves, an unmanageable stream, and the utmost danger:
two boats with 66 maunds (2% tons) of coal were lost here. From the termina—
tion of this to Soolpan (ﬁfteen miles), the river was found tolerably clear.
About six miles below Soolpan the Mokree falls occurred, in three days’ work
from Hamp, in which difliculties of the same nature presented themselves,
which were shot by Captain Evans, the water being higher, but in which
one boat was lost by Captain Fenwick. Here the hills and jungle ceased,
and cultivatioii began. From this to Tullukwara, thence to Broach (reached
in twelve days), no material impediments occurred. Between the last-
named places navigation is clear and quick up to Noveinber, and this lower
portion was compared by Captain Fenwick to the Bagheeruttee or Hooghly
between Berhampore and Calcutta at this season. In order to ascertain
the practicability of returning to Chikulda by water, Captain Fenwick, after
great trouble with the boatmen, started for Tullukwara on the 14th August,
and reached the former place on the 26th September, in forty-three days;
but his journal affords little information, further than that the river was
impracticable against stream, of which the length of time alone is sufficient
evidence.
Captain Fenwick believed there was not, on a stretch, a mile of free
navigation between the Hurun Pall and Mokree ; his cargo was exposed to
constant showers, wet, and spray from high waves, which would have been
destructive to valuable articles,—-—against which there is little hope of provision
or improvement as regards boats, which require to be of a peculiar construction,
and] of exceedingly light draught; even the coal was pulverized, wet, and lost
much of its essential qualities. Of his whole cargo of 462 maunds (17 tons),
5n ‘
34
A .
nearly 100 maunds were lost by the swamping of boats; 48 maijpds were taken
overland, and the rest, lljtons 10 cwt., landed at Broach. '
Sir R. Hamilton, in reporting this, conceives that though difficulties in these ~
eighty miles might be facilitated by science and skill, and the removal of
some obstructions, the foregoing details, the close and hilly nature of the
country, and the jungle fever prevalent after 15th September, render the river -
unnavigable for purposes of commerce. Captain Fenwick himself, owing to the
fatigue and exposure, was nearly carried off in Bombay fi'om consequent
severe remittent fever. 1 '
The most that could be concluded of the Nerbudda from Captain Fenwick’s
proceedings was that it might be passed between August and December, but
not between February and June; and it is evident it must, at best, depend on
the rise of the river, and the quantity of water, as Captain Fenwick’s obstructions
at the same spots were more serious than Captain Evans’s when the river was
full. This applies likewise to the level portion beyond Tullukwara, in which,
after September, the journey is more tedious, and several rapids are exposed
by the cessation of the rains. The freshes have also to be watched: in ﬁne,
there would appear to be great uncertainty, as well as extreme difficulty.
Captain Fenwick’s trip is perhaps more conﬁrmatory of Sir R. Hamilton’s ﬁrst
conclusions in respect to Captain Evans’s voyage. Sir R. Hamilton says :---
“ As to the means for making the Nerbudda available to commerce, I have
great doubts whether the returns would compensate for the outlay. The
formation of roadways to transport the freight of boats at the different falls
may be undertaken; but they alone will not suffice: there must be a line of
boats to carry on the goods which may be sent, and an unity of working,
which only could be secured by a river company, or by a Government estab-
lishment.”
The expense incurred cannot be considered a criterion for the future; for in
all undertakings, experiments and ﬁrst operations are necessarily large, and
not thrown away or costly in the main, if they lead to the exposure, removal,
or remedy of defects, whether these relate to the enhancing of the value of the
products, the reduction of cost of conveyance by improvement of roads, or
otherwise. A perusal of these experiments in contrast with Mr. Berkley’s and
Colonel Kennedy’s Reports will certainly incline the present generation of
thinkers and readers to the opinion that the 500 miles of distance interposed
between the sea and the Nerbudda Valley (proper) may be more expe-
ditiously, more safely and. permanently, also more advantageously and less
expensively overcome by rail, than by the most approved system of river
navigation that could be contemplated.
The papers which follow are not of less importance than those on the navi-
gation of the Nerbudda. They are the Reports of Mr. Jacob on the Mineral
Resources of the Valley, and of Mr. Berkley and Colonel Kennedy on the Rail.
In accordance ‘with his instructions, the ﬁrst proceeded to the iron mines
of Kautkot, Chandgur, Tendukheira, Ponassa, and Makeraban. They are all
35
hematites, viz. hydrated peroxides of iron, ochreous, superﬁcial, and very rich
in ore, which’ they yield pure at a loss of about 80 per cent. by the Native
method of extraction, with charcoal fuel, and no ﬂux, or previous roasting.
The present prices are 4s. 6d. per ton for ore, and 9s. 6d. for charcoal at
Kautkot, and which may be had for 5s. 6d. at Tendukheira. Coal is, however,
within reach, and not many miles distant, for 9 annas, and iron quite 'good
enough for casting at ls. 3d. per ton at Makeraban, on the Towah. At
Burwye the ore was friable and silicious, but exceedingly pure at Chandgur,
Kautkot, and Tendukheira : at the former, the Nerbudda cuts through a large
vein, and every stream brings down quantities. At Ponassa, a good ﬂux
(dolomite), and ﬁre-clay, are found seventeen miles from the coal, which it
was estimated ‘may be had for 4 annas per ton ; and also surface iron of quality
adapted for casting. lVIr. Jacob recommends it therefore as the site of their
mines, which would require neither shafts nor pumps, and he calculates they
may be worked under £5 per ton for ore. ‘
The coal seams at Sonadeh Mr. Jacob thinks indicate rich mines below.
Their general extent is probably ﬁfteen by seven miles. The Benar ﬁeld, on the
Seeta Rewa river, has three seams—of eight feet, three feet six inches, and
six feet three inches; separated by laminated shale, four inches thick; the avail-
able seam being nine feet nine inches,—-—highly inclined, owing to trachyte veins.
He characterises it as a bituminous lignite, with no sulphur, well adapted for
iron-smelting, and little residue. At Beethari Ghat, the Nerbudda cuts a
'pyritous coal seam at an angle of 80°, overlaid by dolomite. The result
of this geological report, necessarily cursory and superﬁcial, denotes an inex-
haustible supply of iron, ‘with all the incidental advantages of flux and fuel
in close proximity, cheap, and easy of access.
Next in succession are the Reports of Colonel Kennedy and Mr. Berkley
on the Line of Rail through the Nerbudda Valley. Colonel Kennedy, on
ﬁnding the Great Indian Peninsula Railway Company already in the ﬁeld,
seems to have adopted the general direction of their line, the excellence and
. selection of which is undisputed: the features of the country really do not
admit of two distinct routes. The contemplated line, Mr. Berkley says,
after ‘crossing the Taptee, ascends the Satpoora range, the summit of which is
only 390 feet above the level of the river, by a series of easy reverse curves.
Its ascent is effected in a distance of twelve miles, without any work that calls
for observation, and with various gradients, the worst of which is l in 100, of
a length of a mile and three quarters, and descends by still lighter. They are
more favourable than Mr. Berkley expected it was possible to obtain. The
Nerbudda is crossed at J hansee Ghat, about 500 miles from the mouth of the
river, with a viaduct of 371 yards only, without any engineering difficulties,
or expensive contingencies; and between these extreme points, viz. Asseer—
ghur and the Nerbudda, the course of the railroad runs through the essentially
‘productive part of the valley, or upper basin of the Nerbudda, passing in the
immediate neighbourhood of the large towns, and the iron and coal mines, the
Q-
36
importance of which may be truly said not to be over-estimated, if it is called
to remembrance that the permanent way of the rail, ‘some 450 miles in length,
has to be obtained ﬁ'om England, at a cost of at least £3,000 per mile (the
high prices of which Mr. Berkley, at paragraph 67, states is the serious and
undue impediment to the cheap construction of railways through the interior‘
of‘ India), and that the several demands for coal in Bombay come to nearly
50,000 tons per annum, which is imported from England, at a cost of at least
ten lakhs of rupees. Through the entire line, the requisite material for earth—
works, stone and lime for building, teak of large scantling, and other good
woods, abound, and are procurable at short distances, and can be conveyed
down the Nerbudda and tributary streams. Were it not for the river cross-
ings, Mr. Berkley afﬁrms the cost of this portion of the railway would reach
the very lowest limit, the curves and gradients being particularly level and
straight, the labour low, and engineering difficulties few. In short, the
character of it is unexceptionable, and presents the utmost facility for con-
struction. Mr. Berkley’s Report, in these ‘and all other respects, is so ably
drawn up, and is so clear and intelligible a narration of not only the imme—
diately professional view of the undertaking, but of the commercial and
industrial value of opening this line (so far as his statistics enable a decision
to be arrived at), that the short reference to his conclusions does but little
justice to his summary, which is worth attentive study. It but renders
patent the very pertinent remark of the Friend of India on railroads in the
interior, “that the country, which is now nearly closed, the resources which
are now sealed, and the intercourse which is now nearly buried, would all be
- beneﬁtted, to the manifest advantage of Government and of commerce, as well
as of social happiness and comfort,” by their speedy sanction and completion.
For similar reasons, limiting the observations on Colonel Kennedy’s Report
to that portion of it which has reference to the object of these papers, the
resources of the Nerbudda Valley, it would seem that the Colonel’s primary
object is to open a communication from the Khandeish branch of his central
line to the iron and coal-ﬁelds of the Nerbudda,——Which he considers it
indispensable and essential to work at once,—-to establish foundries, sink shafts,
and make it available for the large and extensive branches which his project
embraces. Convinced from Mr. J acob’s Report of the nature and amount of
the resources, Colonel Kennedy expects to effect a saving of £1,500'per mile
on his lines of rail; and to carry the principle further,‘ he recommends to
Government the substitution of iron bridges, pile piers, and other improvements
on iron structure, which may be placed within attainment, to the exclusion of
the more expensive masonry viaducts and bridges contemplated. He would
import iron for the ﬁrst 100 miles from England, and make an iron way from
his foundry at Ponassa to his junction. Although, as Colonel Kennedy states,
it is impossible to overrate the beneﬁcial consequences that the Nerbudda
mineral districts are calculated to produce in the industrial development of
India, if properly dealt with; yet, considering that Surat, the nearest point to
37
his direct line, is a distance of 250 miles from the nearest foundry, and that a
line of some nature, whether of tram and temporary character, or of permanent
way, must be completed, before a ton of machinery could be carried up, or of
iron be brought along it, there would seem better grounds for concurrence in
Mr. Berkley’s reasoning, “ that active and successful operations in these
enterprises will be found to depend more upon the completion of railway
communication between Bombay and-the Nerbudda Valley than the railway
does upon a local supply of iron and coal.” Bearing in mind the immense
extent of the contemplated railroads to the north of the N erbudda (and
through Malwa more directly still to the north), there is little fear that the
most ample occupation will be found for all the coal that can be raised,'and
‘iron made, for the next century, after the completion of the line to the Ner-
budda Valley.l If iron and coal are the chief aim of Colonel Kennedy in en-
tering into the Nerbudda Valley, he is likely to meet them much closer at hand
at Bang, which is scarcely thirty miles from Raj pore, a point on the north bank
of the Nerbudda on his Baroda and Culpee extension line; and it is questionable
(and here thrown out as a surmise, irrespective of engineering reasons and
difficulties) whether the Nerbudda Valley and Colonel Kennedy’s own central
line would not be more beneﬁtted by taking one to the coveted and desirable
mines at Ponassa, along the north bank of the N erbudda, from Oodeypore or
Rajpore through British N imar, than from Surat viii Khandeish. Of one fact
there is little assurance required—that one line, whether to the N erbudda Valley,
proceeding over the Deccan ranges, or skirting them aid Surat, will not suffice
to supply the wants of traffic that will be generated; and thaeﬁhe line sketched
out vici Bhopawur, Indore, and Bhilsa to Culpee, will be of equal if not greater
value, and not even in imagination less important than that of the Taptee and
Nerbudda Valley, drawing, as it must, the rich opium and grain districts of
Malwa, and the upper portions of the Saugor and Nerbudda Territories, which
are above the Ghats. There certainly exist grounds for the belief that most
ample and remunerative returns will be obtained by the speedy opening and
connection of Western India with the N orth-VVestern Provinces, through the
unoccupied and fertile districts of Malwa and Raj pootana, which, though not
. as rich in cotton, are as favoured in other respects as any parts of Khandeish.
It would be matter of surprise if the Governor General of India, himself the
best authority and soundest thinker on these topics, should limit the operations
of both companies to the same districts, or permit them to run in close contact
and competition, while so vast a territory and line of country remains unoccu-
pied, and invites their labours.
SELECTION FROM THE RECORDS OF THE BOMBAY GOVERNMENT,
1838-1851, '
RELATING TO
THE NERBUDDA RIVER,
AND THE
MINERAL DISTRICTS OF THE NERBUDDA VALLEY;
TO WHICH ARE APPENDED,
EXTRACTS FROM REPORTS BY MR. J. J. BERKLEY, CHIEF RESIDENT
ENGINEER, BOMBAY, OF THE GREAT INDIAN PENINSULA RAIL-
WAY COMPANY; AND BY LIEUTENANT COLONEL J. P. KENNEDY,
MANAGING DIRECTOR AND ENGINEER-IN-CHIEF, OF THE BUM-=-
_BAY, BARODA, AND CENTRAL INDIA RAILWAY COMPANY; WITH
ACCOMPANIMENTS TO THE LATTER REPORT.
NERBUDDA RIVER,
AND THE
MINERAL RESOURCES OF THE NERBUDDA VALLEY.

From Major J. R. OUSELEY, Pol. Agent and Commr., Hooshungabad,
To Major FELIX, Priv. Secy. to the Hon. James Parish, Governor of Bombay.
Dated tire 27th ZVovember 1838.
SIR,
As required in your letter dated 14th September last, I have the honour to
send 200 Bunjaras’ bullocks, laden with coal. About 10 tons are carried on
100 bullocks. Great difficulty is just now experienced in getting Bunjaras to
go in that direction at all ; and the only terms they would accept were for
each bullock Co.’s_ Rs. 8 the trip. This may occupy a month and a half; so
that it is not very high after all. I have paid Rs. 800 here, and the remainder
(Rs. 800) they will receive at Bombay. The experiment is expensive; but
at the same time, I trust . it may prove to be one that will ultimately convince
Government that the value of their internal resources is as unbounded as the
most sanguine could imagine, and ensuring independence of all mischances in
the regular supply of fuel for the home communication by steamers. Anthra-
cite coal has been found at home to be inﬁnitely superior to every other kind for
steam purposes: the fields of it here are literally inexhaustible. W’ hen I add
that wood for charcoal, and iron ore, abound at the same spot, it may not be
visionary to hope that a line of railway direct from Bombay to Mirzapore, vid
Boorhanpoor, may, in the course of a few years, be determined on: the advan-
tages are as incalculable as they are obvious ; Mirzapoor and Bombay at each
terminus of the line could then be supplied to any amount, nd for little expense.
I have desired the Bunjaras to be particularly careful to avoid flinging
down the loads, as they do grain; for it would soon reduce all the coal to
powder. I have the honour to send a bit of the coal, taken at random from
one of the loads, as a specimen: it evidently improves the deeper it is dug into.
I have, &c.
(Signed) .I. R. OUSELEY, Major,
‘ Political Agent.
Hooshungabad, Oﬂice P. A. and C., the 27th November 1838.
(in '
42
To the MINT ENGINEER.
, SIR,
I am directed by the Honorable the Governor in Council to request that
you will receive charge of a quantity of coal sent by Major Ouseley from
Hooshungabad, and that you will subject it to all the tests that may be best
calculated to ascertain its quality and adaptation for the service, and report
the result for the information of Government.
1 have, &c.
(Signed) E. M. WOOD, Lieutenant Colonel,
24th January 1839. Secretary to Government.

From Captain H. B. TURNER, Mint Engineer, Bombay, ""
To Lieut. Col. E. M. WOOD, Secy. to Govt, Marine Dept, Bombay.
SIR Dated the 12th June 1839.
I have the honour to report, for the information of Government, the result
of a trial made yesterday of the Indus, iron boat, with a view of ascertaining
her speed, and the performance of her engines; and, in compliance with the
instructions conveyed in your letter of the 24th January last, of proving the
comparative value, as a fuel for steam-boat engines, of the coal obtained from
Major Ouseley, at Hooshungabad.
The vessel was sent out in pieces from Mr. John Laird’s factory, and the
engines supplied by Mr. Maudsley; they are of 60 collective horse—power,
having 32-inch cylinders, 3-feet stroke, with wheels of 14 feet .6 inches diameter.
The vessel had on board 28 tons of coal, being sufficient fuel for four days
of twenty-four hours each ; her draft of water abaft was 3 feet 6 inches; and
although the marks on her stem showed a greater draft forward, Iam disposed
to believe she was on an even keel. '
“7e started from opposite the southern buoy of the middle ground at 10h.
30m. A. M., being a few minutes before high-water, and stood up the harbour
in the direction of Tanna, the engines making 26 revolutions. We reached
Chenanee bunder, about one mile below Tanna, and 22 miles from the point
from which we started, at 12h. 40m., having gone at the rate of 10.15 miles
per hour. At ﬁrst Mrting, the tide, though slack, was in our favour but after
rounding the point of the Neat’s Tongue it turned, and, if anything, was
against us the rest of the way; deducting, therefore, half a mile an hour for
the tide, it leaves her speed through the water 9.65 miles per hour.
On arriving off Chenanee, the eiigines were stopped for a few minutes to
screw down the packings, and to ﬁx the indicator, and again started towards
Bombay at l P. M. At 3 P. M. we reached the point we had started from,
having had a strong tide in our favour; but the wind and swell, which had
much increased since we started, were directly against us,—-—suflicient, indeed,
after leaving Trombay, to reduce the speed of the engines two revolutions.
43
The vessel is ﬁtted with two boilers, also made by Mr. Maudsley, of pre-
cisely equal capacity, and perfectly independent of each other, having one
ﬁrerplace in each. The same quantity of water was ﬁlled into each boiler, and
the ﬁre-place of the one laid with good fresh Glasgow coal, and of the other
with Hooshungabad coal. ,
Steam was up, or commenced escaping at the safety-valve in the boiler,
with the Hooshungabad coal, in 1 hour 30 minutes after lighting the ﬁres;
the quantity of coal expended, including what was used in laying the ﬁre,
being 2 cwt. 3 qrs. 8 lbs., or 10.53 lbs. per horse-power.
In the boiler with the Glasgow coal,—-—the ﬁres having been lighted in both
at the same time,—the steam was not up till 15 minutes after it commenced
blowing off in the other boiler, and the quantity of coal expended was 5 cwt.
20 lbs., or 19.33 lbs. per horse—power; thus showing thehHooshungabad
coal 83 per cent. better than the Glasgow, and raising the steam in 15 minutes
less time.
From Bombay to Tanna I continued to use the Glasgow coal in one boiler,
and the Hooshungabad in the ‘other, keeping the steam up in both to the
same degree of elasticity: in the 2 hours and IO minutes, 6 cwt. I qr. 18 lbs.
of the Glasgow coal was expended, being equal toll cwt. and 4 lbs. per
horse-power per hour; while 5 cwt. l qr. 10 lbs. only of the Hooshungabad
coal was used; being 9.20 lbs. per horse-power per hour.
In returning to_.Bombay, for the first hour, while in smooth water in the
river, the engines making 26% revolutions, Hooshungabad coal was used in
both boilers, and 6 cwt. 27 lbs., or 11.65 lbs. per horse-power, was consumed.
During the next hour, both boilers were fed with Glasgow coal; and not—
withstanding the speed of the engines, and consequently the quantity of steam
required, was reduced, as before stated, by the strong head wind, 7 cwt. l qr.
and 6 lbs. was expended, being at the rate of 13.96 lbs. per horse-power.
The expenditure of coal in both cases per horse-power will be considered
large : but it must be taken into consideration that the engines are of small size ;
that neither the boiler, steam-chest, nor steam-pipe have as yet been covered
with any non-conducting substance; and that from their being quite new, and
agood deal rusted on the voyage out, the surfaces have not yet become
steam-tight.
The Hooshungabad coal produces very little ash, but, like the Burdwan
‘coal, forms a good deal of scoria or clinker on the ﬁre-bars.
It ought also to be remarked, that from the distance this coal has been
brought overland (500 miles), it has been broken into very small pieces,—
indeed a good deal of it is literally dust: in using it, however, the dust was not
separated, the expenditure above shown being the exact weight of the coal
expended, dust and all.
I have, &c.
(Signed) H. B. TURNER,
Bombay, Mint Enginecr’s Oﬂice, 12th June 1839. Mint Engineer.
44
From the GOVERNMENT 0E BOMBAY,
To the Honorable the Coun'r pr DIRECTORS FOR AFFAIRS on
THE HoNoRAnLE EAST INDIA COMPANY, London.
HONORABLE Sins, Dated Bombay, 10157’ Jul?! 1839-
We have the honour to transmit the accompanying copy of a letter from
the Mint Engineer, dated 12th ultimo, reporting upon the performance of the
new iron steam—boat, the Indus, and also on the quality of some coal which
we lately procured from Hooshungabad.
The performance of the Indus appears to us to be most satisfactory; but the
most interesting part of the Report relates to the Hooshungabad coal, which is
stated to have got up the steam with about half the quantity of fuel, and in
less time than with Scotch coal. .
As we have no doubt that the Right Honorable the Governor General will
concur with this Government in the very great importance of measures being
adopted for obtaining further supplies of the superior coal found at Hooshung-
abad, we have requested his Lordship to authorise such course as may, in his
opinion, be best calculated to give the fullest effect to the measure of bringing
this coal into extensive use.
WVe have, &c.
(Signed) JAMES FARISH,
Bombay Castle, 10th July 1839. ,, G. W. ANDERSON.
Reply from the Honorable the COURT OF DIRECTORS to the foregoing Despatch.
Dated 12th August 1840.
Letter dated 10th July, These Reports are interesting, and in general satis-
No. 36 0f1839. factory
Forwarding Reports _
on the performance of On the occasion when the Hooshungabad coal
the HGWiI'OHStBam-boat was tried as a fuel on board the Indus steamer. it
the Indus, and on the j 1 1 ﬁq 1 f 1 _ ’ _
qualities of some coal’ appeals tiat tie ie-p ace 0 one of tee boilers was ‘laid
forwarded from- ‘HOO- with good fresh Glasgow coal, and that of the other
shun gabad, as applicable - ‘ . .
* with Hooshungabad coal, which, having been brought
to steam purposes. _
overland a distance of 500 nodes, was very much broken”,
and included a good deal of dust. Steam was raised by the last-named coal '
15 minutes earlier, and with smaller consumption of fuel, than by the S'cotch
coal ; and the Hooshungabad coal was manifestly superior in keeping up steam
during the whole trial, although not in equal proportion; in consequence of
which, we observe that you have authorised the prosecution of further experi-
ments. We think it also particularly desirable that the coal from Hooshungabad
should be tried against the best samples of Llangennech and Lewis Cwm Vale
coals, as well as against the West Hartley coal lately consigned to you, in
order to ascertain their comparative merits as steam’ fuel; and we shall be
45
._ ,glad to learn the results. The Reports of the Committee for investigating
the coal and mineral resources of India, which reached us through the Go--
vernment of Bengal, represent the coal discovered by Major Cuseley near
Chikaly, in the district of Hooshungabad, and elsewhere on the banks of the
Nerbudda, to be of excellent quality, and inexhaustible quantity; but the
' distance of the beds of coal from the sea coast, and the natural diﬂiculties
presented by a portion of the intervening country, rendering the carriage of the
coal to Bombay very tedious, must make it expensive, and, we fear, operate as
a serious impediment to its being brought into extensive use as a steam fuel.

From Mr. J. H. CRAWFORD, Accountant General, Bombay,
To Licut. (301_ E, M, W001), Secy. to Govt, Marine Dept.‘ Bombay.
S Dated the 16th December l839.
1 IR,
I have had the honour to receive your letter of the 15th ultimo, 1Y0. l7 07,
requesting my opinion and report on the points noticed below, in order that it
may be ascertained whether it is practicable to supply this Presidency with
coal from the mines which are stated to abound in the Hooshungabad district.
lst.——The probable amount of coal consumed at Bombay per annum, in
steam navigation.
2nd.——T he expense incurred in providing the coal in question in round numbers.
Bruit—The price per ton, or, if possible, per maund of 80 lbs., in Bombay.
2. I request you will have the goodness to acquaint the Honorable the
Governor in Council, in reply, that I ﬁnd, on communicating with the Superin-
tendent of the Indian Navy, by whose professional experience I have been
desirous of correcting my own calculations on the ﬁrst point, that the quantity
of coal required for the use of the Bombay Presidency, in keeping up the steam-
packet communication with England by the Red Sea, tire supplies to Sue: and
Aden. included, cannot be estimated at less than 10,000 tons per annum ; but
that we have not been able to form any estimate at present of the further
quantity that may be required for general purposes when the steam-frigates
and other steam-vessels, in progress of completion for service, unconnected
with the steam-packet employment, shall be added to the strength of the
,steam establishment of this Government.
3. In respect to the ‘2nd point I may state, that taking the cost of the coal
free on board at Llanelly at lls. per ton, which
Prime cost of coal per appears to be the rate contracted for by the
ton at Llanelly 11s., , . .
at 93' pen-mime RS_ 5 8 0 Honorable the Court of Directors in Eng
Melt -------
19 810 land; freight at Rs. 19-8-10, as deduced
Landing charges at . .
Bombay in the fair from the statement of freight transmitted to
season. O 4 0 Government in my letter No. 44 to your

Total per ton“ Rs“ 55 4 10 address, of the 14th June last; and boat-hire
‘ at 4 annas per ton in the fair season (and 10
46
annas in the south-west monsoon), according to a memorandum furnished me ,
by the Commissary General on the 25th ultimo, we shall have Rs. 25-4-10 as
the cost of a ton of Llanelly coal alongside the wharf at Bombay. ‘
4. ‘In regard to the 3rd point, Iventure to believe that the new Indian maund
of 40 seers, equal to 825:1 lbs. avoirdupois, is the maund intended to be referred
to by Government, as there is not any maund of exactly 80 lbs. avoirdupois
in use in India that I am aware of; and in this belief I may add, that as the
English ton of 20 cwt., or 2,240 lbs._avoirdupois, contains 27.222 maunds, it
follows that a maund of Llanelly coal stands Government in 14 annas and 10
pics, or. say‘ in round numbers 15 annas per maund in Bombay, kamallaye
not ‘included, this last item having been omitted as unnecessary in the scale of
comparison between Llanelly and Hooshungahad coal, since that charge from
the wharf to the warehouse must be incurred in both cases, and will be the
same in each. .
I have, &c.
Bombay Castle, (Signed) J. H. CRAWFORD,
Accountant Genl.’s Ojﬁce, 16th Dec. 1839. Accountant General.

From the SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT, MARINE DEPT.,. Bombay,
To \V. HoRE, Esq., Assist. Commr. to the Saugor and Nerbudda Territory.’
Dated the 24th January 1840'.
“ SIR, .
1 am directed by the Honorable the Governor in Council to transmit to
you the accompanying copies of the letters which have been received by this
Government, in reply to calls, made with the view to elicit information as to
whether it is practicable to supply this Presidency with coal from the mines
which are stated to abound in the Hooshungahad districts.
‘ 2. As there appears to be much uncertainty about the means and cost of
conveyance by the river to Broach, the Honorable the Governor in Council is
desirous that it should be tested by a consignment of ﬁfty or a hundred tons.
The Sub—Collector of Broach will be put in communication with you, for the
purpose of making the best arrangements in your power for the conveyance of
the coal as far as may depend upon you, ‘and that oflicer will be directed to co-
operate with you in the arrangements that you may make.
3. To what extent it might be advisable to take advantage of the full state of
the river after the rains, will be for your consideration; but on this point I am
directed to observe, that the coal would be very much deteriorated if it were
exposed to the wet. The Governor in Council wishes, however, to leave you
entirely unshackled as to the time and manner of sending the experimental
consignment down the river, requiring only that all departments that can assist
shall do so to the utmost.
, I have, &c.
Bombay Castle, 24th Jan. 1840. (Signed) E. M. WooD, Secy. to Govt.
47‘
From the MILITARY BOARD, Bombay,
To Colonel the Hon. SIR GEoRGE ARTHUR, Bart., K.C.H.,
Governor and President in Council.
Dated the 18th July 1844.
HONORABLE SIR,
We have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of Secretary Lieutenant
Colonel Melvill’s letter No. 821, of the 2nd instant, relative to the coal in the
districts on the Nerbudda,---requesting us to take a full review of the subject,
and suggest such measures as may be requisite to elucidate or explain it;
but as we have not yet had the advantage of the information possessed by the
local authorities with whom we have been directed to correspond, we can only
observe, that if it be designed to reap the advantages of the mineral resources
in the districts alluded to by Major Ouseley, the most important point for
consideration appears to be the means of transport.
We are of opinion that the coal could not be proﬁtably brought to Bombay
except by means of a line of railroad, or by the Nerbudda river. A survey of
the Nerbudda was ordered in October l84l ; but in consequence of the ofﬁcers
appointed to ‘the duty being necessitated to proceed on ﬁeld service, ~its
prosecution was relinquished.
From a plan of the river compiled in 1840, which we beg to submit, there
appear to be serious obstructions to its navigation ; but these might pro-
'bably be/avoided by means of carriage along the banks of the river where the
obstructions exist._
With respect to a railroad, we are not aware of any obstacle to the construc-
‘tion of a railroad between the Presidency and Hooshungabad or J ubbulpore;
'but such an undertaking, to be worth the expense, involves considerations of
the general traffic of that line of country, of which we possess no means of
informing ourselves.
No coal, of a sufficiently good quality to work, exists in the Bombay Presi-
dency; that of Kutch proved a failure.
We have, &ic.
(Signed) D. BARR, Major General,
Military Auditor General.~
G. J ERVIS, Lt. Col. Comdt,
Chief Engineer.
"19’ ,, F. LESTER, Lieut. Colonel,
_ Member,'Military Board.
Bombay, Military Board Oﬁice, 18th July 1844.
7)
48
From Capt. SIR ROBERT OLIVER, R. N., Superintendent, Indian Navy,
To the Hon. GEoEGE RUssELL CLERK, President and Governor in Council.
Dated the 17th June 1847.
HonoRAELE SIR,
In forwarding the result of an experiment upon a sample of coal from the
Nerbudda, I also append a chemical analysis by Professor Giraud, very kindly
performed at my request: there is also a contrasted extract upon a small
quantity of coal from the Indus, obtained some few years back.
:1‘ he apparatus used in the Factory is but an imperfect one,--a small cylindrical
boiler, subject from its position to change/of atmosphere and draft of funnel,
from strength or lightness of the wind.
‘Vith all the apparent discrepancies, there is no doubt but this coal is a
valuable acquisition, and the more so if the result prove as favourable when used
in large furnaces and large quantities, which experience only can determine.'
I have, &c.
(Signed) RoBER'r OLIVER, Captain R. N.,
Superintendent, Indian N avy.-
From Professor GIRAUD, M.D., ‘\
To Sir R. OLIVER, R. N., Superintendent of the Indian Navy.
Sm, Dated the 126k J 2me,18'4'7.
I have the honour to forward the following results of my ‘examination of the
Nerbudda coal you sent me for analysis. It yields in 1000 parts—~—
Solid carbon . . . . . . . . . . . . 381.97
Gases . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 353.73
Incombustible ashes . . . . . . 2641.3

1000.
This composition affords so unfavourable an estimate of the coal, that I was
induced to make several repetitions of ‘the analysis; but as these all gave the
same results, with only a fractional difference, they may be relied on as correct.
On comparing the above with the composition of British coal, and with
that from the Atto’ck which I examined three years ago, it will be found to
differ from them in two important respects—“181$, in its small proportion of solid
carbon, on which the heating power of coals nkainly depends ; and Qwtdhin the
large amount of its incombustible ashes, which‘ constitute its greatest defect.
I have, &c. ~
(Signed) HERBERT GIRAUD, M.D.,
Professor of Chemistry, Grant Medical College.
Grant Medical College, 12m June 1847. ~ '
49
REPORT BY COMMITTEE APPOINTED TO TEST IN THE STEAM FAC-
TORY, BOMBAY DOCKYARD, SPECIMENS OF THE NERBUDDA COAL.
Experimental Trial of Government Standard Europe Coal.
Time in getting up steam ‘. . . . . . . . . . . . 60 m.
Coal consumed in that period . . . . . . . . , , 56 1133,
Time in evaporating 32 gallons of water . . . . . . . . 30 m,
Coal consumed in that period . . . . . . . . . . 32 lbs.
Experimental Trial of Coal said to have been sent from the Nerbudda.
First T rial. '
Time in getting up steam . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 m.
Coal consumed in that period . . . . . . . . . . 77 lbs.
Time in evaporating 37 gallons of water . . . . . . . . 30 m.
Coal consumed in that period . . . . . . . . . . 34 lbs.
Second Trial.
Time in getting up steam . . . . . . . . .2. . . . 36 m,
Coal consumed in that period . . . . t . . . . . 77 lbs.
Time in evaporating 32 gallons of water . . . . . . . . 30 m,
Coal consumed in that period . . . . . . . . . . _ 26 lbs.
Third Experimental Test of the Zverlmdda Coal.
Time in getting up steam . . . . . . 39 m.
Coal consumed in that period 5 Per Welght ' ' ' ' 66 lbs-
lper measurement . . 2,597 cub. ins.
In one-half hour’s subsequent steaming, the quantity of
water evaporated was . . - - . - - - - - 28 gals.
. . in weight . . . . . . 28 lbs.
With an expenditure of coal g D . .
I by measurement . . . . 1,039 cub. ins.
At the close of the trial the following residue remained, viz :—
per weight . . . . . . . . 11 lbs.
l per measurement . .' . . . . 825 cub. ins.
' . ' ~ht .. .. -- .. lbS
Ab th b § per weig "
(We 6 ars l per measurement . . . . - - 1,021 Cub’ ins‘
Below the bars
Experimental Test of best Government Coal.
Time in getting up steam . . . . 38 m.
. . er weight . . . . 82 lb".
Coal consumed in that period. P a n b .
per measurement . . 3,040 cub. ms.
In one-half hour’s subsequent steaming, the water evapo—
rated was. . . . . . . . . . . . 33 gals
. . in wci Yht. . . . . . 23 l s.
With an expenditure of coals g’ b .
- ‘l by measurement . . . . 822 cub. ins.
7n
50
At the close of the trial the following residue remained, viz :~--~
. f in weight . . . . 18 lbs.
Below the bars I by measurement . . 1,039 cub. ins. '
in Weight . . . . 9% lbs.
Above the bars by measurement 920 cub. ins.
(Signed) A. CURsE'raEn,
Chief Engr. and Insp. of Mach.
,, D. MACLAREN,
Asst. Chief Engr. & Insp. of Mach.
,, J. INGLIS,
Foreman of the Vice-erecting Shop. ‘
Steam Factory, 16th June 1847.
NOTE BY‘ COMMANDER LYNCH.
I attended these experiments, and am. of opinion, that the Nerbudda coal is
a very good coal for general steam purposes. It gets up steam quickly, and
burns with a clear flame, leaving scarcely any clinker on the bars, and not
more than a fair proportion of ash. It is not equal to the best Government
coal, but not much inferior for steam purposes.
(Signed) H. B. LYNCH, Commander I. N.
16th June 1847.
l I

‘From R.’N. C. HAMILTON, Esq., Resident at Indore,
To J. G. LUMSDEN, Esq., Secretary to Government, Bombay.
Dated Camp Sonadelz, 1st February 1848.
SIR,
I have the honour to report, that having reached the vicinity where coal
Was said to exist, in company with Mr. Johnsto'ne, I examined the bed of the
stream in which it Was said to be, and found it in three separate places.
2. Enclosed I have the honour to submit a copy of my instructions to
Mr. Johnstone, Lieutenant Evans, and Lieutenant Keatinge, and to add that
I shall, as soon as I am in possession of sufficient information, report further
for the information of His Honor in Council.
I have, &c.
R.- N. C. I'IAMILTON,
Resident.
(Signed)
Indore Residency, Camp Sonadek, lst February 1848.
51
INSTRUCTIONS ALLUDED TO‘ IN THE FOREGOING LETTER, ISSUED
BY THE RESIDENT AT INDORE FOR THE GUIDANCE OF MR.
JOHNSTONE.
Dated Camp Sonadek, lst February 1848.
Having now reached the place where coal exists, and visited the spot with
you to-day, I think the following instructions may be useful, to enable you to
carry out the intention and object of your deputation at my request from
Bombay :— "
lst.—-You will examine the coal-ﬁeld at this place, with a view to ascer-
t'aining the extent of the coal basin, the dip, the superﬁcial limits of the
outcrop, whether limestone, iron, or any other object of interest that may
be in connection with it; and such other points of information which your
experience may suggest.
2nd—You will endeavour to form an estimate of the expense at which the
coal may‘ be brought to the surface; by what process,—whether any
machines will be required ; and you will state what means, in your
opinion, will be best suited to dig the coal, and bring it to the mouth of
the pit.
3rcl.—-You will adopt measures to have 500 maunds of coal dug at once,
and brought to the surface at a convenient site for loading : funds will be
supplied you; but you must be careful in seeing every payment made,
and every claim of workmen satisﬁed.
Having done what may be necessary to give effect to the above instructions,
you will then proceed to examine for coal at other points, bearing in mind
that the nearer the coal is found to the Nerbudda, the more easily and cheaply
it can be transported to Bombay; and for this reason I would direct your
research towards Asseerghur, and if practicable to Beejaghur near Sindwah,
Bawurguy near Burwye, and so to the Hurun Pall, where the Satpoora range
joins the Nerbudda.
You had better keep a journal, and daily insert whatever you may do. This
rough journal can afterwards be transcribed at Indore, where you will come on
having completed the inquiries.
If time will admit, you should examine the iron mine near Chandgur
Bauglee ; and the copper near Kautkot, on the right bank of the Nerbudda, from
specimens of the ore; and searching for coal in its vicinity, shouldthere be
any indication of its existence.
Wherever you may ﬁnd coal, you should dig a certain quantity, and store it,
to form a depﬁt; making inquiries in each case as to the dip, extent of basin,
&c., and noting the particulars with accuracy in your journal. _ Such coal-ﬁeld
should bear the name of the nearest large village, or the name of the Pur-
guna. You will intimate to Lieutenant Keatinge where the several depﬁts
may be formed, and he will adopt measures to transport the coal to the river.
52
To enable you to pay work-people, I make over to you a sum of Rs’. 300,
_ _ and have made arrangements for your being supplied
mlfiiuggggttyEggﬁ’m with ‘money on your receipt through the local~ officers
Sioner at Baitool; De- marginally noted, who Wlll attend you.,
Iﬁggslg‘illgggsiloner at You will keep me informed of your proceedings,_by
sending me weekly a prospectlve statement, showing
where you may be likely to be found in the ‘event of my having anything to
communicate to you.
I hope every arrangement has been made to facilitate your inquires : if you
should need any further assistance, or ﬁnd the Native establishments not alert or
attentive, you will at once address Captain Spence, Lieutenant Ternan at
Baitool, or Lieutenant Evans, as the case may be, and I have no doubt you
will meet with every attention.
I need not point out to you the importance of the inquiries entrusted to you:
I am satisﬁed your zeal and ambition will prompt you to every exertion; and
I shall have the greatest pleasure in bringing your services to the notice of the
Government of Bombay, and of Sir Robert Oliver. All your correspondence
regarding coal, or the object of your mission, must pass through me.
(Signed) R. N. C. HAMILTON,
Resident.
From R. N. C. HAMILTON, Esq, Resident at Indore,
To Lieutenant H. L. EVANS, Political Assistant in Nimar.
Dated Camp Sonadeh, 1st February 1848.
SIR, '
I have the honour to forward to you copies of the following papers :—
Letter of Instructions, No. 173, of this date, addressed to Lieutenant
Keatinge ; and Instructions addressed to Mr. A. Johnstone, No. 174.
2. You will see that to Mr. Johnstone is assigned the duty of searching
for, and‘ examining into the coal-ﬁelds ‘between this place and Where the Sat-
poora hills meet the Nerbudda at the Hurun Pall; and that to Lieutenant
Keatinge is entrusted the bringing the coal from the pit to Dharee on the
Nerbudda, where it is to be stored, and a depét formed. ‘
3. Your late trip down the Nerbudda will enable you to make arrange—
ments, by collecting boats of all sizes, &cl previous to the opening of the river,
so as to facilitate the transport of the coal to Tullukwara, or the place 'where'
sea-going craft can come from Broach.
4. It occurs to me, that the coal may be moved from Dharee before
the rains to the Hurun Pall rapids, by contract with the river boatmen
at Oonkar, Mundlaisir, and Mhysir; and I request your attention to this
point. ‘
53
'5. At some of the rapids or'falls, it may be necessary to have blocks,
‘ ropes, &c. &c., and other appliances stored, to prevent delay, and the expense“
of supplying every boat with separate gear; and you will take this subject into
immediate consideration, with a view to having all prepared by the time the
coal may be moved to Broach.
6. As the services of an efficient Superintendent under your orders will
be required for this duty, and as there is a call for such assistance in seeing
the coal properly laden and dispatched from the pits, you are authorised to
engage, as a temporary arrangement, Mr. Fenwick, of whose ﬁtness you are
satisﬁed, on a monthly salary of Rs. lOO,—-his pay to commence from the
date he may reach Hindea, where instructions for his future guidance will
await him.
7. All expenses and charges on account of this experiment, whether
incurred by Mr. J ohnstone, or by Lieutenant Keatinge, or by yourself, must
be met by advances from your treasury; and the accounts, headed “Coal
Experiment,” must be separately kept in your office, and transmitted to me
for adjustment.
8. It will be necessary for you to keep your communication open with Mr.
Johnstone whilst occupied in his inquiries; and that the local officers under the
hills, and all persons, be required to afford him every assistance, and to attend
without demur to all requisitions he may make on them.
I have, &c.
(Signed) R. N. C. HAMILTON,
‘ Resident.
From R. N. C. HAMILTON, Esq, Resident at Indore,
To Lieutenant KEATINGE, Nimar.
Dated Camp Sonadeh, lst February 1848.
SIR,
It having been determined that you should be associated with Mr. A.
J ohnstone in place of Lieutenant Evans, whose services cannot be digpensed
with in Nimar, I request you will join him as soon as you have completed the
_ examination of the Nerbudda between Hindea and the Dharee falls. I beg
your attention to the following observations :—
2. By a perusal of the annexed copy of instructions delivered to Mr.
J ohnstone, you will see that the search for coal, and the inquiries connected
with the coal, fbrm his especial duties; whilst those entrusted to you will be
the transport of the coal from the pit to Dharee, on the Nerbudda, where a
depbt is to be formed.
' 3. You will therefore, as soon as possible, collect carriage for the trans-
port of coal from hence to Hooshungabad, on the Nerbudda,—~the nearest road
_ being at present through the Kaislah Ghat.
it
54
4. You’ will therefore move to Hooshungahad whenever you- think it
desirable; and you will collect as many boats of all sizes as may be procurable
for hire, and proceed with them to Dharee, taking in coal as you pass. Should
it be found nearer to send the coal to any village on the bank, you must make
the best arrangements you can (as to hire) with the boatmen ; and you will
endeavour to make the cost eventually as small as possible, though at ﬁrst you
may be forced to pay high to induce people to venture on a new speculation :
however, I am given to understand that the Bunjaras will convey it from this
at 4 annas a maund to the river.
5. It will depend upon the means of transport that you may procure how
long it will take you to convey the coal to Dharee; and you will yourself
remain where you may think your services can be most advantageously
employed.
6. You will have the goodness to draw on Mundlaisir for any money you
may require; and you will be careful to keep your accounts distinct and clear,
that the exact cost of the experiment, as far as you are concerned, may readily
be settled.
'7. Of course you will keep in constant communication with Mr. Johnstone
when he. moves on to prosecute his search, so that you may be able to arrange
for the transport of coal from any other places he may raise it.
8. It will be proper to keep distinct the coal of each separate pit.
9. Having collected all the coal at the depbt at-Dharee, it will be moved,
on the opening of the river, towards Broach; for which arrangements must be
made by you in communication with Lieutenant Evans, who has been
separately addressed by me, and who may possibly be able to get the coal ,
moved to Chikulda, or to the Hurun Pall, by contract, as soon as you report
a sufficient quantity collected at Dharee.
10.‘ As there will be a great need of efficient supervision, I have directed
Mr. Fenwick to proceed as soon as possible to this place, to act under orders
he will receive from you; and you will employ him in the raising and transport
of the coal.
11. I need not urge you to afford Mr. Johnstone any assistance in your
powertowards carrying out the objects of his inquiry; and I am satisﬁed he
will receive from you that cordial co-operation 'so essential to carry out with
success this most interesting and important experiment.
12. A copy of my letter No. 172, of this date, to Lieutenant Evans, is
enclosed for your information.
i I have, &c. -
(Signed) R. N. o. HAMILTON,
Resident.
Indore Residency, Camp Sonade/z, lst February 1848.‘
55
From R. N. C. IIAMILTON, Esq, Resident at Indore,
1
To the SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT, Bombay.
S Dated Indore Residency, 26th February 1848.
IR,’
By my despatch No. 171, dated 1st instant, the Honorable the Governor in.
Council was informed that Mr. J ohnstone had joined my camp, and of my
intention to proceed direct to the locality near which coal had been found.
On the 2nd February I reached Bhodur, a J ageer village in the Baitool
district, situated in the range of hills between the Nerbudda and Taptee.
The road from Sindwah Ghat to Nundwara, the foot of the hills, by the
route given below, was good and easy for every description of carriage :-—-‘
Sindwah to J eelwand . . . . . . . . . . 16% miles.
Woon. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .s... 18.1; ,,
Khurgaon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 ,,
Bhikungong . . . . . . . . lO ,,
Sirwul . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12% ,,
Khundwa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .' 14s ,,
Bhamgheer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112 ,,
Chainpore . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162 ,,
Charnah . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195 ,,
Messenging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15g ,,
Timbornee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 ,,
Seonee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18$ ,,
Nundwara . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 ,,
Bhodur. . - . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 ,,
Sonadeh coal~ﬁeld . . . . . . . . . . . . 105 ,,
The pass from Nundwara was hardly practicable for wheel carriages of
any description, but there was nothing to prevent a road of easy slope being
constructed at the two or three points where alone any impediment occurred.
From Bhodur to Sonadeh, 10% miles, the path was through a continuous
tree jungle, level, and good. Carts are not used by any of the Goond or
Koorkoo villages, but'they might be introduced; and as the soil is good, could
travel at all seasons.
Sonadeh contains seven huts, and belongs to Toonia Patel, who pays Rs. 5
a year to the J ageerdar of Bhodur, within whose; limits it is situated.
About half a mile from the village is the nulla called Bowreie, a mountain
torrent in the rains; the bed was deep sand, with pools of water here and thefe.
In the left bank, under a layer of sandstone (where the stream had scoured
away the sand), coal was seen cropping out. Here it was that Colonel Ouseley
had discovered it; and not far from this spot, higher up, Mr. Conybeare
. had excavated the coal sent by me last year to Bombay, the experimental trial
of which was sent to me with your despatch No. 961, dated 17th July last.
56
In communication with Mr. Johnstone, I determined that he should at once
conune'nce work. Toonia Patel and his two sons, with three more men, were
all we could collect in the neighbourhood: these, with some Bildars belonging
to my camp (being supplied with tools I had brought), soon cleared away the
sand, and laid bare the seam. On excavating, we found that the coal seam
was 20 inches thick; that the angle was 75°, and lay between two layers of
shale, each 4 inches thick, embedded in sandstone: the upper stratum was
coarse-grained, and soft, 30 feet to the surface of the land; the lower was coarse-
grained, and hard.
The coal we raised burnt well, without refuse, and was pronounced by
Mr. Johnstone to be equal to the main coal of Scotland, and perfectly adapted
for use in Bombay.
This result determined me to raise at least 20 tons (from 500 to 600
maunds), and I set to collect workmen for this purpose. ~Meanwhile Mr.
J ohnstone proceeded to survey the neighbourhood, so as to form an opinion
of the probable extent of the basin.
I think I am safe in stating that the basin extends throughout the space
enclosed by the surrounding hills, and may be estimated at 15 miles by 20 ;
but as I shall hereafter furnish a detailed report on this branch of the subject,
I propose conﬁning myself for the present to noticing what has been done,
and what may be assumed as the cost of raising and transporting the coal
under present circumstances.
As soon as I had put'everything in train, I was compelled to leave Mr.
Johnstone, being obliged to return to Indore. I had intended leaving Mr.
Keatinge with Mr. Johnstone; but that ofﬁcer’s services were not available,
and after his examination of the Nerbudda I directed him to return to his
proper duties in Nimar.
‘Vhilst with Mr. .Iohnstone, very material assistance was rendered to me
by Ensign Edwards, of the 49th N. I., Adjutant of the lVIalwa Contingent,
who commanded my escort, and by Mr. Sub—Assistant Surgeon Tranter;
indeed, without the aid rendered by these two officers, our difficulties would
have been much greater, as the presence of an European was found to be
absolutely necessary whilst the mining was going on, the Natives being-
ignorant of the mode of working the seam, and the nature of the work giving
cause to apprehend slips; indeed one occurred, which at ﬁrst was alarm-
ing,--one man was buried under a large rock, which came down suddenly
whilst we were at the pit, and but for our presence, most probably the
delay in extricating the sufferer would have proved fatal; as it was, by our
joint exertions he was get out, and immediately attended to by Dr.
Tranter, who found severe contusions on the legs, and bruises on the body;
and by applying the proper remedies I am happy to say the man has quite
recovered.
The panic thus created amongst the Natives nearly put a stop to the work:
three only appeared the next morning,—--the Patel and his sons. However,
57
Mr. Johnstone’s personal exertions, and our encouragement, restored con-
‘ﬁdence, and workmen were after a few days as abundant as ever.
It being impossible for me to leave Ensign Edwards or Dr. Tranter, and
having no one else available, I was constrained to send for Captain Fenwick,
late in the Nizam’s service, in whose knowledge of the country, of the Natives,
and of the customs of the merchants, I had full conﬁdence; and I offered to
him a salary of Rs. 100 per mensem, to cover his expenses.
Captain Fenwick at once came from Indore, and joined Mr. Johnstone;
and, under my instructions, upon him devolved the arrangements for transport—
ing the coal from the pit. '
Mr. J ohnstone has reported that 20 tons have been raised; and Captain
Fenwick that he has engaged with Bunjaras at Seonee, with whom I had
commenced negotiations, to convey that amount to Dharee, on the Nerbudda,
for 5 Nagpore rupees per manee of 12 maunds of 40 seers each. By this the
coal will cost on the bank of the Nerbudda at Dharee something under 7 annas
per maund.
From Dharee to the Hurun Pall it can be conveyed by water, before the
rainy season, at a cost of 2 annas a maund, making the total cost to the
* Hurun Pall 9 annas a maund.
Thence to Tullukwara, or the point at which one of the Government
lighters from Bombay can come, the cost may be 2 annas, or even 3 annas more
per maund; so that for 12 annas a maund, or Rs. 21'a ton, the Nerbudda
coal is now available to the Government.
I shall be. obliged by instructions whether I shall raise any more coal at the
pit, and what quantity. \Vork at the pit can be carried on till June next, and
the coal brought to Dharee, on the Nerbudda: after that date, or the setting
in of the rains, there may be difficulty; but as it will be impossible to work
the coal from the bed of the river, I requested Mr. Johnstone to sink a common
shaft, and he informs me that he has commenced on one, but details have not
yet reached me.
Mr. J ohnstone has froni the ﬁrst evinced a zeal, intelligence, and personal
activity most creditable to him, and without which I could not have carried
out the inquiries now reported. To Captain Fenwick, also, my acknowledg—
ments are due, for the successful manner in which he has carried out my views
in making the contracts with the Bunjaras.
s
I have, &c.
(Signed) R. N. C. HAMIL'roN,
Resident.
Indore Residency, 26th February 1848.
8::
58
From R. N. C. HAMILTON, Esq, Resident at Indoref
To the SECRETARY T0 GOVERNMENT, Bombay.
Dated Indore Residency, 2nd March 1848.
SIR, _
In continuation of my despatch No. 300, dated 26th ultimo, I have the
honour to forward, for submission to the Honorable the Governor in Council,
the annexed copy of a letter from Mr. A. Johnstone, replying to queries
addressed by me to him regarding the ‘coal at Sonadeh.
I have, &c.
(Signed) R. N_. C. HAMILTON,
Indore Residency, 2nd March 1848. Resident.
From Mr. A. J OHNSTONE,
To R. N. C. HAMILTON, Esq. , Resident at Indore.
Dated Camp Sonadeh, 25th February 1848.
SIR,
In answer to your letter of the 13th ultimo, I have the honour to submit to
you the result of my inquiries on the Sonadeh coal. I have seen it in several
places in the Bohra river, and had a sketch, marking the places where it is
exposed, and shall give you the measurements I have taken at three of the
best of the places. The ﬁrst I shall notice is the place where Colonel Ouseley
raised some coal eight or nine years ago,——on the sketch it is ﬁrst, marked »A:
sandstone 12 feet; shale 11 inches; coal 6 inches ; shale 11 inches; coal '7
inches; shale 4 inches, B, is a place where I had~opened a few days ago; the
measurements—sandstone 20 feet; clay 3 inches; loose shale 11 inches; coal
6 inches; shale, very hard, and mixed 'with sand, 4 inches; coal 14 inches;
shale 8 inches. C, is the mine we have been raising the coal from for the
present experiment: sandstone 30 feet; shale 4 inches; coal 18 inches; shale
4 inches. All the places at which I have seen coal in the Bohra river, I have
marked with cross lines in the sketch.
2. The Quality of the Coed—It seems to me a very good coal for marine
purposes, and in that I am borhe out by the Coal Committee’s Report on
the same coal in the Bombay Dockyard, where they had every means of
ascertaining its real value. Its speciﬁc gravity is 1.392, as taken‘ from
the mine.
3. The coal lies in a northerly direction, and at an angle of from 8° to
lO°,--a very convenient angle to work.
4. The Thickness of the Seam.—-You will see,r from the dimensions given,
that it varies in thickness from 6 to 19 inches.
59
5. The best Mode for Working, it seems to me, is to have a number of
shafts put down, and from the bottom work from all the four sides, driving a
roadway 4 feet high by 3),; feet wide, and subdivide it into rooms or galleries.
However, that will be much better determined on after seeing the coal at the
bottom of the shafts, and the appearance of the roof, and whether there is
likely to ,be any difficulty in ventilating the mine, or any appearance of
explosive gas.
6. The Transmission of the Coal to Bombay—In this lies the greatest
difﬁculty: at present the Bunjaras are rather indifferent about taking the coal
at all; but a few trips would cure them I suppose. Mr. Fenwick has made an
arrangement to have the coal taken from here to Dharee for 5 Nagpore rupees
per manee, or at the rate of Rs. 13 per ton. Carts seem to me better adapted
for the work, and there are only about three miles of the road by Sewnee
impracticable for carts : an outlay of four or ﬁve thousand rupees would make
a good road all the way, when the price might be brought down, perhaps to .
one-half even, by the Bunjaras. The price we pay now ought not to be taken
as a ﬁxed rate, if the coal were worked on a large scale, perhaps 2,000 tons
per month. The Bunjaras would have a return cargo of grain and other
necessaries for the workmen; one bullock-cart, with four bullocks, would
carry a ton, and make two trips per month, and at the rate of Rs. 4 per
bullock would be Rs. 8 per ton. The expense from Dharee to Bombay must
be answered after the ﬁrst cargo goes down the river.
7. The Expense of Digging and Carrying away the Coal—At present it is
8 annas or 9 annas per ton. One man can dig 13 maunds per day with ease,
and one man is sufficient to carry away the coal from two; and they are
paid at the rate of 2 annas per day,——that is, 6 annas for 26 maunds of
80 lbs. each.
8. The Extent of the Coal Basin—This is a question that will require
some time before any correct idea can be formed. If I may judge from the
outward appearance of the country, it is very probable the coal extends all
over the basin between the hills, which is about 20 miles by 14. I have been
round the greater part of it, but have not as yet seen coal in any other river
than the Bohra. I would here recommend the propriety of putting down a
number of bores, not only to ascertain the extent of the seam of coal we have
just been working, but to ascertain the strata to be found below; and if the
sites are carefully selected, a very correct idea may be formed of the whole
basin. There is a well at Dharee at present nearly full of water,—in the month
of May it is nearly dry: Ihave directed Mr. Fenwick to examine it, and
see if there is any appearance of coal. It is about 50 feet deep. There is
another at Bohra, also nearly full of water: that also I have requested him
to see when it gets dry, and bring away a specimen of the rocks passed
through. I attach a good deal of importance to the putting down of
some bores, as recommended above: upon that will depend, in a great
measure, the value of that basin. You will see by the dimensions I
60
‘have given that we shall ﬁnd the coal very unequal in thickness, like all other
.
surface coal.
9. I am not prepared at present to give anything like an estimate of the
machinery necessary: that will depend a great deal on the quantity of water.
I should think, for the present experiment, that one pair of bullocks, and the
common frame used for drawing water from the Wells, would suit all require
ments: the expense of putting down shafts will be better ascertained after
we get the present one ﬁnished, which is going on rapidly. Should anything
else appear to me worthy of being brought to your notice, I shall not fail to
write you before leaving this. There is one great difﬁculty we labour under
at ‘present, that is the price of the grain, which would be overcome if the
works were carried on, on a large scale. It sells here about 30 per cent.
higher than at Sewnee, although the distance is only about 30 miles, and causes
a great deal of discontent among the workmen.
I have, &c.
Camp Sonadeh, 25th February 1848. ‘ (Signed) A. J oHNs'roNE.

From R. N. C. HAMILTON, Esq, Resident at Indore,
To the SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT, Bombay. *
SIR’ Dated 3rd .March 1848.
I have the honour to submit a Report from Mr. A. J ohnstone, in which he
notices having found another coal-ﬁeld, at Mardanpore, the seam of which is
2 feet 4 inches. The angle is great (20°), but the coal Mr. J olmstone con~
siders superior. It is situated still further from the plain of the Valley of the
Nerbudda, and from Dharee, the place of embarkation, than Sonadeh.
I now beg to submit an estimate of the probable cost of working one shaft,
and the probable out—turn; and to solicit the orders of the Honorable the
Governor in Council, whether operations shall be continued or suspended.
The cost of working one shaft for twelve months will be Rs. 6,364; the
out-turn is estimated at 10,920 tons of coal; which would give a rate of about
9 :1, annas per ton, or about an anna for 3 maunds. '
It will be impossible to depend upon the Bunjaras for the transport when
the working is large: in the ﬁrst place, daily loading and unloading would
break the coal ; and in the second, it would ‘be found cheaper to cut the road
where bad, and to have carts. '
The road need only be made an easy fair—weather track, such as a four~
bullock cart with a ton of coal could travel. .
I have traversed the country, and speak conﬁdentlyf—ithat there is nothing
to prevent carts being employed, except just in the height of the rains, from
Sonadch to Dharee, on the Nerbudda, where, I am of opinion, the coal should
61
be stored, and ﬂoated down the river as far as possible, which in the rains may
be, below Tullukwara, to where the sea-going craft may be able to come up, and
up to April as far as the Hurun Pall, from whence carts, I apprehend, would
be found the cheapest carriage.
An estimate of the cost of carriage must at best be guess-work, until actual
experiment affords certain data.
A four-bullock cart, at the rate of Rs. 4 a month per bullock, would be
. Rs. 16; and this for two trips per mensem would make the carriage of the coal
Rs. 8 per ton, and the total cost on the river bank Rs. 8—9-4 per ton; to add
for the carriage to Hurun Pall Rs. 6 per ton, and Rs. 5 thence to the sea,‘will
make the'coal Rs. 20 a ton; but it must be borne in mind that the carts and
boats will make something in the return trips, and that when an organized
system of communication is established, and a return hire obtained, the cost
of the coal will be reduced-
I shall, therefore, be obliged by instructions for my future guidance.
If operations are carried on, Mr. A. J ohnstone must be directed to remain
at Sonadeh, and his salary determined. He will require two assistants,-——one,
Captain Fenwick, on a salary of Rs. 200 a month; another on Rs. 200, to
superintend the depéts at Dharee and Hurun Pall,-—with less than this number
. the work could not be properly superintended; and a Native establish—
ment of three Karkoons on Rs. 20 each (Rs. 60), and ten Chuprasees on
Rs. 40,--in all Rs. 100,——'will also be required. A Native Doctor should
be added. ' '
I need not point out the advantages which will result from the port of
Bombay being independent of foreign supply for its coal, or the profit to the
country by the expenditure of capital in the very centre of adense, unin-
habited, though fertile tract. Sooner or later a railway must extend from
Bombay to Delhi: its ﬁrst portion will be to the Nerbudda, which must be
crossed, I think, at the Dharee falls, the locality and bed of the river being
peculiarly favourable at that place.
The entire bed of the river is basalt: the stream, after passing over near a
mile of this hard surface, precipitates itself down a chasm cut in the basalt
bed about 40 feet, as I have endeavoured to describe in an accompanying
sketch; then forces itself round the hard basalt through a passage about 50
yards wide, the sides of which are precipitous basalt ;—over this a bridge
could be thrown with ease. Hence, by the Bauglee Ghat, the ascent to the
table—land of Malwa can, I think, be attained at a favourable gradient, as far,
at least, as my examination enabled me to judge.
The finest iron ‘in this part of the country, not very inferior to the black main
of Scotland, abounds on the‘right bank of the N erbudda, in the vicinity of
Dharee, at Chandgur, Kautkot, and along the lower hills. Specimens of
this I procured on the spot; and I will take an early opportunity of send~
ing them, with those of the coal, shale, &c., to the Asiatic Society’s
Museum in Bombay.
62
I have just had a Report from Mr. Fenwick, by which His Honor in
Council will be able to ‘appreciate some of the difficulties We have‘ to overcome
in getting the Natives to take up a new trade, or assist in carrying out the
experiment.
I have, &c.
(Signed) R. N. C. HAMILTON,
Resident.

_From Mr. A. JOHNSTONE,
To R. N. C. HAMILTON, Esq., Resident at Indore.
S Dated Camp Mardanpore, 28th February 1848.
IR,
Just as I was starting from Sonadeh for this place, the daybefore yesterday
at 3 P. M., the Bunjaras arrived (300). There is plenty of coal to load the
whole of them. I expect by the time I get over to Sonadeh, this morning,
that the coal will be off. I have seen the coal here: it lies at a very great
angle (20°), and in the direction of north-west ; the thickness is 2 feet 4 inches,
and its speciﬁc gravity is 1.229. It seems to me superior to the Sonadeh coal, ,
if I may judge from its appearance. On my way to this place—about two miles
from Bohra, and in the bed of the river Sookee; about 100 yards from its
jiinction with the Towah river—I saw some more coal, but very thin,——only
3 inches thick, and not regular. I received the account of the boring tools
being on their way to Sewnee. I shall send off for them to be sent on to Sona-
deh, and mark a couple of places for Mr. Fenwick to put down bores. I should
like to have remained here, to have seen a fair commencement made; but .that I
camiot do, seeing the extent of country you wish me to visit before the month
of May. However, I shall explain to Mr. Fenwick how to proceed with the
boring operations. I have made the shaft at Sonadeh large enough to admit
of a pair of pumps, in the event of the water being too much for bullock-
power. There is a small high-pressure engine lying in store in the Bombay
Dockyard: it was made for the purpose of instructing the apprentice boys;
and I think the Government gave permission for the experiment to be tried,
but not to exceed Rs. 800; so, if it was required here, they could not charge
more for it than that sum. It is about 10 horse—power, and about 2 tons in
weight without the boiler, which would be another 3 or 4 tons. It has got
pumping apparatus,—-—6-inch pumps, and 18-inch stroke,--made for Aden ; but
was rejected on account of their taking up 10 feet of room, when the well was
only 2 feet diameter. However, we must ﬁrst consider what a pair of good
strong bullocks can do. I annex an estimate I have prepared of the probable
expense of working one pit. ‘
I remain, &c.
Camp Mardanpore, 28th February 1848. (Signed) A. J OHNSTONE.
63
Estimate alluded to in the preceding Letter.
Bullock-power 5 cwt. raised 601bs. per min. 100 miners, at Rs. 4 each per

60 ' month. . .. . . H . . Rs. 4,800
--—-- - 10 men keeping the roads in
300 repair below, at Rs. 4 each. 480
5 hours constant work. 10 men for stowing away the
coal at the top of the pit,
20) 1,500 Rs. 3 each .. .. .. .. 360
2 Native overseers, at Rs. 10
75 tons total weight per day. each .. .. .. . . .. 240
1, smith, at Rs. 8 per month.. 96
Water 5,600 gals. = 25 tons, to be sub- 1 carpenter’ at do‘ do' - - , 96
' ' 1 bellows-man, at Rs. 4 .. 48
tracted from 35, the remainder is 2 bullocks, at RS. 4 Per month. 96
5O 1 driver, at Rs. 4 per month. 48
__ 10 rubbish. Interest on Rs. 2,000 for tools,
__ &c. at 5 per cent. . .. . . 100
40 "'—
lOOmenSaS'each 5 Total. . RS. 6,364
I
_—
35 tons of coal per day.
26 working days per
--—- [month
210
70
910 -
12
10,920 tons of coal.
' I have calculated the shaft at 60 feet deep,-—-it may be 10 feet more or less;
and the water, too, is a guess, I think, on the safe side: all the other items
are sure calculations. This amount would, I think, be sufﬁcient to work
one pit; and the cost is rather more than 9 annas per ton. It would be
necessary to have a European who understood coal working for a couple of
years, to get the colliery properly set going. This calculation is after there is
roadway for 100 men to work; the ﬁrst six months, of course, the amount of
35 tons of coal per day could not be raised.
_ (Signed) A. J OHNSTONE.

From Captain R. H. FENWICK,
To R. N. C. HAMILTON, Esq., Resident, Indore.
Dated Sonadeh, 28th February 1848.
SIR, -
In continuation of my letter of the 24th instant from Sewnee, I regret to
have to ac uaint you that the Bunjaras whom I had engaged at that place,
and who arrived here the day before yesterday, on seeing the coal, at once
64
refused unconditionally to take it up, without any reference to the terms of
their agreement; declaring that their bullocks would be destroyed by the
pricking of the sharp points of the large pieces. Nevertheless, Ihad four sacks
ﬁlled, in which not more_than ‘two pukka maunds could be stowed away; but
when they were placed on the backs of the bullocks, two of them laid down,
and all threw their loads down. It became apparent that, in the shape the
sacks assumed when ﬁlled, the least thing would throw them off. However,
imagining it to be the trick of the Bunjaras, I" insisted on the performance of
their engagement; and after an altercation of the whole day, towards the
evening they consented to take about 300 maunds, with the view of loading their
bullocks with less than 2 maunds each, when they started another impediment,
that they would not, under any consideration, agree to unload in the manner I
pointed out,-—-that is, by lifting the sacks from the backs of the cattle, and
placing them carefully on the‘ ground, so as to prevent the pieces of coal from
breaking, turning almost into powder by being roughly thrown down, accord-
ing to the usual practice with grain, cotton, &c. This objection on their part
I have not been able to overcome, and the Naik has absented himself without
intimation. The tone assumed by the Bunjaras induces me to believe that it
will be difﬁcult to induce them to carry the coal at all, at any rate so as to
secure its delivery at Dharee in the state necessary to render it of any value.
I have deemed it proper to lay the above before you, for your consideration
and future orders. Should I, however, succeed in making the Bunjaras abide
by their agreement, and secure the object desired, of placing the coal at
Dharee in a proper condition, I shall at once take advantage of it, and address
you promptly on the subject.
1am not prepared, from such information as I possess at present, to say
whether it would be practicable to employ carts; but I fear not at a rate to
bring the cost within the limits pointed out in your instructions. They could
only be loaded at Nundwara, to which place pack-bullocks would have to be
employed; and the difficulties and impediments abovementioned would thus
far still exist. The hire of a four‘bullock cart from Sewnee to Indore is 12
Nagporeirupees, and the load 20 pukka maunds. What it would be from
hence to Nundwara I am unable to form an opinion just now. I beg leave
respectfully to add here, that the want of a I-Iindee writer prevents my com-
municating with, and procuring assistance and information from, the. Native
authorities at Sewnee, Shahpoor, and other places. i ‘
The Bunjaras now here declared their intention of taking the route by
Bordah and Sewnee, declining the one by Pophlia, Sungasun, and Hurda,
decidedly. '
As soon as I am enabled to come to a deﬁnite conclusion with the
Bunjaras, I shall have the honour of addressing you again.
I have, &c.
(Signed) R. I‘I.!FENWICK.
65
From R. N. HAMILTON, Esq, Resident at Indore,
To the SECRETARY To GOVERNMENT, Bombay.
SIR’ Dated Indore Residency, 10th March 1848.
In continuation of my despatch No. 345, dated 3rd instant, I have the
honour to forward copy of a letter from Mr. Fenwick, dated 4th instant,
reporting having persuaded the Bunjaras to take the coal; and of another from
Mr. J ohnstone, dated 2nd instant, reporting having found a route practicable
for carts, requiring but a trifling outlay to make it easy and good; also of a
further letter dated 7th instant, from Mr. Fenwick, which has just reached me.
I have, &c.
(Signed) R. N. C. HAMILTON,
Indore Residency, 10th Zllarch 1848. Resident.
F rdm Captain R. H. FENWICK,
To R. N. C. HAMILTON, Esq., Resident at Indore.
SIR Dated Sonadeh, 4th March 1848.
In continuation of my letter of the 28th ultimo, I have now the honour to
report that the Bunjara Naiks returned yesterday ; and I have at last prevailed
with them to take up the coal, which is now being packed in their sacks. I
hope to be able to see them off to—morrow. What quantity they will be able
to carry, they cannot themselves say at present. I shall not fail to write to
you again on the subject in a day or two.
It is necessary I should acquaint you, that after consulting with Mr. J 01111-
stone, who left this for Mukrai on the morning of the 1st instant, I resolved
upon accompanying the Bunjara bullocks myself to Dharee, taking with me
the eleven Bildars and three Sungturashes now employed here, to ensure the
careful loading and unloading of the sacks. The Bunjaras could not be in-
duced to move without my doing so. The digging of the shaft will therefore
be suspended till my return. \Ve have gone down to 13 feet, and are now
working in a bed of sandstone. ,
I have also the honour to acquaint you that Mr. J ohnstone, on leaving this,
placed in my hands an order from Captain Spence for Co.’s Rs. 300, on the
Sewnee Tuhseel, which I doubt not will be duly realized.
In conclusion, I beg to inform you that I have now with me one of the
Residency Chuprasees, two peons from Shahpoor, and the two village peo'ns
whom I entertained at Sewnee, at Rs. 4 a month each. The carpenter, black-
smith, and bellows-boy shall be left here to prepare timber for supporting the
sides of the shaft to the sandstone foundation, which is at 9 feet ﬁ'om the surface.
I have, &c. .
Sonadeh, 4th lllarch 1848‘. (Signed) R. H. FENwIcK.
9n '
‘66
From Mr. A. J oHNsToNn,
To R. N. C. HAMILTON, Esq., Resident at Indore.
Dated Camp Gowasiny, 2nd Zllarch 1848.
SIR,
I have got good news for you (not that I have found a bed of coal, for I am
now in the centre of basaltic rocks), but I have found a good road for the
coal, where carts may go all the way to Sonadeh. I made notes of the road as
I passed along, and I am of opinion that a good cart-road can be made for
Rs. 500; in fact, the road is already made, with the exception of two ascents near
Sonadeh, about 3 miles to the west ;-—-at present there is only a footpath. The
ascent is about 1 in 15, and 200 feet long. All the rest of the road is like a bowl‘—
ing ground,——a few furrows here and there, that would require to be filled up;
and all along the road there are lots of small stones, varying from 2 inches to 6
inches diameter; so you might have a beautiful metal road very cheap. From
Sonadeh to Peepliah is 14 miles (I think); from Peepliah to Sander about 6
miles,——this is the place where we joined the Baitool cart-road. From there
to Crowasing is about 6 miles, and in that distance there are only two ascents
of any importance. They seem about 1 in l8,-—-a very good angle for a
cart-road, and in capital order. These ascents are opposite Sowhghur, which
we passed on our right about half a mile. I sent the Shewpore Chuprasee
with a note to Mr. Fenwick, advising him to come this way with the coal,
it being a much better road, shorter than by Bardow, Nundwara, and
Sewnee. There is plenty of water all along the road every couple of miles
or so, and lots of grass. I wish you had gone by this way instead of that
miserable road between Bardow and Nundwara. The only thing to be
said against this route is the want of supplies,—nothing to be had but grass
and water. I left Sonadeh at 6 A. M. 011 the morning of the 1st, and arrived
at Membia, about a quarter of a mile past Peepliah, at 11 A. M. I had
stopped a good many times on the road, and walked mostly all the way.
Left Membia on the 2nd, at half-past five, and arrived here at 10 A. M. I
shall make a short march to-morrow of 8 miles to aplace called Kudassee, on
the road to I-Iurda. From there I am told there is a good road to Mukrai,
and prdvisions to be had. If we get this road opened, the rate of carriage
will be much reduced, and we should be independent of these Bunjaras, who
seem to be rather troublesome customers to deal with. They were still
holding out whenI left; but Mr. Fenwick had made up his mind to take
his whole force, and proceed along with them, and let the shaft stand for a
time.
I shall be at Mukrai the day after to-morrow, and shall write you from that
place, if I should. see anything worth bringing to your notice.
A q I have, &c.
(Signed) A. J OHNSTONE.
67
From Captain R. H. FENwIcx, _
To R. N. C. HAMILTON, Esq., Resident at Indore.
Dated Sonadeh, 7th March 1848.
SIR
In cohtinuation of my letter of the 4th instant, I have the honour to
acquaint you that I leave this to-morrow morning with 462 maunds of coal
on 226 bullocks, and hope to deliver it at Dharee in about 20 days, in the
state it has been packed here. I propose taking with me eight Bildars only,
and leaving here the Residency Chuprasee with three Sungturashes, three
Bildars, and the artiﬁcers, to go on with the shaft. The Russid peon from
Shahpoor remains here, the other I shall take with me as far as Hurda.
I shall have the honour of addressing you as I proceed, to keep you informed
of my progress. I shall take the route recommended by yourself, and since
examined by Mr. J ohnstone, and found to be far preferable to the one by
Sareeam and Nundwara, both as to the levelness of the road and convenience
of water; but it is quite 'a desolate tract for more than 28 miles. Ihave
however provided Russid for my party for that distance.
I am, &c.
(Signed) R. H. FENwIcK.

MARINE.
From A. NIALET, Esq, Chief Secy. to Govt., Bombay,
To R. N. C. HAMILTON, Esq, Resident at Indore.
Dated 4th A pril 1848.
SIR,
I am directed to acknowledge the receipt of your letters Nos. 300, 334,345,
and 367, dated respectively 26th February, and 2nd, 3rd, and 10th ultimo, with
their several enclosures, reporting the result of the investigations lately made
in the coal-beds in the vicinity of the Nerbudda, and to convey to you the
thanks of the Honorable the Governor in Council for the exertions you have
made on this occasion, in a cause which, in its ultimate results, may be of vast
importance, not only to the public works at this Presidency, but to the steam
marine, and to the progress of railroads in Western India.
2. The Honorable the Governor in Council desires to afford to you all the aid
in the power of the Government. At present its means are limited to the
services of Mr. J ohnstone, and pecuniary assistance.
3. .The Governor in Council is pleased to allow Mr. J ohnstone to remain
to superintend the coal-mining ‘operations, and requests that he may be
permitted to accompany the ﬁrst convoy of boats laden with coal to Broach.
68
Mr. J ohnstone being a civil engineer, his skill in many ways will prove of
use in rafting the coal down the N erbudda,~ erecting cranes, &c.; while
perhaps his geological knowledge will lead to the discovery of mines nearer to
the river than those now reported on. ‘
4. It will be intimated to the Commander in Chief of the Indian Navy,
that the Governor in Council trusts, that considering the nature of the service,
he will not feel the want of Mr. Johnstone until the time when he may be
expected here in charge of the ﬁrst cargo of coal ever ﬂoated down the
Nerbudda.
5. As the estimate of charges which you have submitted is based on
‘speculation in a matter of which, as yet, very little is known beyond the
existence of superior coal, the Honorable the Governor in Council is pleased'
to place at your disposal the sum of Rs. 10,000, to be'expended as your daily
increasing experience may dictate; and requests that you will be so good as
to furnish an account of the outlay. His Honor in Council would simply urge
economy, and the necessity of gradually feeling your way ; seeking for other
coal—beds nearer the river, lower down, and avoiding more than simple
clearances for laden carts and cattle to pass over, for future discoveries‘may
throw in the rear the present beds, and on the close of the season it will be
easy in the calculations to make allowances for bad roads, &c.
6. I am to inform you, that there being no immediate want of coal in
Bombay, you need not on that score hasten your operations ; and to suggest
(should your local experience and inquiries bear out the views of His Honor in
Council) the formation of magazines on the river, floating the ‘coal down
according to its state from depdt to depﬁt, thus acquiring an accurate know-
ledge of the river in all its bearings and peculiarities.
7. The salary Mr. Johnstone may deserve, in addition to his ﬁxed pay, the
Honorable the Governor in Council is pleased to leave to you to decide; and
trusts that it, and all other charges, will be defrayed from the Rs. 10,000 above
sanctioned.
8. The Governor in Council instructs me to suggest to you, that it might be
well now to consider the Proprietorship of the soil where the coals are found,
and the best means of leasing or otherwise obtaining a right to work the
mines; and to request that you will be so good as to give some information
on the tolls and customs which Chiefs on the banks can levy on the coal in
transit; such statistics being necessary to enable this Government to lay the
matter in a complete form before the Government of India.
I have, &c.
(Signed) A. MALET,
Chief Secretary.
Bombay Castle, 4th April 1848.
69
From R. N. C. HAMILTON, Esq., Resident at Indore,
To the SECRETARY To GOVERNMENT, Bombay.
SIR, Dated Indore Residency, 31st March 1848.
I have the honour to report, for the information of the Honorable the
Governor in Council, the arrival of the coal at Dharee on the Nerbudda,
whence it will be sent by water as far as it is possible to ﬂoat the boats at this
season of the year. I expect, however, that they must be unloaded near the
Hurun Pall, and the coal sent from thence to Mokree, or near to it, by carts,
there being a good cart-road in that quarter.
From Mokree the coal can be conveyed by water to the place where apattimar
or other vessel of small draft may be sent from Bombay, for its conveyance.
If the Snake, or other small steamer, could be sent from Bombay, with
orders to proceed up the Nerbudda as far as the depth of water would
allow at this season, some certain information and facts as to the capability of
navigating the lower course of the river would be obtained before the mon—
soon, which would serve as a guide in future despatches.
Having in my several Reports endeavoured to place all the facts before His
Honor in Council, I beg to offer the following proposition, supposing it be
intended to work the Nerbudda coal-ﬁelds with a view to supplying the Go-
vernment demand at Bombay. '
To work the coal mines, the following establishment will be necessa1y:—-»
A Superintendent. This must be a practical man, conversant with coal-mining,
and the management of the workmen at the pit. The Government could not
select a better or more ﬁt person than Mr. A. Johnstone, who has proved, by
his exertions, his qualiﬁcation, and who; has a zeal and an interest in the work.
His salary should be Rs. 600 per mensem for two years certain, from 1st
January 1849.
Mr. Johnstone should‘ have under him two Apprentices, to be selected for
their qualiﬁcations, and to receive each Rs. 50 a month.
This would be a sufficient establishment, efficient to superintend all works
at the pit; and to this must be added workmen according to the subjoined
scale for every shaft that might be sunk :—
IOO lVHners, at Rs. 4 each. . . . Rs. 400
10 Bildars, at ditto . . . . . . . . . . 4O
10 Mentostowcoal.......... 30
2 Native Overseers, at Rs. 10. . 20
1Smith.................... 8
1 Carpenter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
l Bellows-man . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
2 Bullocks, hired . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
lDriver 4

Total. . Rs. 522
'70
For the transport of the coal from Sonadeh to Dharee, Mr. J Ohnstone has
found an easy and practicable’ cart-road, which being repaired after the rains,
the coal could be brought cheaper and safely to Dharee. '
For the superintendence of the transport department, there must be one
superintendent, with two assistants. ‘
The local costs of superintendence would then be Rs. 1,000 per mensem, viz :-—-
One Superintendent at . . . . . . . . . .Rs. 600
Two Apprentices at Rs. 50 . . . . . . . . 100
One Superintendent at . . . . . . . . . . 200
Two Assistants at Rs. 50 . . . . . . . . . . 100
_-——
Total. . . .Rs. 1,000
Captain Fenwick would have the general charge of the transit department, and "
his two assistants be available for moving with despatches, Or for being located
at such places as experience may hereafter point out as requiring their presence.
It is for the Government to determine whether operations shall commence
as soon after the rainy season as possible ; and if so, to intimate the number
of tons of coal that shall be raised : 20,000 tons could be raised and sent to
Bombay next year, and a much larger quantity if the Government should
direct. The cost of the coal at the pit may be estimated at 9 annas a ten, or
Rs. 11,250 for 20,000 tons; the cost Of carriage, as soon as there is a certainty
in the employment, will fall considerably, and be still lower when the return
trade is created, by which back hire for carriage will be saved; but even if a .
ton of coal were to cost the ﬁrst season Rs. 20 in Bombay, the money would
be well laid out, for by the existing means of supply the Government have to
pay 32s. 6d. a ton, which at 28. the rupee is Rs. 16-4-0; and this, it must
be borne in mind, is in time of peace, when freight is low, and there is only
ordinary sea risk to be covered. r
I beg to state that 1 have given orders to continue sinking one shaft at
Sonadeh, the expense being about Rs. 100 per mensem, and that I propose
continuing this work until the setting in Of the rains.
I do not yet despair of ﬁnding coal in the vicinity of Baug, in a locality on
the right bank of the Nerbudda, no great distance from Hurun Pall. \ Should
coal be there found in quantities, and of a good quality, half the expense of
transport will be saved; but at present I am not. able to speak with any
certainty on the subject.
I beg to recommend Mr. A. J ohnstone to the favourable notice of His
Honor in Council. He is at present labouring under a severe attack of fever,
brought on from exposure, but is convalescent. His exertions have been un-
wearied and incessant; so have those of Captain Fenwick, and who likewise, I
hope, will be considered to have earned the approbation of Government.
1 have, &c.
(Signed) R. N. C. HAMILTON,
Indore Residency, 31st March 1848. . Resident.
71
MARINE DEPARTMENT.
From A. MALET, Esq., Chief Secy. to Govt., Bombay,
To R. N. C. ‘HAMILTON, Esq, Resident at Indore.
S Dated 26th April 1848.
IR,
I am directed to acknowledge the receipt of your letter No. 438, dated 31st
ultimo, with its enclosure, and to observe, that my letter No. 544, of the 4th
instant, anticipates in many respects the wishes expressed in your present
communication. '
2. ‘The Commander in Chief of the Indian Navy will, I am to inform you,
be requested to take measures to carry out the views expressed in the 3rd
paragraph of your letter.
3. Mr. J ohnstone having been sent from Europe for a speciﬁc purpose by
the Honorable the Court of Directors, the Honorable the Governor in Council
‘ cannot, I am to state, without their permission, comply with your request to
place Mr. Johnstone’s services at your disposal for two years from the 1st
January 1849; but Mr, Johnstone may for the present, and pending orders
from the Home Government, remain in the Valley of the Nerbudda; and in
the interim the strong recommendation of Government will be submitted to
the Honorable Court, that the services of Mr. J ohnstone may be devoted to
the coal-mining undertaking for the period indicated.
4. Though undoubtedly the demand for Nerbudda coal by this Govern—
ment may become urgent, the Honorable the Governor in Council would
conﬁne himself to simply asking you to feel your way ; the more so as you
anticipate ﬁnding coal at Baug, near the river at Hurun Pall. If coal from
_ the Nerbudda can be had in abundance, and at a reasonable rate, the demand
of Government for it will be almost unlimited. I am therefore to request that
you will not relax in your operations in the present sites, while seeking for
others lower down the river.
- 5. In supersession of the instructions contained in the 3rd paragraph of
my letter above alluded to, the Honorable the Governor in Council directs me
to request that you will pass the coal to Broach, or wherever the Commander
in Chief of the Indian Navy can arrange for its reception, under the care of
Captain Fenwick, who should thence return to the mines, or wherever you
may desire, in order to raft more coal down, and become well acquainted with
the navigation of the river; but this His Honor in Council would leave to your ~
judgment.
6. The Honorable the Governor in Council requests that you will convey
to Mr. J ohnstone and Captain Fenwick the acknowledgments of Government
for the services they have rendered.
I have, &c.
(Signed) A. MALET,
Bombay Castle, 26th April 1848. Chief Secretary.
72
From the GOVERNMENT OF BOMBAY,
To the Honorable the COURT on DIRECTORS FOR AFFAIRS 0F
' THE HoNoRABLE EAsT INDIA COMPANY, London.
- Dated Bombay, 25th April 1848.
HoNoRAnLE SIRs,
We have the honour to forward, for the information of your Honorable Court,
copies of our proceedings, relative to an experiment now being made to obtain
coal from the Valley of the Nerbudda.
2. In December last, we beg to state, the Resident at Indore requested that
the services of Mr. .Iohnstone, an Engineer of the Dockyard, might be placed at
his disposal, to collect information relative to certain coal-ﬁelds found near the.
Nerbudda ; and suggested that he might be allowed for his travelling expenses
Rs. 10 per diem for four or six months. 1
3. The Superintendent Indian Navy having reported that the services of
Mr. .Iohnstone could be spared, he was directed on the 22nd December to-
proceed to Indore, and the time of his detention at that place was left to the
discretion of Mr. Hamilton, the Resident.
4. In the latter end of February, the Resident reported that he had visited
a place called Sonadeh, in company with Mr. .Iohnstone, and discovered a
seam of coal 20 inches thick, from which he had caused 20 tons to be raised,
and hoped to be able to lay it down at Tullukwara, on the banks of the Ner-
budda, whence it can reach the sea, at the rate of 12' annas a maund, or Rs. 21
a ton. He further stated, that to aid in the transport of the coal from the pit
to the point of shipment, he had engaged the services of a Captain Fenwick,
late of the Nizam’s service, at an expense of Rs. 100 per mensem.
5. On the 3rd March, Mr. Hamilton communicated to us that he had
found another coal-ﬁeld, at Mardanpore, a place more distant from the point of
shipment than Sonadeh, the seam of which is 2 feet 4 inches thick, and the
coal superior to that found at the last—named place.
6. III soliciting to be informed whether the experiment should be con--
tinued, the Resident stated the estimated cost of working one shaft for twelve
months would be Rs. 6,364, the out-turn of which might be estimated at 10,920
tons of coal, being at the rate of 9 % annas per ton.
»7. The Resident further observed, that except in the height of the mon-
soon, carts can be used all the way from Sonadeh to Dharee on the Nerbudda,
where the coal can be stored, and in the rains ﬂoated down to the Hurun Pall,
from whence it can be conveyed in carts to Tullukwara, or the place of shipment.
8. In regard to the portage, the Resident observed that the cart-hire to
the bank of the river would be Rs. 8-9-4 per ton, the carriage from thence
to Hurun Pall would be Rs. 6 per ton, and from thence to the sea Rs. 5 per
ton, making the coal cost Rs. 20 per ton at the place of delivery; but this, he
trusted, would be reduced when an organised system of communication is
established, and return hire obtained for the carts.
w
73
9. 1f the operations are to be carried on, continued Mr. Hamilton, Mr.
J ohnstone must be directed to remain at Sonadeh, with two Assistants on
Rs. 2.00 per, mensem, and a Native establishment of three Karkoons on Rs. 20
each, and Chuprasees at Rs. 40 per mensem, with a Native Doctor.
10. On the receipt of this Report, in view to afford all the aid in our power,
we allowed Mr. Johnstone to remain to superintend the coal-mining operations,
5 and requested the Resident to permit him to accompany the first convoy of
‘boats laden with coal to Broach. We placed the sum of Rs. 10,000 at the
disposal of the Resident, to be expended by him as his experience might dictate ;
care being being taken that all the expenses incident to the experiment were
covered by that sum.
11. At the same time, we suggested to the Resident the formation of coal
magazines on the banks of the river, as also the ﬂoating of the coal down,
according to the state of the river, from depbt to depot, by which an accurate
knowledge of the- river would be acquired. WVe also requested the Resident to
consider the proprietorship of the soil where the coal was found, and the best
means of leasing, or otherwise obtaining a right to working the mines; and to
report as to the tolls and customs which Chiefs on the bariks of the river could
levy on the transit.
12. On the 31st March, the Resident informed us of the arrival of a batch
of coal at Dharee on the N erbudda, and requested that a small steamer might
be sent, with orders to proceed up the N erbudda as far as the depth of water
would allow, by which certain information could be obtained as to the
capability of navigating the lower course of the river before the monsoon.
13. The Resident also suggested, if it were intended to work the- mines to
supply the Government demand for coal, that Mr. Johnstone should be
appointed Superintendent, with a salary of Rs. 600 per mensem for two
years certain, from the 1st of January 1849; that he should have under him
two Apprentices, on Rs. 50 each, to superintend the works at the pit; and for
each shaft that might be sunk an establishment of miners, &c., the aggregate
of whose 'pay should be Rs. 522 per month.
14. For the superintendence of the transport department, the Resident
further proposed, that Captain Fenwick should be appointed Superintendent,
on a salary of Rs. 200 per mensem, with two Assistants at Rs. 50 each, which
will make the proposed local cost of superintendence Rs. 1,000 per month.
15. In concluding his Report, Mr. Hamilton stated that he had given
orders to continue sinking one shaft at Sonadeh, at an expense of about
Rs. 100 per month, and that he did not despair of ﬁnding coal near to Hurun
Pall, in which case the expense of transport would be reduced one-half.
16. We have instructed the Commander in Chief of the Indian Navy to
act in accordance with Mr. Hamilton’s wishes, and we informed that gentle-
man, that Mr. J olmstone having been sent from Europe for a speciﬁc purpose
by your Honorable Court, we could not without your permission comply with
his request; but that, pending the receipt of your Honorable Court’s instructions,
IOn
74
Mr. J ohnstone might remain in the Valley of the Nerbudda. We would
now strongly recommend to your Honorable Court to allow Mr. J Ohnstone’s
services to be devoted to the coal-mining undertaking for the period indicated.
17. Though undoubtedly our demand for Nerbudda coal may become
urgent, and almost unlimited, we have simply requested Mr. Hamilton to feel
his way—the more so, as he anticipates ﬁnding coal at Baug ; and that he
would not relax in his operations in the present sites, while seeking for others
lower down the river. '
We have, &c.
(Signed) GEORGE CLERK.
,, WILLOUGHBY COTTON.
,, L. R. REID.
,, J. P. WILLOUGHBY.
. Bombay Castle, 25th April 1848.

From R. N. C. HAMILTON, Esq., Resident at Indore,
To the SECRETARY To GOVERNMENT, Bombay.
q Dated Indore Residency, 27th April 1848.
k. IR,
1 have the honour to state, for the information of the Honorable the
Governor in Council, that the coal under charge of Captain Fenwick reached
Chikulda, not far from the Hurun Pall, on the 20th; and that measures have
been taken to‘ store it there until the Nerbudda rises sufficiently to allow of
laden boats going over the rapids below the Hurun Pall.
2. Chikulda is a post of the Malwa Bheel Corps, and a capital place for a
depOt: there is a bungalow there, occasionally occupied by Captain Wilkie,
the Bheel Agent, when on duty at Burwanie, the godowns attached to which
are available. _
I have, &c.
(Signed) R. N. C. HAMILTON,
Indore Residency, 27th April 1848. Resident,

From Captain FENWIOK, on Special Duty,
To R. N. C. HAMILTON, Esq., Resident at Indore.
Dated Chikulda, 24th April 1848.
SIR,
I received your letter of the 13th instant, on board at Akbarpoor, at 3 A. M.
of the 17th, and also the official instructions. I beg you will accept my
unfeigned thanks.
75
In mentioning to you now my arrival here at 2 P. M. on the 20th, I have to -
apologise for not apprising you of the same earlier. The only excuse I shall
plead is, that I wished to look about me a little before I addressed you. On
making inquiries, I learnt that there was not water enough in the river for
laden boats to proceed to Hurun Pall; in consequence, I forthwith set about
landing the coal, and storing it up in an empty godown attached to the
bungalow at this place. The next day Iwas occupied in the above work,
and by the evening 150 bags were housed. The 386 bags are now in the
godown. Yesterday morning I left this in a small boat for Hurun Pall, to‘
examine the state of the river, and that formidable obstacle, personally, and
arrived at the Hurun Pall (a distance of about 15 miles) at 3 P. M. In several
places in the river there were not more than 6 inches of water; and over some
of the rocky passages, my boat, empty as it was (for I had no baggage at all
with me, and only two Bildars, one Chuprasee, and one servant), had to be
dragged, I may say almost lifted over ; laden boats 30 feet by 5, with
5- manees, cannot ﬂoat freely in less than 18 inches of water. I passed the
night at Dhurmai.
This morning at 6 o’clock I proceeded in the boat to examine the falls
below the Pall,—-these being the serious obstacles, and not the Pall itself.
There are three rapids, with falls at their heads, at the distance of about
a quarter of a mile from the Fall, and 100 yards from each other. The ﬁrst
has a fall of about 6 feet in 30; the second of 3 feet, and the third of 4 feet;
‘and the force with which the water rushes against projecting pointed rocks
on either hand of a channel not more than 10 or 12 feet wide, renders the
passage extremely difficult and dangerous,—I might say impracticable in its
present state. Empty boats may be let down and dragged up, as is the case at
Sasradana; but this could not be done with laden ones at all. A channel to the '
left hand, falling into the principal one on the right, about one mile below the
Pall, forming the island called the Hurun Pall Bheet (Bheet is an island), was
pointed out to me, and examined; but it has no outlet at this time of the year.
From the above, and under many considerations, I think Chikulda should
be the spot selected for a dep6t.
I sailed from Hurun Fall on my return at 10 A. M. , and came here at 3 P. M.
with a brisk westerly breeze.
I beg to inform you that I lost no time, on my arrival here on the 20th, in
making inquiries after carts to be hired to take the coal to Tullukwara, intend-
ing to dispatch two or three of them, agreeably to your directions. I am sorry
to say there are no ‘carts to be hired; but the authorities at Burwanie and
Chikulda have offered to procure a couple for me. As soon as they are forth-
coming I shall load them, and accompany the coal to Tullukwara and Broach,
and then return by water, if it can be done; otherwise by the land route.
Ragoba Balkishn, Native agent at Burwanie, produced Bunsara Naik to take
the coal to Tullukwara, under engagement to pay Rs. 5 per bullock, or Rs. 2
per maund. I need not add that the Naik was at once dismissed.
76
I should have been quite ready and happy to have visited Bang, to look I
aﬁer coal, and superintend those occupied in searching under your instructions;—
the heat of the weather would not have been in my way in the least; but I ~
am promised the carts by tomorrow or the next day, and as this is the
primary object just now, I shall 'postpone my trip to that place until my
return, which, I trust, will be agreeably to your intentions.
In‘ this place I cannot hesitate in coinciding with yourself in respect to
the Sonadeh works. I do not think they could be carried on satisfactorily,
except under European supervision; and the person employed should be, in
my opinion, a professional and experienced engineer;—--an intelligent Native,
however, could in the mean time go on with the shafts to any depth, just as
they do with some of their wells to 100 feet, and even more. I beg to submit
for your information a copy of the Hindee letter which I sent to Huri‘
Chuprasee from Mundlaisir, 'through Captain Spence. If you could conve-
niently send a cooley-load of good country gunpowder to Sonadeh, it would
materially help in forwarding the sinking of the pit. I had some samples
procured from Boodah; but it was very bad, and it quite escaped me to
send for some from Hurda. The Sungturashes understand blasting rocks
perfectly.
I\ have, &c.
(Signed) R. H. FENwIcK.
24th April 1848. -
P. S.-—-The Karkoon has just come in from Bang, and says he had not been
able to trace anything of coal anywhere. '

From R. N. C. HAMILTON, Esq, Resident at Indore,
To the SECRETARY To GovERNMENT, Bombay.
Dated Indore Residency, 3rd ‘May 1848.
SIR,
' I have the‘ honour to forward, for submission to the Honorable the Governor- '
in Council, copy of a Journal on the passage from Dhar to Hurun Pall, kept
by Captain Fenwick, in charge of the boats laden with coal.
2. Captain Fenwick had proceeded from Chikulda, with two carts laden
with 48 maunds of coal, towards Tullukwara, and has reported his arrival at
Ali Rajpoor on the 30th, and his expectation to reach Tullukwara on or about
the 6th instant. _
I have, &c.
(Signed) R. N. C. HAMILTON,
Resident.
Indore Residency, 3rd May 1848. '
CAPTAIN FENWICK’S JOURNAL,
Alluded to in the foregoing Letter from Mr. HAMILTON.

Date.
Distance
in Miles.
Names of Villages or
Rapids.
Remarks.
1848
“ April 5th
3}
9)
i,
3)
3)
3,
3)
3,
April 6th
,3
8,
)3
3,
9)
asp-roo-

10
A10:

Dharee . . . . . . . . . . . .
Kingayethtur Tur Ra-
pid.
I I . O I O
l . Q n on
I I I Q I.
Bukutgur.. .. Chota Chokee Tur . .
Kotekhera . . . . . . . .
Sillanee . . . . . . . . . . . .
miles . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Byronpurun Tur . . . .
Oukerjee.
Mundhata.
Markundee Tur . . .
Kooharee Tur . . . . . .
Bhallarow' Tur . . . . . .

The boats being laden below the falls, were
loosened from their moorings at sunrise
on this date. _
Not difficult; there is a good sandy beach
or landing-place here on the Ponassa side,
but the jungle must be cut for ﬁve or six
hundred yards from the road to the land-
ing place.
Deep water the whole way; detached rocks
in the river, but not dangerous. At
Kumlatur, 5 feet water, with bad rocks in
the channel. This is considered one of the
worst places between Dharee and Mun-
dhata; laden boats are let down with ropes,
and empty ones dragged up.
A narrow passage near the right bank; 6
feet water; detached covered rocks here
and there, to be carefully avoided.
Deep water ; ruins of Kinchgur on the
right bank, and junction of the Kumair
river.
A ﬁne large, broad, deep pool all the way ;
rocks here and there. .
A rock in the middle of the river, the point
just appearing above the water.
4 feet water; not difficult channel; narrow
passage ; boats more than 6 feet beam
could not pass without great danger ;
laden boats are let down with ropes, and
empty ones dragged up.
A deserted village, on the left bank.
Some rocks from above Kotekhera, hidden
under water; to be carefully looked after.
By the Natives, 5 loos from Dharee.
4 feet water; passage narrow, with three
turnings; difficult for laden boats, which
are let down with ropes, and empty ones
hauled over through small outlets, with
less than 1 foot of water.
. 4 feet water ; narrow passage.
Ditto ditto ditto.
4 feet water ; considered, and is, a very dif-
ﬁcult one; extending for more than 100
yards; laden ‘boats are carefully let down

with ropes.
78
Distance Names of Villages or
Date‘ in Miles. Rapids. 0 Remarks’

1848
April 6th
‘I;
Ali-I
. . . . . . A very deep and broad pool all the way from
Kothar (or Kothown) Ghat; some hidden
rocks here and there, but not‘ dangerous.
Choaria Tur . . . . .. . . 4 feet water ; rocks in the channel; passage
narrow, as usual ; Chorar river joins here
on the right bank.
Dheria Ghat. \
Kheiree Ghat.
Mytak Kheiral. . . . . . A Goojir village, on the right bank.
Katghura Tur . . . . .. This rapid extends’ about 600 yards, and is.
studded with rocks; channel‘ dangerous ;"
between 4 and 5 feet water; laden boats
let down with ropes. It must in the pre-
sent state of the river be always difficult.
,, 0 Bimlay Sur . . . . . . . . Temple and Dhurumsala, on the right bank.
,, 05 Alliagaum . . . . . . . . On the left bank; one Bunnia; fowls pro-
curable with trouble.
122}, miles . . . . . . . . . . . . By the Natives, 6 kos from Sillanee.
[N . B.—It appears to me, from the present state of
the river between Dharee and Alliagaum, that
boats of more than 6 feet beam, 30 or 35 feet in
length, with 2.‘; feet water sides; ﬂat bottom;
the bottom side planks of one log, scooped out
thus \_ 1, would be the only ones that could
be generally used. During the very height
of the river in the monsoon, I think no boats
could live at some of the places, where most
dangerous Whirlpools and high waves must be
formed. The boatmen corroborate this opinion]
9,
C3
hob-l
J!
NIH bb-I
)’
J,
Owl—‘CD
-F-|r-I
9)

April 8th} { Seemala . . . . . . . . Right bank. Just below Goromookh Dhu-
(Sunset). Tokra . . . . . . . . .. Left bank. rumsala.
,, 1 Pithungur . . . . . . . . Left bank.
,, . . . Kupas Tur . . . . . . . . Right bank.
,, 02% Wakee Tur . . . . . . . . 5 feet water ; 8 feet channel in the middle;
numerous rocks on either side, with one
foot water over them; the boat struck
- constantly.
Krian .. . . .. .. Right bank.
{ Khygaum . . . . . . . . Left bank.
[N . B.—-The Rapid Wakeetur may be said to extend
almost the whole way; channel in some places
not more than 8 feet wide ; in some parts very
bad; only 1 foot water over the rocks; boats let
' down with ropes.
,, 2 Sangoor .. . . .. . . . . Right bank; Oomattee left bank; ﬁne
broad and deep pool.
,, 1 Kawere . . . . . . . . . . . . Left bank ; broad deep pool the whole way;
‘ Sitokee and Kowreea right bank. .
,, . 0% . . . . .. Rapids the whole way, very diﬁicult and
dangerous ; in several places not more
than 1 foot water over the rocks, with
which the bed is studded.
,, 0 1; Surkaree Tur . . . . . . 300 yards, 6 feet water, but dangerous from
high waves; side rocks, and a fall of 3 feet.

79
Distance
Names of Villages or


Date' in Miles. Rapids. Remarks‘
1848
April 8th . . Bakawan . . . . . . . . . . Left bank.
,, 0i Bhundwarra Tur. . . . 5 feet water ; in one place very bad.
,, 0;,1- Mundana Ghat . Left bank ; Byeran right bank.
7 2 miles. . . . . . . . . . . . 4 kos, according to Natives, from Alliagaum ;
\--—---‘ left at 11 A. M., arrived at sunset.
April 9th Left Mundana Ghat at sunrise, and arrived
at Mundlaisir at 2 P. M.
,, Oi Mundana Tur . . . . . . Extending 300 yards ; channel in some places
. 8 feet wide ; 2 feet water.
,, 1 Puthrar . . . . . . . . . . Right bank ; Nagawan left bank.
,, 1 Bhutyan . . . . . . . . .. Left bank.
,, 2 Soolgaum . . . . . . . . . . Rocks all the way, and shallow in many
places.
,, 7% Mundlaisir . . . . . . . In many places very shallow, with rocks the
whole way, but nowhere dangerous, though
12 miles. very tedious for laden boats; studded also
with low grass islands.
April 13th . . . . . . . . Evening at Myhesur.
,, 1 Shallow, with rocks.
,, 3 or 25 Fine deep pool, and broad.
3% miles.
April 15th . _ Evening at Sasradana.
,, . 1 . . . . . . Fine deep, broad pool.
,, Sasradana Falls and Extend for about 400 yards ; several falls of
Rapids. 3 and 4 feet ; channel 8 to 10 feet wide;
---_- very bad rocks in the channel ; empty
1 mile. boats let down with ropes, with great
"'-"-"" difficulty.
April 16th . . . . . . Left Sasradaua at 12 o’clock, and arrived at
Akbarpoor at 5 P. M.
,, Oi . . . . . . Channel narrow and deep ; it would be very
bad, I think, in the rains.
3, 0% . . . . . . Channel widening to 100 yards ; 18 inches
water at one place ; boats let over.
a: 0% . . . . . . . Broad pool ; not very deep.
n .. .Zallimpore . . . . . . .. Left bank.
v 0;} . . . . . . Deep and broad pool.
a: . . Tutkotee . . . . . . . . . . Right bank.
9: 1 . . . . . . Channel between rocky islands.
,, . . Sussungaum.
,1
Manwa Bhiltur . .


. . Channel 8 feet; 4 feet fall; 2 to3 feet
water; very bad rocks on either hand.
The boats were half emptied, and let down
with ropes, and men holding on each side ;
re-laden at the bottom of the rapid, 30 or
40 yards. The rapid winds along for 30
80
Date.
Distance
in Miles.
Names of Villages or
Rapids.
Remarks.
1 848
April 16th
3!
April 171311
J!
3)
3)

N)
IO'H

O
rev-I
U H w o
' h-[v-l ‘HQ (cu-I
CD
{Ch-e

CD
ND“
o n a 0 a 4
Akbarpoor.
miles
a u a I 0 0
Moogurree . . . . . . . .
Chota and Bnrra Rhul.
Akbarpooi' .. . . .
A Rapid . . . . . . . . . .
Peepulda . . . . . . . . . .
{
Adulpooi' . . . . . .
Bhowa . . . . . . . . . . . .
Bhownesur Tur . . . .
Chiklee . . . . . . . . . .
Nimbala . . . .' . . ..
Burreea . . . . . . . . . .
Kola Tur . . . . . . . . . .
Kathoral . . . . . . . . . .
l I O i I I Q I I I Q I I

either hand with great force. The boat-
men behaved ‘remarkably well, and the
Bildars were very useful.
Shallows in a few places, but generally broad,
open, and deep.
. 3 kos by the Natives.
Left Akbarpoor at 9 A. M. ; two of the boats,
changed, being old, and in a leaky statel
Arrived at Kuthora near sunset.
Opposite to Akbarpoor.
Right bank.
River open, and deep all the way.
50 yards; 15 inches water over the rocks ;
loose stones removed from the channel;
rapid not dangerous, but tedious; boats
handed over, or rather dragged along;
300 yards below there is a fort.
18 inches water over the rocks; boats let
~ down with ropes, about 50 yards.
Right bank; a little above there are some
rocky islands, but the channel is deep,
and a pool the whole way from the last
rapid.
Left bank. Many bad rocks; channel
Right bank. along the left bank.
[Pencil memorandum lost on board]
} Pool all the way from Chiklee.
40 yards; 2 feet water over the rocks; 8
feet passage; channel winding, diﬁ‘icult,
and dangerous ; boats let down with ropes,
with much trouble. This is one of the
worst rapids in the river; at the bottom
there is a fall of 3 feet, 7 feet passage;
rocks on each hand, and a very bad and
dangerous one in the middle, at the outlet,
to be feared the most; this rock should
be removed. . .
Pool, deep water; rocks here and there.
Left bank.
100 yards ; 2 feet water, and less; very bad
and difficult at the end, from a rock in
the middle of the channel.
Left bank; pool all the way.
4 kos by the Natives.
,Left Kuthora at 6 A. M. ; arrived at Kirmfee

18th April
Q . . C C Q
I
at5 P. M.
or 40 yards, dashing against the rocks on -
81
T
Distance Names of Villages or
Date’. in Miles. Rapids. Remarks‘
1848 ' .
‘ April 18th 0% Bilkesnore Pagoda .. On the points of Dhurmapooree Bheet
3,
3,
3’
9)
,3
J!
3’
3,
'3,
3!
3’
,9
J,
3’
0%


Dhurmapooree. . . .
Khooj Nuddee.
Khoojawan . . . . . . . .
. Left bank; good pool; jhow jungle along
Burreea
Huthnawar . . . . . . . .
. Right bank ; pool all the way to this.
Binkote
Huthnawar Tur . . . .
. - Ghatmora Tur . . .
Ghatmora Phal .. . . .
Khutargaum . . . . . .
. . Left bank.
Nundgaum . . . . . .
Loolgaum
Buhamungaum
\Vishwanath Khira . .
Mohapur . . . . . . . . . .
Nuktia-ke-Phal Tur .
U n 0 u a o
‘ . I D C O
Nulwaree........ ..
Ruthwa _ Left bank.
, , Right bank ; broad deep pool all the way.
. . . . . . Left bank.
Burdha Bazong _ . , ,
Lohaea. .. .. .
Mullungaum
Koimee

miles . .
o 0 l I q 0 I I
. Left bank ; river studded over with rocks
(island), 2 miles long; right channel dry;
left channel a broad pool, 6 feet deep; at
rock in the middle, opposite the temple.
. . Bight bank’.
Good pool; 6 feet water.
the right bank.
Left bank.
Shallow rapids for 500 yards ; boat dragged
over the loose stones in several places.
Fall of 3 feet; 7 feet passage, and very bad;
bank ; 4 feet water.
Ghatmora Tur.
5 feet water; 10 feet channel; a fall of 2
feet; boats lowered over with bamboo
, poles very dexterously.
Rocky islands and shallows.
Right bank.
This rapid is called
Right bank.
and low islands ; shallows all the way.
Pool, with rocky islands.
A narrow passage along the left bank; a
small rapid with 4 feet water; rocks in
the channel.
Right bank ; a small pagoda; good pool the
whole way, with some rocks here and there.
Not bad ; 5 feet water ; 10 feet channel.
Deep pool; Chiklee left bank.
Bad rocks ; some under water, some just
appearing above ; 6 feet water, with a
slight stream.
Man river joins here on the right bank ;
pool, with rocks here and there.
A rapid, with rocks and loose stones ; 2 feet
water.
. Bad rocks in the channel; boats let down
by the hand; ‘2 feet water ; channel 8 feet.
Broad, deep pool.
Left bank. Deb nudee joins here.
Right bank.
Right bank ; deep and ﬁne broad pool the
whole way.

. . 6 kos according to the Natives.
boats let down with ropes held on each '
82
J . J

Date.
Distance
in Miles.
Names of Villages or
Rapids.
Remarks.
1848
April 19th
)9
J,
April 20th
; o c:
(Gil-‘(09—
‘ Q
' (Lb-A
0i
H c:
(Cir-J

H
&[I-I ’
I
I O u u 0 o
Ansurpoora . . . . . . . .
Surwapoora . . . . . . . .
I I I I Q I
Maeepoora .. .. . . ..
Oordhumia . . . . . . . .
o l I l I O
Gollata............
Peerkheira .. .. . . . .
Lahana Burda. . . . . .
Seinurla . . . . .. ..

miles........l.....
Left Kirmee at 7 P. M. ; arrived at Lahana
Burda at 5 P. M.
Pool, with sunken rocks, and rocky islands.
Ditto ditto ditto.
Left bank.
Right bank.
River covered with sunken rocks, and rocky
islands ; deep channel in some places,
sage, but not dangerous. ,
The same state of the river continues.
Very win ding and bad channel for 300 yards ;
in one place 15 inches water; boats led
Over by the hand. ‘
A bluff, high, isolated rock in the middle
of the river, 150 yards below the rapid.
Left bank.
A small rapid.
Right bank.
Shallow continued.
A very shallow part ; 9 inches water; a
channel had to be made, by removing the
loose stones from the middle, and piling
them up on each side for 150 yards, to
boats were dragged over. Half the day
taken up in the above work.
Another shallow, 6 inches water; the stones
removed as above, and a channel formed
of 15 inches depth for 30 yards.
At 300 yards another similar shallow, over-
come in the same way. '
A bad rapid ; to be worked through very
cautiously, though deep, the channel being
very narrow, with rocks. '
. Left bank.
Pool full of rocks, under water, the boats
striking on them constantly.
Left bank.
Right bank.
intricate passage.
Left bank.
. Right bank.
3 kos by the Natives.
[N.B.—-The laden boats require 18 inches of water
to ﬂoat freely. The largest boat is 31 feet long,
and less than 5 feet wide, laden with 2% manees.
Left Lahana Burda at 7 A. M.; arrived at

Chikulda at 2 P. M.
and 2 feet water in others 5. intricate pas- ;
deepen the stream to 15 inches, when the'
Rocks and shallows, and deep channels ;_
83
'Date.
Distance
in Miles.
Names of Village's or
Rapids.
Remarks.
1848
April 20th
,7
33
J,
J)
April 22nd
)3
(Cil-
Ekulara
Owhce . . . . . . . . . .
u v u u u I 0 0 o o
Kawthee . . . . . . . . . .
Kamana Tur (bow-
shaped) .
Ganglce
Peeplodhi: Domekhill . . . .
0 Q a u u n u I 0 n
I I I b I I
Kusrawath . . . . . . . .
0Q...
Chikulda.
miles . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
I u n o l.
n i D O O.
Bilkheira.....l.....
Achota, right bank.
Pool, with rocks here and there.
Fine deep pool; some rocks along the left
bank.
Right bank.
Left bank; a ferry here; a tope of ﬁne
tamarind trees.
500 yards; dangerous hidden rocks, with
some of their points just appearing in the
middle of the river.
Good pool.
Right bank.
Shallow; 2 feet water ; studded with rocks ;
no regular channel.
300 yards; 2 feet water; deepest channel
with bad rocks in the middle; boats
constantly striking on them ; in one
place the boats were let down with ropes.
hallow, with rocks and loose stones the
whole way ; boats continually striking on
them. There is a ford here.
. Right bank.
. Left bank.
Shallows.
. A very bad rapid; 15 inches water; rocks
in the channel, against which the current
rushes with great force ; a fall of 3 feet ;
boats dragged over ; some loose stones
being removed.
Shallows and rocks ; 1 5 inches water in some
places.
Left bank.
Right bank.
A bad sunken rock in the middle of the
river; one of the boats got on it, and was
nearly rolling over; the rest of the river
a ﬁne broad pool, with 5 or 6 feet water
generally.
Pool ; 5 feet water.
Left bank.
Rocks and shallows; channel between irre-
gular low rocks, &c.
4 kos by the Natives.
Left Chikulda in a boat 30 feet by 4% feet.
Pool; 6 to 8 feet water.
Left bank.
4 feet water.
Shallow; 18 inches water.

Rocks.
84
' Villav * r
Date. Nameslggpids' °eb 0 Remarks.
1848
April 22nd . . . . . . . . A small rapid ; 1 foot water.
,, 1;‘; . . . . . . Shallow in some places, with less than 1 foot
water; little rapids and rocks.
,, Nandgaum . . . . . . Left bank.
,, . . Kaperkheira . . . . . . . Right bank.
,, 0:} . . . . . . Shallow the whole way ; boat shoved along;
in some places not 6 inches water ; sandy
bed all across the river.
,, 0-} . . . . . . A nice little pool ; 5 feet water ; no rocks.
,, . . Rocks scattered all across the river, with!
irregular channels of 4 and 5 feet water.
,, ()l A bed of rocks ; narrow channels ; 3 and 4
feet water.
,, 05 River spread with rocks; a small pool ; 4
feet water.
,, . . Kutora . . . . . . . . . . . . Left bank.
,, 033 A ﬁne broad, deep pool. *
,, . . . . . . . . iRiver spread with low detached rocks ;
channels between; deep water.
,, 0% . . . . . . The same as above.
.. Sonewul . . . . . . . . .. Left bank.
ii
0i
0i

0t
bl
Kurronja . . . . . . . . . .
I I U Q n g
I I Q O I Q
a a t O I \
I Q O O O O

Right bank.
Fine deep pool.
A small bed of rocks in the middle of the
river; dangerous.
Right bank.
Pool continued.
Ooree nudee joins here, on the right bank.
Pool continued.
_ Rocks on the right hand.
2 feet water; low, sunken, and some appear-
ing; rocks spread all over.
9 inches water ; full of rocks in the channel;
scarcely any passage at all. Thcladen boats
could not have been got over; a fall of 3 feet.
A small old pagoda on the right hand,
exactly opposite the fall; my boat was
literally lifted over.
Another similar rapid, but not so bad.
Goee nude'e joins here, on the left bank.
Deep pool; two or three rocks just above
the water.
. 4 and 5 feet water; bad rocks in the
channel, and at its outlet.
A small rapid; 9 inches water; no regular
channel.
‘Bluff peak of the ﬁrst hill on the immediate
banks of the river ; right bank.
Fine deep and broad pool.
Pool continued ; sunken rocks ; some just

showing themselves above the surface of
the water. -
85
, Distance Names of Villages or '
Date’ in Miles. Rapids. Remmks'
I848 .
April 22nd . Ruins of the Gurhee of Deheir, on a hill on
2,
3,
3,
))
)7
Q)
9’
,3
April 23rd
7,
3!
,3
3,
)3
7,
39
2,
,9
$3
’)
Beejasein Phal . . . . . .
Beejasein . . . . . . . . . .
Moorgutta Tur . . . . . .
Moorgutta . . . . . .
0 n I O a .
Dhurmray
miles . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Dhurmi'ay. . . . . . .

I 1 I I I O
Hurun Cihat. . . .
I i I I Q i

the right bank.
. Right bank .
Pool continued ; broad and deep.
A shallow; stones to be removed;
inches water.
Left bank.
Deep, broad pool, with numerous sunken
rocks; jhow jungle on the right hand;
resort of tigers.
3 and 4 feet water; channel winding and
bad, with rocks.
not 6
, _ Left bank.
Pool, with sunken rocks; shallows; no
regular channel. \
Tar; shallow, &c.; good for a quarter of a
mile.
. Right bank.
According to Natives 7 kos.
Left .Dhurmray at 6 for the Hurun Pall.
Considered the head of the Hurun Pall
passage; 18 inches water; bad rocks for
200 yards.
Small pool, with rocks ; 4 feet water ; a rapid;
18 inches water, 6 feet channel.
River full of rocks ; deep water.
Deep channel ; 8 feet water, current not
strong; no fall; ﬁne bluﬂ' rocks in the
middle of the river, one on either hand
from the Pall.
Deep channel between rocks, 10 or 12 feet
wide.
Deep, narrow pool ; slight current.
A fall of 6 feet in 30 ; passage 8 or 10 feet,
with projecting pointed rocks on each
side ; very bad and dangerous.
100 yards; rapid.
Fall 3 feet; not so bad as the ﬁrst, but dif-
ﬁcult, from the water dashing on a pro-
jecting rock on the right hand; channel
10 or 12 feet.
100 yards ; rapid.
Fall 4 feet ; much like the above.
Deep channel below the rapids.
Left hand Channel fi'om H ui'zm Pall.
300 yards ; deep and clear.
Channel between rocks ; deep and clear.
Channel between rocks ; deep water.

Fine deep, broad pool ; no rocks.
86
Distance 11 f Vi
Date‘ in Miles. Na leSlgapidlslages or Remarks‘
1848 l '
April 23rd . . . . . . .. The bed of the river covered with low,
sunken, and small isolated rocks; no re-
gular channel ; in some places 6 inches.
water over the rocks, and then suddenly
deep.
,, . . . . . . . . No passage at all.

At 10 A. M.‘ returned to Dhurmray, and at 11 o’clock set sail for Chikulda ‘
with a fresh westerly breeze. Arrived at 3 A. M.
(Signed) R. H. F ENWIC-K,
In charge of the Coal Fleet.

From R. N. C. HAMILTON, Esq., Resident at Indore,
T O J. G. LUMsDEN, Esq., Secy. to Govt, Bombay.
Dated Indore Residency, 22nd May 1848.
SIR,
I have the honour to transmit, for submission to the Right Honorable the _
Governor in Council, the annexed copy of a letter from Captain Fenwick,
reporting his arrival at Broach on the 15th instant, with 48 Bengal maunds
(about 12 ton) of coal. ~ ‘ ‘
By my despatch No. 538, dated 27th ultimo, His Lordship in Council was
informed that a depOt of coal had been formed at Chikulda, below which the
N erbudda was not navigable on the 23rd of April. ‘
Captain Fenwick, under instructions from me, procured two carts, with
which, being laden, he proceeded to Kunnalee, on the N erbudda, below
Tullukwara. The road he found easy, and practicable for carts; and at Kun-
nalee, having procured boats, he continued his trip to Broach, the river being
easily navigated in a boat of 36 maunds tonnage. ‘
The coal has been delivered to the Collector, and Captain Fenwick will
return to Chikulda, coming up in the boat in which Captain Evans went down
last year, with a view to determine how high up the river above Kunnalee
the Nerbudda is navigable at the season of its smallest .depth of water.
Captain Fenwick will take the coal in store at Chikulda'from thence to
Broach as soon as the river is open, and the navigation safe, and thence to
Bombay. ' ‘
From all the information 1 have collected, I am satisﬁed that coal may
safely be conveyed from Dharee to.Broach between the months of'August and
87
December, in any quantity for which there may be tonnage; but that between
February and June the Nerbudda is not navigable.
As soon as a regular communication is opened, the return trade will go far
to cover the cost of transit, as there would be a constant supply of goods to be
brought up from Broach.
I have, &c.
(Signed) R. N. C. I'IAMILTON,
Indore Residency, 22nd Zllay 1848. Resident.
. From Captain R. H. FENWICK, in charge of Coal,
To R. N. C. HAMILTON, Esq., Resident at Indore.
SIR Dated Broach, 16th May 1848.
This is simply to inform you that I arrived here yesterday, and to hand to
you the accompanying receipt from Mr. Davies, the Collector. I am assured
it will please you that the coal, which has been brought thus far, has been
preserved, notwithstanding the cartage, shiftings, &c. I was advised by the
Raja of Oodeypore to go from Chikulda to Kunnalee, instead of Tullukwara,
as boats were not to be had there, and would have to be ordered up from
Kunnalee at extra cost, and with the loss of two or three days; and besides,
the distance to Kunnalee from \Varna is less than to Tullukwara, owing to the
reaches of the river. I met Mr. Mansﬁeld, Political Agent Rewa Kanta, at
Kunnalee, and received every assistance from him. Colonel Outram has
acted in the kindest manner to me. He wished me to go to Baroda, but I
may not do that just now. Mr. Davies aids me in every way. I could have
taken the coal now here to Bombay, as I have been offered freight in a large
pattimar which is just sailing out, but there is no object now. The boat
brought down by Captain Evans is here; I am putting it in order, and shall
take it up with me as far as the river will admit, and then I purpose travelling
through the jungle to Chikulda. I hope the boats and boatmen will be ready
to bring the coal down from that place as soon as the river ﬁlls. My hopes
are getting up: but the river must be the channel for the coal down, and trade
up. I shall be very anxious to go to Indore, and pay my personal respects to
you. I could say more then than by writing volumes. The cost of boatage from
. Kunnalee to this has been Rs. 6 (Baba Shahee) per boat. One carried 36
~ of submitting to you as soon as I have a little rest.
maunds of coal, the other 12 maunds, myself, and my small baggage.
Regarding the river from Kunnalee, I do not know how I could better de—
scribe it to you than by comparing it with the Bagheeruttee and Hooghly
from Berhampoor to Calcutta. The money accounts I shall have the pleasure
I have, &c.
(Signed) R. H. FENWICK,
Broach, 16th Zlfay 1848. In charge of Coal.
88
‘From 6. A. BUSHBY, Esq, Secy. to the Govt. of India,
To A. MALET, Esq, Chief Secretary to Govt., Bombay.
HoME DEPARTMENT. Dated the 13th May 1848.
SIR,
I am directed to acknowledge the receipt of your letter No. 679, dated the
26th ultimo, respecting certain coal-ﬁelds discovered near the river Nerbudda,
and reporting the measures proposed by the Resident at Indore for Working
them, and the extent of aid already afforded by the Government of Bombay.
The experiment appears to the Governor General in Council to be a very
expensive one, while the calculations on which it is based are so indeﬁnite and '
inconclusive, that it is difficult to regard it with much conﬁdence. _
The Honorable the Court of Directors and the Supreme Government have
long been desirous of ascertaining the real character of the coal mines lying
near the banks of the Nerbudda; but as the services of Mr. Williams, the
Geologist, could not immediately be made available for this purpose, the inquiry
was of necessity postponed for a time. It is not stated in your letter
whether Mr. J ohnstone is qualiﬁed by geological attainments to pronounce a
judgment on the point. It does not appear how the batch of coal sent to
Dharee in March last is proposed to be conveyed to the coast ; but Mr. Hamil—
ton’s own estimate of the cost of the coal per ton exceeds the price of English’
coal in the Bombay market.
Under all the circumstances of the case, so far as they are at present known,
His Lordship in Council must hesitate to accord his sanction to the steps
which are proposed to be taken by the Government of Bombay for the further-
ance of Mr. Hamilton’s plans : he would desire to be put in possession of more
complete information on the subject; and I am directed to request, that pend-
ing further instructions no arrangements involving expense may be entered into,
which are not of a temporary character.
I have, &c.
(Signed) G. \ A. BUsHBY,
Secy. to the Govt. of India.
Fort I'Villiam, the 13th May 1848.
From R. N. C. HAMILTON, Esq, Resident at Indore,
To the SECRETARY To GOVERNMENT, Bombay.
S Dated Indore Residency, 29th August 1848.
IE,
I have the honour to state, for the information of the Right Honorable the
Governor in Council, that Captain Fenwick reports having reached Broach by
89
water from Chikulda, with 239 sacks of coal, which have been lodged in a
godown at the Custom House. '
Copies of Captain Fenwick’s letters are annexed ; and his Journal, as soon as
received, shall be forwarded. Considering the craft,—~with two exceptions
the common ferry-boat of the Ghauts,—-it is not surprising that two were
swamped.
I have never entertained any opinion of the Nerbudda as a navigable
stream for commerce; yet many of the difficulties encountered by Captain
Fenwick might have been lessened, and the passage of boats facilitated,
had nautical science been brought to the aid of the experiment.
It may be assumed as a fact, that coal can be transported down the Ner-
budda, proper precautions being taken, and suitable boats provided, although
for the purposes of commerce the river is valueless.
Captain ,Fenwick will, I trust, be considered to have merited the appro-
bation of Government for his exertions. He will return to Broach, and
proceed to deliver the coal now there to the authorities at the Dockyard
in Bombay.
I have, &c.
(Signed) R. N. C. HAMILTON, '
Indore Residency, 29th August 1848. Resident.

From Captain R. H. FENWICK, in charge of Coal,
To B. N. C. HAMILTON, Esq., Resident at Indore.,
Dated One Mile above Hamp, 3rd August 1848.
SIR,
This is simply to inform you that we arrived here yesterday. I am now
Writing from on board, and beg you will excuse errors. \Ve have met with
serious misfortunes: we lost one boat below the Hurun Pall,——it was dashed
against a rock in the middle of the channel, and we saw nothing more of it
till the next day. Yesterday at this place two boats were completely lost, and
a third just had time to land her cargo. I shall not fail to send you my
Journal from Broach, the moment I arrive there, which I expect to do by
the 6th. The Nerbudda from Hurun Pall to this I think impracticable for
purposes of traffic. Some of the boatmen with me accompanied Captain
Evans last season, and they say that the river was higher then than at present,
and they did not meet with these diﬂiculties. I cannot express to you my
admiration of the boatmen, and I would trust myself with them always.
I have, &c.
. (Signed) R. H. FENWICK,
‘One Mile above Hamp, 3rd August 1848. In charge of Coal.
l2n
90'
I From Captain R. H. FENWICK, in charge of Coal,‘
To R. N. C’. HAMILTON, Esq., Resident at Indore.
Dated Broach, 9th August 1848.3“
SIR,
I beg to acquaint you that I arrived here this morning at 8 o’clock, and
immediately called on Mr. Davies, the Collector, who has kindly given me a
room in his house, and godown at the Custom House for the coal, where it
is now being deposited, and will be kept under my charge. I grieve to say
we have lost 99 bags of coal. We met with another serious accident on the .
5th instant, about three miles below the Mokree barrier. A boat which carried
only 5 bags, with the Karkoon, and always brought up the rear, struck against a
rock in the middle of the river, which is there about half a mile broad, and
instantly ﬁlled. Luckily, the river was then subsiding, and it got ﬁxed
between two points. The boatmen swam ashore. The Karkoon was picked
up by a boat pushed out for the purpose. The next'morning the coal was
taken out, and put on another boat, and the wreck brought off, and having
been repaired, has been brought on here. It is necessary I should inform you
that I believe there is not a single boat of the ﬂeet that has not at one time
or another been in danger, by being carried on rocks, or nearly swamped in the
rapids, waves, or Whirlpools. The large boat, the double boat, and the boat I
was upon, have had narrow escapes. From all this, and the general character
of the river between the Hurun Pall and the lVIokree barrier, 1 am conﬁrmed
in the opinion that it is not‘a navigable stream, available for the purposes of
commerce.
1 have, &c.
(Signed) R. H. FENwIcK,
In charge of Coal.
Broach, 9th August 1848.

From Captain R. H. FENWICK, in charge of Coal,
To R. N. C. HAMILTON, Esq., Resident at Indore.
Dated Camp Chandore, 18th August 1848.
SIR, _
I have not written to you since my letter ‘of the 9th instant, as I was anxious
to settle with the boatmen ﬁnally before I did so. I now have to inform you
that seven of the Mundlaisir boatmen having returned overland, refusing to
serve for less than one rupee per diem each, I have left the large boat. and the '
double boat at Broach, under the charge of the Collector. The boat which.
struck on the rock below the Mokree barrier was so much injured that it could
not be kept aﬂoat: I have left it also with Mr. Davies, and requested of him
91
to have it sold by public auction. This boat was an old one; but as I could
get none other at Chikulda, and it being desirable that an empty spare boat
should accompany the ﬂeet, I brought it with me. The Karkoon with 5 bags
of coal always brought up the rear in it. ,
Five of the Chikulda boatmen, and the boat brought down by Captain
Evans last season, now form the ﬂeet, which left Broach on the 14th‘
instant, and I overtook it on the morning of the 16th at J enore, the Collector
having kindly lent me the Government bunder-boat to take me up so far.
We arrived here this forenoon. We make very slow progress, although the
river has subsided very much indeed. How we shall manage up the rapid I
am unable to anticipate, nor can I guess in how many days we shall be able to
reach Chikulda. This trip will, I trust, complete the experiment. I am not
certain Whether I shall be able to persuade the boatmen to come down with me
again. I should like this very much, as I think I should make the voyage in
six days. I shall not be afraid of the jungle fever until after the 15th of
September. After my letter of the 9th instant, I have very little to say
regarding the obstacles in the river between Hurun Pall and Mokree, and I
am sorry that I shall not be able to send you my Journal before I reach
Chikulda: but I may generally state in this place, that there was ' scarcely a
mile of free navigation the whole way,—I mean at a stretch; and we
encountered diﬂiculties and dangers several times each day. I place the
safety of the boats which escaped destruction to the skill, energy, physical
strength, and cool courage and spirit of the boatmen, whose conduct I cannot
sufficiently praise. I may almost say, though, that we trusted more to our
being able to swim than to the boats, to reach Broach.
It may be necessary to detail here, for your information, the arrangements
I made to run no risks needlessly, to ensure safety to the boats, and to meet
all accidents, in as far as human foresight could effect it. I established
order by nominating Muddun, the head Mundlaisir boatman, as chief, and
Bholoo and Munnia of Chikulda his deputies. Each boat was named, and
directed to sail in its proper place. My boat always took the lead, and,
according to circumstances, kept two or three hundred yards or more ahead
of the rest. The large boat followed; then the double boat,- the rest in their
proper order; the empty or Karkoon’s boat bringing up the rear. I had a
black, a red, and white ﬂag on my boat. The red hoisted ordered the boats
behind me to push to shore without a moment’s delay to the left b k; the
black to the right bank ; and the white to follow in my track. Whenever we
came to any difficult places, the boats were put to; the headman went overland
to examine ; after that my boat was passed over, and if the channel was found
practicable, they returned and brought on the rest, my boat being kept in
readiness below the barrier, rapid, or whirlpool, to pick up the men in case of
a boat being lost. This ‘precaution saved some of the boatmen at the rapid
above Hamp, and the Karkoon below Mokree.
I- have already informed you that we have lost 99 bags of coal : 239 bags
(92
. I
of the present batch, and 48 that I‘left with the Collector in May last, form ~
the total quantity now in Broach. A circumstance which very much dis-
tressed me was, that although 'during the night we had awnings put up, and
secured the coal from the rain, which fell more or less every day from the
29th July to the 7th instant, in the day-time it was taken down, the wind
being from the westward, and the bags were unavoidably exposed to the
constant showers ; but more than that,—-the spray from the waves at the rapids
frequently dashed over the boat from head to stern, and drenched everything
in it. There was no remedy against this. The coal in the boat which
struck on the rock above Hamp, and had just time to land her cargo, was
completely wetted. However, although much of the dust has been washed out
‘ of the bags, I believe the bulk of the coal has not been injured. You may.’
conceive from the above what would be the fate of valuable articles of traffic in
such boats as these.
I have, &c. ‘
(Signed) R. H. FENwIcK,
In charge of Coal.
Camp C/zandore, 18th August 1848.
From R. N. C. HAMILTON, Esq., Resident at Indore,
T o J. G. LUMsDEN, Esq, Secy. to Govt, Bombay.
Dated Indore Residency, 21st September 1848.
SIR, .
In continuation of my letter No. 908, dated 29th ultimo, I have the honour
to state, for the information of the Right Honorable the Governor in Council,
that Captain Fenwick has arrived at Chikulda, having effected his return by
water. '
I beg to forward a copy of Captain F enwick’s Journal, which supplies some
interesting particulars regarding the navigation of the Nerbudda,—a river
which must now be pronounced not practicable for the purposes of commerce,
though, with suitable arrangements and precautions, coal may be ﬂoated down
during certain months of the year.
Shoﬁd the Sonadeh coal-ﬁelds be worked, the coals must be lodged in
depots at convenient positions, and moved as circumstances will admit. I
regret much that all my endeavours to ﬁnd coal near Baug, or nearer the mouth
of the river than Sonadeh, have hitherto failed.
I have, &c.
(Signed) R. N. C. HAMILToN,
- Resident.
More Residency, 21st September 1848.
‘93
CAPTAIN FENWICK’S JOURNAL,
Alluded to in the preceding Letter from Mr. HAMILTON.

Miles Furl.
l2 0
l’ O
O 0%
l O
2 0
0 0%
0 l
0 0%
0 Oi
Total 18 0%,-
0 0%
3 0
1 O
1 0
1 “0
l i 0
0 0;
29th July 1848.——Left Chikulda at 8 A. M.
To Dhurmrae ; not a rock nor a ripple.
Hurun Pall ; ,no rocks in the channel, nor any diﬁiculty.
Enter the Bhorekeyree rapids. Had all the boats put to on the right bank,
and taking with me four of the best boatmen, viz. Muddun, Bholoo,
Munnia, and another, proceeded in my boat to examine the passage.
Bhorekeyree ; channel at the narrowest part about 60 feet ; very bad,
from the high waves ; the boatmen sent back for the rest of the
boats ; all shipped in water, the double boat the most.
River studded with blulf rocks, some of them several feet above water,
some just under the surface. This is a very bad passage; the channel
in some places 40 feet wide ; waves very high ; all the boats shipped
in water.
Very very bad ,- high waves ; current very rapid; rocks everywhere,
and with difficulty avoided. One of the boats got ﬁxed on a rock in
the middle; other boatmen had to swim to it, and it took some time
to get it off.
Very bad rocks ; the channel very winding, intricate, and dangerous.
Rapid ; very bad channel, studded with rocks ; 30 feet passage ; just
below it a boat was dashed on a rock, and completely lost ; 30 bags
of coal gone. The boatmen swam ashore ; a Bildar, who could
not swim, was left on the rock during the night, and brought off the
next morning ; could not do it in the dark of the evening.
Put to, on rocks ; no village. The ﬂeet separated for the night ; three
boats got down a quarter of a mile ; mine and two others below the
rock and rapid, and three boats above it.
miles by guess.
30th July 1848.—-Put off at 8 A. M.
Some rocks in the channel, and rapids ; a very small pointed rock in the
middle of the river, which widens here, and becomes free from dan-
ger ; rocks on each hand.
Clear and deep ; only two or three rocks visible ; a huge barrier of
rocks across from bank to bank ; 30 feet channel near the right bank.
This place is called Kalee Karee ; high waves ; rather bad; no other
practicable channel. At 300 yards a bad rock in the middle, under
water, very dangerous; current very rapid, and rushing on it.
Isolated rocks all the way; channel not bad, being broad and deep near
the left bank.
Clear and deep ; bluff high rocks in several places ; three channels, not
difficult; the left hand one is the best.
A whirlpool, but not bad at present.
Clear.
A rapid ; head of the Dupana barrier, and falls; dangerous rapids, from
the channel not being well marked; very high waves for 400 or 500
yards. All the boats shipped in water except the large boat Rewa-
sunker ,- the double boat the most.
A ﬁeld on the right bank, belonging to Dupana.
Dupana.

A rapid.
94
MilesFurl.
0 05
1 0
bmoi,
1 0
l 0
2 0
2 0
2 0
0 0i
0 0i
1 0;
o 0.1,

200
005-
005
High waves the whole way; rocks in -the channel, which is 40 feet
wide, 10 feet deep, as almost all the channels are just now.
Rocks the whole way, but passage not diﬁicult or dangerous, being
broad and deep.
A rapid, but not dangerous ; deep water and good channel.
Bad rocks in the middle of the channel.
Not difficult.
A rapid for 300 yards ; waves ; a whirlpool, but not bad just now; rocks
under water ; channel broad and deep.
Deep water ; rocks, immersed and isolated, all across ; waves. The river
has widened for the last two miles.
Bad rocks, some under water, some appearing ; the channel near the
right bank deep and good. -
Kurhaee, on the left bank. Found the lost boat on a rock, one side
smashed in altogether; .totally useless.
Abundance of water. A
Some rocks in the middle of the river, and nearthe right bank ;. passage
wide, and easy ripple.
Deep and broad. .
A huge rockish land on the right hand, at the confluence of the Hutnee
river ; low rocks on the left hand ; passage broad and deep.
Clear and deep from bank to bank.
Village and cultivation on the right bank.
A bluff, long rock-island near the left bank; broad, clear,
stream on the right hand.
long range of bluff rocks in the middle of the river; deep, good
channels on either side.
A rock-island near the right bank ; passage on the left hand.
A barrier and rapid ; rocks and waves across from bank to bank ; channel
on the left hand, near the shore, only 20 feet wide.
The head and ﬁrst of the Bheetara barrier; falls and rapids very very
bad ,- the river studded with low rocks from bank to bank, and
apparently no passage. '
Six bags of coal were taken out of the double boat this morning, and put
on some of the others, Rewasunher taking 4 maunds more, making
her cargo 5 manees and 10 maunds. \
Put to at half-past 4 P. M., on rocks on the left bank, opposite Bheetara.
and deep
miles by guess.
31815 July 1848.
Strong current; the boats let down with ropes, brushing along the sides
of perpendicular precipices 20 to 30 feet high, along the left bank,
the current rushing towards the barrier. The barrier or ridge of
rocks extends for about 300 yards, studded with rocks, some just
above the water, some under; no practicable channel. The boats
were let down with ropes, and by the hand, knocking and bumping on
the rocks the whole way, and in some places dragged over‘; 20 bags
- were taken out of Rewasunher, and carried over the rocks for about
150 yards. It and the double boat were taken over with much
labour and difficulty, and we did not get over the work before 12
o’clock. This passage is very tedious, but not so dangerous, or
attended with the same risk, as that below the Hurun Pall, for about
6 miles. There ropes cannot be used, nor punting be resorted to, and
the oars are not powerful enough to command the boat through the
winding channels; the current rushing on rocks on all hands.

Pretty good.
95
Miles Furl.

10
20
10
10
00;.
0,0;
The Beytana Ghat Barrier.--Rapids and falls. Put to on the right
bank to examine them ;, forbidding and fearful. The main stream
is on the left hand; very, very, very bad for 300 yards’ ; high
waves; almost a direct fall. Carried my boat over with four of 'the
best boatmen to test it ; the boat nearly ﬁlled. The laden boats could
not have been taken down by this channel. Examined a narrow
passage between rocks for 300 yards on the right bank. This is bad
too, but there is no other ; it is about 18 feet wide. All the Chikulda
boats were lightened of 12 maunds each; Rewasunker l3 maunds;
and the double boat 24 maunds ;-—the two latter, and two of the
Chikulda largest and best boats, were taken down the left or main
channel, and four of the latter by the narrow one. The latter were
managed with bamboos, the former with oars and paddles. Ropes
cannot be used here. All shipped in water, and the double boat, as
usual, a good deal. The right hand channel is dangerous, from not
being more than 18 feet wide, with pointed, projecting rocks on either
hand. In one place the waves here too were very high,--almost a
direct fall; the water several feet deep. The coal, which was lauded,
was carried over the rocks for some 500 yards.
Put up on the rocks on the right bank, a little below the village of
Beytana, and the rapids; the boatmen being knocked up, and it
being late.
miles by guess.
let August 1848.—Left from below Beytana at 7 A. M.
The river has fallen about 2 feet since yesterday evening. Leaving the
rest of the boats moored, I proceeded in my boat with Muddun,
Bholoo, Munnia, and others, to examine the passage below, which
appeared to be full of rocks and rapids.
At 300 yards there is a pointed rock in the middle of the passage, badly
situated just above the surface, the current rushing on it with great
force ; deep water, rocks, and rapids the whole way ; channel not well
deﬁned. My boat was put to, and the boatmen sent back for the
others.
Hailkuree ; a gut or strait between perpendicular, precipitous cliffs, 20
and 30 feet high ; near the right bank deep water and slight current.
Width 70 or 80 yards ; a very remarkable passage.
High rocks on either hand; channel about 150 yards or so; deep
water; a bad place for Whirlpools, as the villagers say.
Surkuree, on the right bank. '
Surkuree barrier, and rapid, called Gulchee Ghat, or Tur. A very, very,
very bad passage; rocks across from bank to bank, some just above
the water, some under ; the latter are the worst. Only one difficult
channel, in the middle, about 40 feet wide; deep water; current
rushing ; half the day lost in bringing the boats over.
For 100 yards channel from bank to bank ; then rocks ; a whirlpool;
and then a very deep pool; a deep broad pool; a formidably large
whirlpool, dangerous. A single mango tree on the left bank points
out the spot.
At 400 yards the village of Sudree, on the left bank ; a broad, deep pool.
At 300 yards a rapid; broad channel in the middle of the river; on
either hand very bad rocks. -
A village just below, on the right bank
hand. ‘
Deep pool; several isolated rocks; channel deep and broad in the
; a little cultivation on either

middle.
96.
Miles Furl.
H
“"1 col
O Q '
{Ch- (Cl!—
0:1
0i
l
0.
o O o U .
Rip-I 8*!“
O
NIH
o.
vet-I
Rocks and ripples. ' ‘
For ﬁrst 300 yards broad and deep channel on the left hand.
Deep ool.
Rocks on the right hand; a rock-island, channel on each side.
A pool.
A bad rock in the middle, just above the water, and very little ripple to
denote it.
A village on the left bank ; a deep pool; rocks on the right hand.
Fields on the left bank.
Clear.
Rocks on the right hand.
Nanka Ghat, barrier, rapids, &c.--Very,-uery, very bad. The boatmen
compared it to Sahesur Dunah. I examined the largest channel,
which is in the centre, in my boat, and found it fearfully obstructed
with rocks, rapids, rushing current, and their attendent perils ; waves
peculiarly high, and little Whirlpools or eddies ; the water swelling,
and curving over the rocks, and then falling headlong into a deep
trough. All this extends for a quarter of a mile. Rewasun/rer was
dashed against a rock, and nearly lost. Luckily none of the laden boats
came down by this channel ; signals were made in time to prevent
them. They took to the left bank, and came through another passage
above the shore ; shallow, with rocks and waves, but nothing to be com-
pared to the other. Put to at sunset, below the falls, on the left bank ;
Selukda village on the right bank, Gunnoo Patel. '
miles by guess; I think it must be something more.
2nd August 1848.—Left at 6 A. M.
A deep pool.
A bad rapid; channel near the left bank.
A very bad rapid and whirlpool ; “obliged to use ropes.
A pool.
A very bad rapid; high waves ; passage along the left bank.
Rocks, rapids, and high waves; a very bad passage. I came down in
my boat by the left hand channel, which we found not practicable
for the laden boats ; sent back the boatmen to bring .them down by
the right hand channel, which is very shallow.
Deep sliding current ; clear channel.
Put to, to examine below ; rocks everywhere ;
Pundit, struck on a rock, and was nearly lost.
The village of Chipna on the right bank.
Half the way clear; then had rocks, rapids, and high waves. As
usual, I took my boat down with Muddun, Bholoo, Munnia, and
others, to examine the passage. Found this one not practicable for
the laden boats. The channel to the right was selected, and they
went back for them. To prepare for accidents, I had my boat ready
below the rapid in the worst place; ropes could not be used. There
is a whirlpool under the fall or rapid.‘ One of the laden boats ﬁrst
coming down, struck on the rock in the middle, and at the head of
the channel, but got off, and was enabled to reach the shore, and land
the coal, before it ﬁlled. Shortly afterwards two boats, although they
avoided the‘ rock, were dragged into the rapid and waves, swamped,
and went down bodily; nothing more seen of them. Some of the
boatmen swam ashore, some were picked up by my boat ; one
young man got into the- whirlpool, and we gave him up for lost;
fortunately he got hold of an car, and being an expert swimmer,
one of the boats, the

97
Miles Furl.

6 0
10
Lib
10
0 0.1,
10
2-0
0 03.
.1..b
s 0;;

landed himself low down. One of the two latter boats, being under
water for some time, rose again to the surface, almost erect, in the
centre of the whirlpool, and was brought to land. All this happened
in the evening, one mile above Hamp.
61 maunds or bags of coal lost to-day; some of the Bildars and several
of the boatmen have lost everything they had,-—pots, pans, clothes,
&c. This morning, when leaving Selukda, the following arrange-
ments were made, and ordered accordinglyz—Muddun was appointed
chief, Bholoo and Munnia his deputies. My boat was to lead at 200
or 300 yards, or more, in advance, according to circumstances ;
Rewasuu/cer to follow; then the Saugur or double boat. The
rest were named too, and to come next according to their appointed
order. The Karkoon’s boat, with only 5 bags of coal, was to bring
up the rear. A red, a black, and a white ﬂag were kept to my boat,
to make signals : on the red being hoisted, all the boats were to pull
ashore to the left bank instantly ; the black pointed to the right
bank ; and the white directed to follow my boat.
miles by guess.
3rd August 1848.——-Left above Hamp at 9 A. M.
The two boats were repaired, 13 bags of coal put on board the small one,
and 23 bags on the other, and 7 bags were taken in my boat ; the
Sauyur, or double boat, was also considerably lightened.
A deep pool.
A bad rapid; rocks just above the water, in the middle.
Bhuroorgan on the left bank.
A strong current and whirlpool.
Bhalayooree, called Byyee—lza-Plturz—A very narrow passage ; high
rocks on each hand ; a very bad and dangerous whirlpool ; very high
waves ; some of the boats had narrow escapes.
A narrow passage; huge rocks on either hand; stopped here for two
hours, and sent on boatmen to examine the rapid and passage below.
A very bad channel near the left bank ; a bluff rock-island.
- A bad rock in the middle of the channel; high rocks; on each hand a
whirlpool.
Strong current; a whirlpool; a rapid; two rocks in the middle ; high
waves.
Rocks ; rapid and waves ; a very bad and difﬁcult passage.
Peepul Chope on the left bank.
Put to at 5 P. M., on the left bank ; half of the boat which was lost
yesterday found here.
" miles by guess.
'4”). August 1848.—Left below Peepul Chope at 7 A. M. The river has
risen a good deal.
Stream rapid and broad.
A rock-island on the right hand.
Rocks in the channel ; a rapid, and waves.
The same as above. There are two channels here; some of the boats
came down by he right hand one, and some by the left passage ; the
latter is the worst.
Clear. Put to, to examine below.
Rocks, and strong current in the channel.
A rapid ; rocks on the right hand.
A rapid; rocks on the left hand; cultivation along the right bank ;

teak trees. ~
98
Miles Furl.
0 0;
at,
bin,
0 0s
0 0,1,
2 0
limos
1 o
owes
0 or
o 0;}.
o or,
ones
0 0;
o o;
1 0
1 0'
l4 0
o'er
0 0.},
o 0.;
‘
A bad rock on the right hand ; the current rushing on it.
A village on the right hand.
A rapid, and high waves.
A bad rock in the channel ; a rapid; high waves; two date trees on
the left bank ; cultivation.
A large, bad whirlpool. ' '
Put to, to examine the rocky passage below. '
Strong current ; a rapid; very bad rocks in the middle of the channel ;
bamboo bushes begin to appear.
High rocks almost across the river; put to on the right bank, to examine
the passage ; channel along the left bank not bad.
Clear channel along the right bank and middle ; very strong current.
A village on‘ the left bank ; river rising.
boatmen to take their breakfast.
Rocks, rapids, waves ; very bad. My boat was dashed against a small
pointed rock in the middle of the channel ; it ﬁlled partially, heaved,
swung round, and plunged into the trough and waves below, but
got out again; a laden boat would have gone down.
Put to, to examine below.
A very bad rock, and below it a whirlpool; very formidable; almost
all the boats got into it, were taken round and round for several
times, dashed against each other, and got jammed in the vortex for a
minute or two.
Bad rocks and rapids ; river still rising.
Very bad Whirlpools, waves, &c.
A very bad rock in the middle of the channel, and a strong current
rushing on it ; very dangerous.
Put to, to examine the channel below.
A rock on the right hand, of no consequence.
Beautiful plantations, along the right bank, of palms, mangoes, and
mahwa trees, and cultivation, interspersed with huts, the whole way.
Two bad rocks in the middle of the stream.
Rocks in the middle; strong current ; plantations continued along the
right bank, belonging to the village of Guddain.
Clear, broad stream; put to, to examine a rapid below.
Strong current ; rocks on either hand, but not dangerous; river still
rising slowly.
Very, very bad rocks; a rapid and Whirlpools; Surpon barrier, &c.
Sulpon or Surpon ; Mahadeo temple on the left bank. Put to under
Surpon at 5 P. M.
miles by guess ; it may be something less.
5th August 1848, 8 A. M.—-—At Surpon ; boatmen attending the temple.
The river has risen a little during the night ; heavy rain all night,
and now continued. Put off at 9 A. M. Took another boatman on
my boat to-day, having hitherto had only three.
Rocks on the left hand, to be avoided ; strong current. .‘
Rocks on the right hand ; current strong.
Rocks ; a rapid; caution required ; dangerous waves, and ‘a bad
whirlpool. .
Rocks on each hand ; channel good.
A pagoda on the right bank.
A village on the left bank ; palms, mango trees, cultivation, and huts
along the right bank.
q ~

Rocks in the middle of the channel ; put to, to examine, and allow the,
99
Miles Furl.
.2 0
0 0i
ifoi
0 0,1.
0 0;;
0 0i
0 or;
Rapids, currents, and rocks, but not bad.
Commencement or head of Molsree Ghat Plmi Tar, or barrier, falls, &c.
. Put to to examine the )assao'e; huts, )ﬂll'IlS, Etc. alone- the'ri ht bank.
, o I o .
Rocks all over and across the river; channel in the middle, 40 or 50
yards wide ; very strong current, and high waves.
- Clear.
Strong current ; a rock on the right hand; channel along the left bank.
Strong current the whole way ; very bad rocks in the middle ; channel
near the left bank. ,
A whirlpool in the middle ; rather formidable ; current rushing towards
rocks on the right hand ; very dangerous ; numerous eddies, or little
Whirlpools. _
Mookur village on the left bank. A
Rocks, rapids, waves, whirlpools; all very: had.
A large, huge rock-island in the middle ; my boat took the less channel,-
which proved to be very bad and dangerous ; Whirlpools, waves,
strong current, &c.; all very formidable. ‘i'r'e thought ourselves in
peril for a while; the boat was whirled and spun round and round,
nearly ﬁlled by the waves, and was dragged. towards some rocks on
the right hand, and just escaped by a few feet from being dashed to
pieces. The boatmen, especially Bholoo, showed great energy and
presence of mind, and expertness on the occasion. This coolness
was complete, unmoved by the imminent. danger: with a few last
strokes of the paddle, he kept the head of the boat off from a rock,
which we expected it would be impossible to avoid. Put to on the
left bank. All the other boats were carried ; forced into the right
hand channel, which luckily proved to be not so bad, got down safely,
and put to on that bank. ‘
River studded with rocky channels; current rushing through them,
with sluice forces, all very bad. It took some time to make a selec-
tion, by trying an empty heat over some of them. I consider this
' Mokree barrier as one of thevery ‘worst in the Nerbudda. I had a
good view of it, and the river, for two miles or so, above and below,
from a high rock, and it certainly looked quite frightful. The boat-
men think the river half full, and say that it. was higher when Captain
Evans went down last season. - The Karkoon’s boat was first taken
down ; the boatmen returned, and carried over three others, with six
- men to each, and so get the whole down safely. My boat came into
the right hand channel with a great deal of diiiicult‘v.
Very, very bad rocks; a rapid and a \‘vhirlpool at the bottom of the
channel; all the above from the upper part of the Mokree falls, &c. ;
there is a worse passage ‘vet below. At 2 P. M. all the boats
arrived below the above whirlpool, and put to on the right bank.
Strong eurrent,——-a torrent ; rapid waves, t’vc. along the left bank, and
in the middle. No boats could possibly live there just now,——and this
is the main channel. The boats were let down with ropes along the
rocks, and over shallows on, the right bank, tedious work. The
main channel or stream on the left, above alluded to, is studded with
destructive rocks, the waves raging and lashing over them in spray
and foam; numerous little whirlpools or eddies moving down in
circular sweeps, and bubbling up from the bottom with a roar.
From nearly the middle of the river to the right bank there are
bluff rocks, with narrow passages of 10 and 12 feet, with little falls of
‘2 and 3 feet, and then suddenly deep. ‘
Along the left bank the torrent passage continues worse than ever;

nothing could live in it.
100
Miles Furl.

0 0;
do;
2 0
1 0
at;
o o;
10 0.3.
1 0
1 o
1 0
3
‘miles by guess.
Neemrell on the right bank.
Thonia on the left bank, abreast of the worst part of the channel.
Just below there is the fearful whirlpool .- it embraces the ‘whole bed
of the river, and I think we have scarcely encountered anything so
awful and terriﬁc. The boats were let down with ropes along the
rocks on the right bank, still with much apprehension, for had they
come within its inﬂuence nothing could have saved them. I take the
river at this place to be between 300 and 400 yards wide, or more.
Rocks on either hand.
F or‘400 yards strong current, eddies, and little Whirlpools.
Deep pool; no rocks in the river: the hills are receding; villages,
cultivation, plantations, and topes of palms and other trees; all the
both banks of the river.
Fine broad, still pool.
Last of the hills on the left bank.
Pool ; ' a noble stream. _
Current and waves ; sunken rocks, dangerous from their not being visible.
A pagoda on the right bank.
Rocks and rapids; dangerous, from the rocks not being seen, but
immediately under the surface.
Put to at Emrio, on the right bank, Rajpeepla Ilaqua, at 6 P. M.
Just at this moment the empty boat with the Pundit struck on
a rock half- a mile above, ﬁlled, and got ﬁxed; luckily the river
is falling. Took my boat with seven selected boatmen,-—Muddun,
Bholoo, Munnia, Gylia, and others,———and after great exertions got
up to the rock, when it became completely dark. In trying to
approach it near enough to throw over a rope, we found it could not
be done,—the current dashed us away past it; and we were obliged to
leave the Karkoon and three boatmen to their fate for the night,
relying upon the river not rising, in which case they would be quite
safe. However, to provide against everything, I had one of the boats
emptied forthwith, and kept ‘ready to pick them up, in the event of
the boat ﬂoating off the rock. At this moment (it was pitch dark)
we heard a shout, and soon after the voices of persons in the water,
and shortly after all the four landed safely where we had put to.
The boat having missed him, the Karkoon, too, had managed to
reach the shore, with the help of a couple of bamboos lashed
together, but he was nearly exhausted. The rock is in the middle
of the river, and the stream here is half a mile or more broad.
miles by guess.
6th August 1848.—The boat was brought oﬁ” from the rock this
morning. I
Left Emrio at 10 A. M., having repaired the boat as well as we could;
but it is quite shattered, and will barely keep aﬂoat.
Rocks in the middle ; a pagoda on the right hand ; small sunken rocks,
and ripples over them, on the right.
Gurhasur, on the right bank ; a Gurhee on the top of a small hill, and
the right bank.
Aktesur pagoda on the right bank. Nothing to remark; not a rock
nor a ripple ; smooth stream from bank to bank. Arrived at Chan-
dore in the evening, and put up in an old house of the Guikwar’s.
J
signs of civilization, and of a thriving people, are here exhibited on
a pagoda at the foot; some sunken rocks and ripples along, and near
101
Miles Furl. 7th. August 1848.
Left Chandore at sunrise, and arrived at Leehrah or Lillore at 5 P. M.,
on the right bank.
8th August 1848.
Left Lillore at 4 A. M. ; inspected the Kubeer Bar, or Mohmit’s island;
put to on an island at 4 P. M.
9th August 1848.
Left island at 6 A. M., and reached Broach at 8 A.

I
Chikulda, 15th September 1848. (Signed) R. H. FENWICK.

From Captain R. H. FENwIcK, in charge of N erbudda Coal,
To A. MALET, Esq., Chief Secy. to Govt., Bombay.
SIR’ Dated Bombay, 24th October 1848.
I have the honour to enclose, to be submitted to the Right Honorable the
Governor in Council, the original receipt from the Indian Naval Storekeeper’s
Ofﬁce, dated the 23rd instant, for 11 tons and 10 cwt. of Nerbudda coal, deli—
vered at the Coal Depét.
I have also the honour to forward extract of an official letter of instructions
from the Resident at Indore, furnished to me under date the 20th July 1848 ;
and to solicit that you will do me the favour to obtain for me the orders of
His Lordship in Council for my future guidance.
I have, &c.
~ (Signed) R. H. FENWICK,
Bombay, 24th October 1848. In charge of N erbudda Coal.
Extract from a Letter of Instructions from the RESIDENT AT INDORE, under
date the 20th July 1848, to Captain R. H. FENwIeK, in charge of
iVerbudda Coal.
Para. 3) 3. On arrival at Bombay you will make over the coal to Mr.
Johnstone, or to the Steam Factory at the Dockyard, or to such other depart—
ment as Mr. J ohnstone may point out.
Para. 4. Having delivered the coal at Bombay, you will have the good—
ness to report to the Secretary to the Government in Bombay, and having
done so, solicit the further orders of the Right Honorable the Governor in
Council ; reporting to me your proceedings.
(A true extract) '
(Signed) R. H. FENWICK,
In charge of N erbudda Coal.
102
From R. N. C. HAMiL'mN, Esq., Resident at Indore, _
To Lieut. Col. P. M. MELVILL, Secy. to Govt, Marine,Dept.,_Bombay.
Dated Indore Residency, 9th November 1848.
SIR, '
I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch No. 1604, \
dated 24th ultimo, and in reply to furnish a statement of charges and expenses
on account of the coal experiment.
I have endeavoured to classify the several disbursements; but it is impos—
sible to give them with that exactness which could ﬁx the actual cost of raising
and transporting aton of coal, because a variety of charges have been incurred,
as will be seen in the following abstract :———-
On account of Mr. Johnstone’s pay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rs. 1,390 O 0
Ditto of Captain Fenwick’s pay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,650 O 0
Ditto of survey of the Nerbudda . . . . . '. . . . . . . . . . . 400 4 ll
Expended by Captain Evans in purchase of sacks, &c. . . . . 177 l 0
The cost at the pits for workmen, &c. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,494 6 6
The cost of transport . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,960 5 3

Making a Total of. . . .Rs. *‘7,498 7 8
There has been a greater expenditure in river transport, owing to the utter
ignorance of all parties of the nature of the obstacles to be surmounted, and
the total want of other means of transport than the common ferry-boat of the
river: the novelty of the trip; its supposed danger; the dread of the jungle
at its unhealthy time; and the unwillingness of the fcrrymen to go beyond
their usual beats, caused a higher rate of wages to be demanded, and to be
allowed, than otherwise would have been admitted.
The fact that the coal can be raised at Sonadeh, and transported to
Bombay, has, however, been established; and it is for the Government to
determine whether a system of storing in depots could not be adopted, so as
to secure a supply of coal for the service of the steamers at any time it might
be required. I
In my letter No. 438, dated 31st March last, an estimate of the cost of
raising coal is given. Contracts could be made with Bunjaras at a slight
advance on the usual rates of hire. y .
The rate now charged by Bunjaras for the transport of grain or salt at the
principal mart of Seonee, near Hurda, is 5 N agpore rupees per 100 kos per
manee of 6 maunds of 40 seers each, or about his. 20 a ton for 260 miles of ,
distance; and supposing Bunjaras to be employed to convey the coal to
Bombay by land, it would cost on delivery near Rs. 50 the ton.
But coal might be raised at the pits in any quantity, and stored at ‘a
convenient spot neat‘ the pits,'so as to be readkat any time for removal; and
* This amount should be Rs. 7,()72-1-8.--Edit‘or.
103
this would not cost more {than 12 annas per ton for raising, covering in, and
making secure from the severity of the weather. . _
With reference to the sanction of Rs. 10,000 contained in your letter
No. 544, dated 4th April last, I beg that the enclosed bill may be passed, that
‘the accounts of this experiment may be ﬁnally adjusted, and charged in the
public,accounts.
. I have, &c.
(Signed) R. N. C. HAMILTON,
Indore Residency, 9th November 1848. Resident.

From the Honorable the COURT OF DIRECTORS FOR AFFAIRS OF
THE HONORABLE EAST INDIA COMPANY, London,
To the GOVERNMENT OF BOMBAY.
Dated 8th ZVovember 1848.
OUR GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL AT BOMBAY.
We have read with much interest your letter No. 48, of the 25th April last,
and its accompaniments, relative to the experimental operations in progress
for obtaining coal from the Valley of the Nerbudda.
It appears that Mr. Hamilton, the Resident at Indore, under whose direc-
tion these operations are carried on, has ascertained that beds of coal exist at
two places in the Baitool district,——at Sonadeh, where the seam is 20 inches
thick, and at Mardanpore, where the coal is of better quality, and where
the seam is 2 feet 4 inches thick. With the aid of Mr. .1 ohnstone, who is
described as a steam engineer of the Dockyard, whose services have been
placed temporarily at Mr. Hamilton’s disposal, '20 tons of the Sonadeh coal
Were procured and sent to Tullukwara, on the river bank, whither they were
expected to be conveyed at an expense of Rs. 21 per ton, and where it Was
intended to ship them for conveyance to Bombay.
Mr. Hamilton estimated that the expense of working one shaft for twelve
months would be Rs. 6,304, and that the return would be 10,920 tons of coal;
and you have authorised him to expend Rs. 10,000, in order to test fairly the
advantage of working the mine. If more than an experiment be intended,
and if it be desired to work the mines with the view of supplying the Govern—
ment demand for coal, Mr. Hamilton recommends that Mr. Johnstone be
appointed to superintend the operations, with a salary of Rs. 600 per mensem
for two years certain ; that other appointments be made, raising the total cost
of local superintendence to Rs. 1,000 per mensem; and that to every shaft
that maybe sunk, be attached an establishment of miners, &c., at an expense
of Rs. 522 per mensem.
On the more important of ,these proposals you have expressed no opinion,
further than by recommending Mr. Hamilton to conﬁne himself for the
104
present “ to feeling his way”; but you strongly urge us to permit Mr. John-
stone’s services to be devoted to coal-miningfor the period mentioned.
We are, however, not prepared to consent to this arrangement, which will
divert for so long a period, from his immediate professional occupation in the
Dockyard, the services of Mr. J olmstone, the Foreman of the Pattern-makers
in the Bombay Steam Foundry, whence, as reported to you by the Superin—
tendent of the Indian Navy, he can “ill be spared,” and whither, consequently,
he ought to return as early as practicable.
Still ‘it is very desirable to ascertain the extent, value, and accessibility of
the coal-ﬁelds of the Nerbudda Valley; and we approve of all you have
hitherto done for the investigation of those questions. Unless, however, the
experiment now being made should turn out much more favourably than there
is at present reason to expect, it will afford little encouragement to adopt more
extensive operations. The quality of the coal already discovered may be
ascertained from the quantities which have by this time reached Bombay; and
if it should prove to be as good as Mr. J ohnstone imagined, the mines yielding
it may become a valuable resource at some future period. But unless the cost
of the carriage has been greatly overrated, or can be greatly reduced, coal can
at present he obtained much more cheaply from other quarters. The convey-
ance from Sonadeh to Tullukwara alone, without counting the expense thence
to Bombay, is reckoned at a sum equal to 42s. per ton, whereas the average
contract price of coal purchased by us in England, and delivered at Bombay,
including all charges, during the last three years, has been 32s.
It appears, therefore, that instead of immediately proceeding to work the
mines of the Nerbudda Valley, the ﬁrst thing to be considered is how the cost
of conveyance can be reduced,—whether by the discovery of mines near the
navigable portion of the river, or by the improvement of the roads to the mines
already discovered.
We some time ago suggested that Mr. Williams, the Geological Surveyor,
should be deputed to examine the coal-ﬁelds of the Nerbudda Valley. We
observe that you have very properly communicated to the Government of
India the proceedings and views reported in your present letter to us; and it
may be ‘proper for you also to inquire of the Supreme Government when it is
probable that the services of Mr. Williams will be able to be spared for the
purpose above mentioned. A survey of that gentleman would afford the means
of judging whether it‘would be expedient to adopt any ulterior measures; but
for the present it will be advisable to suspend operations, unless further informa-
tion should warrant a more active course.
We are, &c.
(Signed) J. L. LUSHINGTON,
And other Directors.
London, 8th November 1848.
105
From R. N. C. HAMILTON, Esq., Resident at Indore,
To Lieut. Col. P. M. MELVILL, Secy. to Govt, Marine Dept, Bombay.
I Dated Camp Bairsiah, 19th December 1848.
SIR,
Since my despatch No. 454, dated 9th November last, submitting the
charges incurred in the coal expenses, I have seen Captain Fenwick, and learnt.
from him that the actual cost of conveyance of the coal from the pits to Bom-
bay was as follows :-
From Sonadeh to Dharee on the Nerbudda, by Bunjara bul-
locks . . . . . . . ., . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..Rs.O 6 0
By water contract to Chikulda . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ' O 4 0
Ditto to Broach . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O 8 0
By sea to Bombay (total hire Rs. 70) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O 4 0
Making a Total of . . . . . . . . . . . . Rs. 1 6 0
per maund, or Rs. 38-8-0 per ton.
2. Captain Fenwick states the boat on which the coal was laden at Broach
for Bombay was of tonnage sufficient to have taken more than double the
quantity of coal, and that the charge from thence to Bombay would not exceed
2 annas a maund : this rate would reduce the cost to Rs. 35 per ton.
3. To this being added the cost of raising the coal, which may be put
down at a rupee the ton, we have the total charge to Bombay at Rs. 36
the ton.
4. If it be intended to have any quantity of coal raised for storing, I hope to
be favoured with instructions at an early date, the healthy season for work hav-
ing commenced. Without being hurried as to time, knowing what is required,
where difficulties will have to be encountered, and what are the resources
available, arrangements can be made by which the cost may be reduced, and,
it is to be hoped, the coal-ﬁelds of the Nerbudda made available for our
sea-going steamers.
5. In my former letters, I mentioned that a commencement had been made
in sinking a shaft : the work was closed on the setting in of the rains, after the
shaft had been sunk 35 feet. It is highly desirable to persevere in this work,
and I hope His Lordship in Council will sanction an expenditure not exceeding
Rs. 400 on this account, as it is expected the coal vein may be reached at
between 70 and 80 feet from the surface.
6. I beg to annex a statement of the average cost of coal for the use of the
Dockyard since 1844, which was furnished to me by the late Superintendent
of the Indian Navy. -
I have, &c.
(Signed) R. C. HAMILTON,
Camp Bairsiah, 19th December 1848. Resident.
- 14a
1(N3
Statement exhibiting the Rates of the several Tenders for tlie Supply of Coal to
the Indian Navy received between August 1844 and December 1847.


Date. Quantity Description. Rate. Remarks.
1844 “ Tons.
August. . . . 485 Hard Splint Coal. . 13 0 0 per ton. Delivered alongside.
1845
March . . . . 350 Newcastle. . .. . . . . 30 0 0 ,, Delivered free of charges.
,, . . . . 600 . . . . . . 28 O O ,, Ditto ditto.
April. . .. . . 100 .. . . . . 30 0 0 ,, Delivered alongside.
May..y.... 7O . . . . .. 30 O 0 ,, '
,, 20 . . . . .. 2860 ,,
October. .. . 644 . . . . . . 18 0 0 ,, Delivered alongside.
,, . . . . 325 . . . . . . 18 O 0 ,, Ditto ditto.
December. . 599 . . . . . . 16 8 0 ,, Ditto ditto.
1846
January .. 510 Hard Splint . . . . .. 18 O 0 ,, ‘
April . . 200 Ditto . . . . . . 16 8 6 ,, Delivered at the depot.
July . . . . . . 150 Carr’s Hartley. . . . 12 0 0 ,, Delivered alongside.
September. . 405 \Vest Hartley .. .. 14 0 0 ,, Ditto ditto. -
October . . 100 Carr’s West Hartley 14 0 O ,, Ditto ditto.
November. . 300 _ Ditto .. 14 0 0 ,, Ditto ditto.
1847
January . . 70 Hotspur Steam .. 13 0 O ,, Ditto ditto.
December. . 355 Glasgow . . . . . . . . 16 0 0 ,, Ditto ditto.
,, . . 50 Coking. . .. .. . . .. 16 0 0 ,, Ditto ditto.


(Signed) JoHN CRoFT HAWKINS, Commodore Coming, '
Officiating Superintendent, I. N.
Superintendents Qﬁce, Bombay, 18th September 1848.
(True copy)
(Signed) R. N. C. HAMILTON,
Resident.

From Captain .1. C. HAWKINs, I. N ., Commodore Commanding,
Ofﬁciating Superintendent, Indian Navy,
To the Right Honorable Loan VISCOUNT FALKLAND,
President and Governor in Council.
Dated 30th December 1848.
RIGHT HONORABLE SIR, .
With reference to SecretarylLieutenant Colonel Melvill’s letter N o. 1603,
of the 25th October last, requiring a full and ﬁnal report upon the specimens
of coal received from the Valley of the Nerbudda, I have now'the honour to
107
report to your Honorable Board, that 5 tons of the coal in question were put
on board the steam-vessel Medusa for trial, and herewith beg to submit a letter
, from the Commander of that vessel, giving the result of the test, from which
it will be seen that the coal is not of a description adapted for consumption on
board steam-vessels, although in emergency it might be used.
I have, &c.
(Signed) .1. C. HAWKINS, Commodore Corning,
‘ Officiating Superintendent, Indian Navy.
Superintendent’s Oﬁice, Bombay, 30th December 1848.
Q
From Lieutenant H. VV.'GROUNDS, I. N .,
Commanding the H. E. I. Co.’s Steamer Medusa,
To Commodore JOHN CROFT HAWKINS, \
Officiating Superintendent, and Commanding the Indian Navy.
Q
Dated the 28th December 1848.
SIR,
In forwarding the accompanying Report on Nerbudda coal shipped on
“board the Medusa for trial, I have the honour to inform you that a strict and
careful investigation has been made to prove its qualities.
The large amount of earthy particles in the coal, which being purely in-
combustible, leaves a large quantity of clinker and dirt, in proportion of 58 to l
of British coal, as will be seen by the annexed form; and as the clinker
formed by it is of a soft form, spreading over the entire surface of the bars,
thereby stopping all draught, I would respectfully beg to represent that the
general use of it in marine purposes will be found to give but little or no
favourable result, as it is almost impossible to keep steam up, even with the
throttle-valve quarter open, and this as proved in the .Medztsa, whose draught
is generally very favourable.
* I have, &c. _
(Signed) H. W. GRoUNDs,
Lieutenant Commanding.
Bombay Harbour, 28th December 1848.
108
Report alluded to in the preceding Letter, on Nerbudda Coal, as tried on board
the Honorable Company’s Steamer Medusa, December 1848.

British Coal. Nerbudda Coal. 26th and giit‘flml'g‘glézgber 1848_
Time taken to get up From 1 to 1%
steam. '* hour . . . . .. 1% hour;
\Veight of one bucket
of coal . . . . . . . . .. 102 lbs. 92 lbs. Both small coal.
Weight of the same
bucket again ﬁlled. 98 lbs. r 91 lbs. Ditto ditto.
Average consumption "*
Per hour under Cwt. qrs. lbs. Cwt. qrs. lbs. \
steam . . . . . . . . .. 6 2 12 7 0 0 - The Nerbudda coal is very
‘ dirty, making it necessary
to clean the ﬁres very of-
ten, as is proved below,
With the above expen- the soft nature of the
diture, the throttle- ‘ clinker rendering the ripper
valve and steam- ‘almost useless.
gauge’ taken hour Throttle- Steam- Throttle- Steam-
by hour, Stood as| valve. gauge. valve, gauge.
follows . . .. . . . . .. Open. 5 lbs. Open. 5 lbs.
Do. Do. Do. 311,— to 4% lbs.
Do. Do. Do. Do
Do. Do. Do. 3 to 4%.lbs.
Do. Do. Do. Do.

Do. Do. a open. 1% to 4 lbs. Obliged to clean all the ﬁres.
Do. Do. 5 do. Do. ‘
Do. Do. i do. Do.
Do. Do. % do. Do.
Do. Do. a do. Do. Obliged to stop the engines,
Ashes formed from - as the steam was below
coals during ten the atmospheric pressure,
hours’ steaming .. 1 bucket. 58 buckets. to clean all the four ﬁres,
as the Nerbudda coal had
formed a cake over the
bars, that effectually pre—
vented the ﬁres from
burning.


(Signed) H. W. GRoUN-Ds, Lieut. Commg.
,, HEoToR M. GRANT, Engineer.

From R. N. C. HAMILToN, Esq., Resident at Indore,
To Lieut. Col. P. M. MELvILL, Secy. to Govt., Marine Dept, Bombay.
Dated Indore Residency, 23rd April 1849.‘ .
SIR, _
I shall be obliged by your submitting a request on my part to the Right
Honorable the Governor in Council, that should any of the Nerbudda coal
109 .
remain, one or more experiments be directed to be made in the Steam
Factory, with a view to ascertain its qualities. I am' induced to urge this, as
the last experiment reported (the. particulars of which I have not seen) is so
entirely opposed to the many, previous ones.
It is a well established fact that the same description of coal will not suit
every description of boilers, and therefore a further experiment seems desirable.
I have, &c.
(Signed) R. N. C. HAMILTON,‘
~ Resident.
' From the SECRETARY To GOVERNMENT, Marine Department, Bombay,
To the COMMANDER IN CHIEF on THE INDIAN NAVY.
Dated the 25th May 1849.
SIR,
I am directed to transmit the accompanying copy of a letter from the
Resident at Indore, No. 468, dated 23rd ultimo, and to request, that should any
of the Nerbudda coal remain in store, it may be submitted to such tests, in the
Factory or elsewhere, as may place its quality as far as possible beyond the
reach of doubt, or question.
I have, &c.
(Signed) J. G. LUMsDEN,
' Secretary to Government.
Bombay Castle, 25th May 1849. '

MARINE DEPARTMENT.
From Commodore STEPHEN LUSHINGTON, Commander in Chief, IAN,
To the Right Honorable LoRD VIscoUNT FALKLAND,
President and Governor in Council.
Dated Bombay, 18th August 1849.
i
MY LoRD,
With reference to Mr. Secretary Lumsden’s letter No. 596, of the 25th
May last, I have the honour to submit the enclosed Report of a Committee
appointed to test. the coal received from the Valley of the Nerbudda.
2. From this Report it will be seen that the coal in question, when tested in
the state in which it was received, was, as formerly represented, very inferior;
‘ but when separated by sifting from the foreign matter with which it had been
unavoidably mixed ‘up in the various stages of its transit to Bombay, it has
been found nearly if not quite equal to the best description of Government
coal. ' '
\
no
3. From the result of this trial it may be inferred, that when better means
are prepared for the transmission of the coal, it will render us independent in
u x a great measure of the foreign supply, and, consequently, be a great acquisition
‘to the resources of the country. i
I have, &c.
(Signed) STEPHEN LUSHINGTON, Commodore, .
Commander in Chief, Indian Navy.
To Commodore S. LUSHINGTON, Commander in Chief, Indian Navy.
SIR, '
In obedience to your orders dated 13th June, directing us to assemble in
Committee, for the purpose of testing a quantity of N erbudda coal forwarded
by Government for that purpose, we have now the honour to report, in a
tabular form, the result of several experiments made at different times with the
boiler of the Factory engine. The result is that the Nerbudda coal, when
sifted, is in all respects quite equal to the best coal usually imported here for
the use of the Government steamers. Whether the large quantity of sand and
dirt which we found it to contain has been introduced on its transmission ‘to
the Presidency, we have no means of ascertaining.

Time of getting up Steam, and Coal consumed per Horse-power Ashes and Clinker per 11:). of Coal
~ Quantity of Coal and Wood during 7 hours’ Steaming; Steam consumed during 7 hours’
consumed. kept up at 4 lbs. Pressure. Steaming.


Nerbudda Coal as received.
62 min.; 330 lbs. of coal ; 9.20 lbs. per horse-power. I 0.434 lbs.
56 lbs. of wood.

Nerbudda Coal when sifted.
70 iiiim; 336 lbs. of coal; 7.60 lbs. - per horse-power. 0.210 lbs.
56 lbs. of wood. l '
Best Government Coal.
85 min.; 301 lbs. of'coal;
56 lbs. of chips.
7.85 lbs. per horse-power. 0.204 lbs.


(Signed) R. ETHERSEY, I
Assist. Supt, and President.
,, A. CURsE'rJEE, I
Chief Eng. and Insp. of Mach.
_ ,, D. MACLAREN,
- 1st Assist. to Chief Engineer.
Bombay, 13th August 1849.
111
From Lieut. Col. P. M. M ELVILL, Secy. to Govt., Marine Dept., Bombay,
To the REsIDENT AT INDORE.
"Dated the 6th September 1849.
SIR,
With reference to the letter from this department, No. 597, dated 25th May
last, I am directed to transmit for your information the accompanying copies
of a letter from the Commander in Chief of the Indian Navy, dated the 18th
ultimo, and its enclosure, reporting the result of a further trial which has been
made of the coal obtained from the Valley of the Nerbudda.
I have, &c.
‘ (Signed) P. M. MELVILL, Lieut. Colonel,
' Bombay Castle, 6th September 1849. Secretary to Government.
0
From R. N. C. HAMILTON, Esq., Resident at Indore,
To .1. G. LUMSDEN, Esq., Secy. to Govt., Bombay.
Dated Indore Residency,- 17th October 1849.
SIR,
I have had the honour to ‘receive your despatch dated 6th ultimo, forwarding
copy of the Report on the recent trial of the Nerbudda coal ; and with reference
thereto, ‘beg to forward, for submission to the Right Honorable the Governor
in Council, copy of my address to the Government of India, and of the reply
thereto, conveying sanction to the disbursement of Rs. 500 in sinking a shaft
in the coal-ﬁeld at Sonadeh.
I have, &c.
(Signed) R. N. C. HAMILTON,
Indore Residency, 17th October 1849. Resident.
From R. N. C. HAMILTON, Esq., Resident at Indore,
To Sir H. M. ELLIOT, K.C.B., Secy. to the Govt. of India,
- With the Governor General.
S Dated Indore Residency, 12th September 1849.
IR,
Having received from the Government of Bombay a copy of your despatch
No. 399, dated 13th May 1848, I became informed that the Most Noble the
Governor General did not consider it desirable to prosecute further the experi-
ments on the Nerbudda coal raised by me at Sonadeh, and forwarded to
Bombay under the charge of Captain Fenwick (Nizam’s establishmeht), by
112
the N erbudda; that, in fact, the experiments had established the unﬁtness of
the coal.
2. Feeling satisﬁed that there must have been some mistake, I addressed t
the Bombay Government on the subject, requesting a further experiment
might be made, those which had formerly been reported having given such very
different results. i
3. I have now the honour to forward a copy of my letterﬁ“ and of the reply
‘thereto from the Governor in Council, with a copy ‘of the despatch from the
Commander in Chief of the Indian Navy, submitting the Report of a Com-
mittee assembled to test the coal which remained in store.
4. This Report fully supports those formerly made ; and in the words of ('
His Excellency the Commander in Chief, “ when better means are prepared a
for the transmission of the coal, it will render Bombay independent in a great
measure of the foreign supply, and, consequently, be a great acquisition to the
resources of the country?’
5. ‘Whether, under these circumstances, it may be worth while to incur
an expense (of Rs. 500 in sinking a shaft, as originally proposed by me, next
February, is for the Governor General to decide. Should His Lordship be
pleased to sanction this outlay, I will with pleasure make the necessary
arrangements.
I have, &c.
(Signed) R. N. C. HAMILTON,
Indore Residency, 12th September 1849. Resident.
From P. MELvILL, Esq., Under Secy. to the Govt. of India,
With the Governor General,
To R. N. C. HAMILTON, Esq., Resident at Indore.
SIR, Dated Simla, 6th October 1849.
In reply to your letter dated the 12th ultimo, No. 77, respecting the
Nerbudda coal, and with reference to the 5th paragraph, I am directed to
communicate the sanction of the Governor General to the expenditure of
Rs. 50,0 for sinking the shaft proposed by you as an experiment.
I have, &c.
(Signed) P. MELVILL,
Under Secy. to Govt. of India, with G. G.
Simla, the 6th October 1849.
(True copy) '
(Signed) ALFRED HARRIS, '
Offg. 1st Assist. to Resident. '
* Resident, dated 23rd April 1849, at page 108; reply, dated 6th September 1849, at page 111.
113
From R. N. C. HAMILToN, Esq., Resident at Indore,
To Lieut. Col. P. M. MELvILL, Secy. to Govt, Marine Dept, Bombay.
Dated Camp Sindwah, 20th January 1851.
SIR, -
The Government of India, when the experimental dispatch of coal from the
Valley of the Nerbudda, sanctioned by the Honorable the Governor in Council,
was “in progress, authorised an expenditure of Rs. 500 in sinking a shaft, with
a view to ascertain the extent and direction of the coal-bed from which the
sample forwarded to Bombay in charge of Captain Fenwick (Pension Estab-
lishment) had been raised, under my orders, by Mr. A. J ohnstone, recently
appointed to the Coal Department in Bombay. a:
2. I have not yet, however, expended the amount sanctioned ; but as the
season for sinking the shaft has arrived, I would wish again to bring the very
important subject of coal being supplied for our own territories under the consi-
deration of the Right Honorable the Governor in Council, because I have heard
that a great scarcity of coal, owing to the loss or detenti’i of the colliers from
England, is _now felt in Bombay ; and, indeed, owing to a deficiency of coal,
the steamer Queen, on her recent voyage from Aden, was compelled to break
up part of her lower deck, a portion of the paddle-boxes, and one of the large
boats.
3. Such occurrences, and the possibility of their recurrence, induce me to
press on the Government the advantage of having a large quantity of the Ner-
budda coal raised and transported to Broach, there to be available to meet any
emergency. \
4. Mr. A. J ohnstone is now in the Government Service, and attached to
this department : from no one can better information be obtained, and to no one
could the duty be entrusted with better prospect of success. Captain Fenwick,
too, is likely to be available, should his services be required ; or he might be
employed on a salary of Rs. 4 per diem to raise coal during the dry season,
and arrange for its transport during the rains, if only the Government will
incur a certain outlay, or the expense which may be absolutely necessary to
.raise a given quantity of coal, in addition to the pay of Rs. 4 per diem for
superintendence.
' 5. I shall be most happy to render every aid in my power; and, if Captain
Fenwick’s services should be desired, to secure them, he having recently‘ com-
pleted an inquiry into the teak forests, on which he was employed by the
Madras ‘Government.
I have, &c.
(Signed) R. N. C. HAMILTON,
Resident.
Indore Residency, Camp Sindwah, 20th January 1851.
lﬁn
114
From Lieut. Col. P. M. MELvILL, Secy. to Govt, Bombay,
To the SECRETARY TO THE GovEENMENT or INDIA.
Dated the 28th February 1851.
SIR,
With reference to your despatch No. 133, dated 17th ‘February 1849,
prohibiting this Government from incurring any further expense upon the
coal mines of Sonadeh, I am directed by the Right Honorable the Governor
in Council to transmit, for the consideration of the Government of India, the
accompanying copy of a letter from the Resident at Indore, No. 79, dated
20th ultimo, urging the expediency of having the mines in question worked,
and a coal dep6t formed at Broach, to meet any emergency which may arise.
3'‘ 2. The Governor in Council directs me to observe, that no argument can
_ be needed to prove’ the importance of having a dep6t of coal at Broach avail-\
able when required ; but it has not yet been rendered certain that coal of a
quality such as can be used by sea-going steamers can be obtained from the
mines in the Nerbudda Valley.
3. A combinatio’ of unfortunate accidents lately caused a great and alarm-
ing deﬁciency of coal in the Aden dep6t; but this, I am to state, ‘could neither
have been prevented nor rectiﬁed by any store at Broach: there was coal
sufﬁcient in Bombay; but the diﬂiculty felt was the expense and loss of time
in transporting any quantity to Aden.
4. The Resident, Iam further to observe, is misinformed in attributing the
long voyage of the Steamer Queen to any want of fuel. The Commander
. in Chief of the Indian Navy, as will be seen from the accompanying extract
paragraph 2 of his letter dated 12th instant, has reported that she had on board
her full stowage of coal, and no complaint was made of its quality. The deten-
tion in the passage arose‘ from other causes.
I have, &c. t
' (Signed) P. M. MELvILL, Lieut. Colonel,
Bombay Castle, 28th February 1851. Secretary to Government

From F. J. HALLIDAY, Esq., Secy. to the Govt. of India,
To Lieut. Colonel P. M. MELVILL, Secy. to Govt, Bombay.
HOME DEPARTMENT, MARINE.
Dated the 11th April 1851.
SIR,
Iam directed to acknowledge the receipt of your letter dated the 28th
February last, transmitting a communication from the Resident at Indore,
re-urging the expediency of having the coal mines of Sonadeh Worked, and
suggesting the establishment of a coal depbt'at Broach.
115
if
2. By my letter of the 17th February 1849, the Right Honorable the
Governor in Council was informed that it was the intention of the Supreme
Government to depute Surgeon McClelland to the Nerbudda Valley, with
the view of examining and reporting on the coal-ﬁelds at Sonadeh. Hitherto,
however, it has not been found practicable to give effect to this intention,
owing to the employment of Dr. McClelland on other duties. But as the recent
arrival from England of Professor Oldham, appointed by the Honorable the
Court of Directors to conduct a Geological Survey of India, may place the
Supreme Government in a position to carry out, hereafter, the intention above
referred to, I am directed to acquaint you, that as soon as Mr. Oldham shall
have completed his examination of certain localities under the Bengal Govern—
ment, the President in Council will take into consideration the propriety of
deputing him to the Valley of the Nerbudda. Until then, the President in
Council hopes there can be no objection to the survey of the coal—ﬁelds at
Sonadeh being deferred.
I have, &‘c.
F. J. HALLIDAY,
(Signed) ,
Secy. to the Govt. of India.
Fort William, the 11th April 1851.

Extract Paragraph 11 of a Despatch from the Honorable Court to the Govern~
ment of India, dated the 18th June 1851, No. 4.
It is very satisfactory to ﬁnd that renewed experiments on this coal
have been attended with more encouraging results
than were at ﬁrst obtained. It would seem that the
apparent inferiority of former specimens of the coal
was owing to the intermixture of a quantity of foreign matter; but that when
freed from such matter, the coal has been found nearly equal in quality to the
best English coal.
11.
Report of a further trial
of the coal from the Ner-
budda Valley.
EXTRAOTS FROM A REPORT
RELATING TO THE
NERBUDDA RIVER AND VALLEY,
BY
MR. J. J. BERKLRY,
CHIEF RESIDENT ENGINEER, BOMBAY, or THE GREAT INDIAN PENINSULA
- RAILWAY COMPANY;
ADDRESSED TO THE
COMMITTEE OF DIRECTORS OF THAT COMPANY,
Under date the 6th October 1854.
EXTRACTS FROM A REPORT
RE LATI NG TO
THE NERBUDDA RIVER AND VALLEY.

s s s as a as s s # =1:
It might appear that it would have been advisable to carry the main line of
the Great Indian Peninsula Railway through Berar by Nagpore, instead of
by Asseer, Hurda, and Hooshungabad, into the Nerbudda Valley, and so on to
Mirzapoor; but an examination which Mr. Graham has made, of the country
between Nagpore and the Nerbudda, has proved that course to be most unfavour-
able for a line of railway. Moreover, the route which we have taken passes
through a populous and well cultivated district, while the other, between N ag-
pore and the Nerbudda, would cross an almost unbroken jungle. At the close
of next season I shall be able to report to you more fully upon this subject.
The line comprised in Section No. 3 commences from the Asseerghur and
Boorhanpoor road, at one hundred and fifty-three and a half miles, and travers-
ing a plain (smooth for three miles, but beyond ‘that intersected by numerous
deep narrow ravines), reaches the foot of the Satpooras, which it ascends by a
series of easy reverse curves. Between the hundred and ﬁfty-eighth and hundred
and sixty-second mile, it crosses four large nullas, which, rising among the
hills, ﬂow out as mountain torrents, and, scouring to a great depth into the light
soil of the plain, and fed by the minor streams, soon become formidable rivers.
Where we cross them, however, the works are inconsiderable, although they
are the most extensive upon these nine miles of the section. After crossing
the river Pandar by a bridge about ﬁfty-ﬁve yards long, the line takes a direc- ,
tion a little to the west of north, and, about the hundred and sixty-seventh mile,
crosses the road from Asseerghur to Sewul, at a distance of six miles from the
former place; and then, climbing the hill for about three miles, bears north-east,
and passing Umdanuggur, reaches the summit of the Satpoora range at one
hundred and seventy-ﬁve miles and three quarters. The height of this summit
is inconsiderable, being only three hundred and ninety feet above the level of
the Taptee Valley ; and its ascent is effected in a distance of twelve miles, with-
out any works that call for observation, and with various gradients, the worst
of which is l in 100 for a length of about a mile and three quarters. From the
120
summit the line descends by a gradient of 1 in 118, to the hundred and seventy-
seventh mile, where Section No. 3 terminates.
Between Asseerghur and the summit, the line passes over the trap forma-
tion; but the rock appears upon the surface only in a few places, and.the
earthwork will not be of an expensive character: stone suitable for building,
teak, and ballast, are procurable in abundance for the works along these
twenty-three and a half miles. There are very few level crossings; and only
one small station, at the Asseerghur and Sewul road, will be required.
Tables'of the curves and gradients are appended. They are both of a good
working character, one-half of the section being either level or of ﬁrst class
gradients, and straight ; and when it is considered that the Satpooras, one of
the most formidable ranges upon this side of India, are surmounted by them,
they are far more favourable than I expected it would be possible for us to
obtain.
Some improvements may probably be made hereafter in this portion of the
line; but they will not be of such importance as to affect my estimates, or to
alter materially the general character of the section.
The next section of the line, No. 4, extends from the hundred and seventy-
seventh mile, near the Asseer summit of the Satpooras, to Charwar, in the
‘Valley of the N erbudda, two hundred and thirty and a half miles; but no plan
of it has been made, for the reasons which I have already assigned. Its course
is by Ruttyghur, far to the east of Mandwa, and in a direction parallel to the
river Suktha, and at a considerable distance from its right bank. It crosses
the road from Peepleod at the hundred and eighty-second mile, the road from
Bhamghur to Goondwana in the hundred and ninety-second, and the rivers
Gungapot and Ogguny at the two hundred and second and two hundred and
fourth miles, with small viaducts. From the Ogguny, it rises by a gradient
of 1 in 132 for three miles and a quarter, and then descends by the same
gradient for two miles, to most favourable ground, along which it runs to
Charwar for a distance of twenty miles, without encountering any works that
call for notice.
From Boorhanpoor to Charwar the line passes through a thickly wooded
country. It is the direct route, but lies to the east of the present course of
the trafﬁc from Hurda, which there follows _a circuitous road by J awar,
_ Kurdwa, Boregaon, Asseer, and Boorhanpoor, because along that route there
are more halting-places ; but Captain Keatinge, the Political Agent in Nimar,
has already had a survey made of a road by Peepleod and J awul, so that the
course followed by the line will there meet the requirements of the traffic.
The soil along this section is composed of that indurated trap mixture of sand,
perished stone, and clay, which is here known by the name of Moorum, and is
very favourable for our excavations. The works upon it are of a light de-
scription, and the gradients, of which a table is appended, are good ; and the
direction of the line is very favourable. Some improvements may, perhaps, be
effected in it when the line is laid out for construction, and, in particular, I
121
may mention that the summit which I have described at the two hundred and
sixth mile may, I believe, be altogether avoided.
Observing from the returns of Sir Robert Hamilton, Bait, Resident of
Indore, and Captain Keatinge, that there is a decided set of the trade and
passenger traffic from Hurda and the Nerbudda Valley towards Indore, and
with a view of approaching the rich iron mines of Chandgur and Ponassa, a
trial branch line has been‘ laid out, and the section of it taken from Hurda to
Poornee, as shown in the accompanying general map of the Nerbudda
Valley. Should it be decided to extend your railway through N imar to
Indore and Agra or Delhi, it would be a question Whether the line from Asseer
summit might not be carried further to the west along the course of the
river Suktha, as in that case the Bombay and Calcutta and the Bombay and
Agra lines would diverge near Poornee, and the trial section which has been
taken would form a portion of the line to Mirzapoor.
The stations upon this section will be at Charwar and Hurda.
Section No. 5 commences near Charwar, at a distance of two hundred and
thirty-one miles from Munmar, and three hundred and ninety-one miles from
Bombay, and extends up the Nerbudda Valley to the Towah, one of its tribu-
taries, at the three hundred and third mile. No survey has been made of this
line as far as Charkeira ; but it has been accurately laid out upon the ground,
and a reference to the section will show that it presents favourable features in
every respect.
From Charkeira, the line runs to the north of Timboornee, and at the two
hundred and sixty—sixth mile crosses the river Gunjal, which is one hundred
and ninety yards wide, and its floods rise to a height of forty feet. From this
point it continues of an equally favourable character for twelve miles, where it
passes the very busy and prosperous town of Sewnee. It thence keeps along
the flat and easy ground of the Nerbudda, and, passing about eight miles to
the east of Hooshungabad, reaches the river Towah at the three hundred and
third mile, which is the termination of this section.
Nothing could be more favourable in every respect than the whole of this
section, seventy-two miles in length. The only work upon it is the crossing
of the Gunjal, which is of moderate extent, and very much resembles the river
crossings upon our experimental line between Callian and Wasindre. Nearly
the whole of it is straight, and the gradients are unexcep‘tionable. The
country it traverses is productive, populous, and active. Nothing, in fact,
could exceed the advantages of the district from Hurda to the Towah. It is
a ﬁne level plain, presenting every facility for the construction of a railway,
and covered in all directions with rich abundant crops, ﬁne trees, and pros-
perous villages; and a reference to the plan will show how many communica—
tions already exist upon it. These roads have been carried under the railway
in many instances, and the level crossings thus reduced to a moderate number.
The stations upon this section will probably be as follows :—
At Timboornee, Sewnee, Dakaira, for Hooshungabad, Charkeira, and Kotra.
16a
,8
122
Section No. 6 commences on the left bank of the river Towah, at the
three hundred and fourth mile from Munmar, and extends to Katiotia, at the
three hundred and ninety—second mile. The T owah is very nearly dry during
the fair season, but in the rains its shallow though very wide course is ﬂooded
for a width of twelve hundred and seventy-six yards from bank to bank.
The floods, however, have seldom been known to rise above its lower or
eastern bank, and I therefore believe that its channel might very safely be
contracted to a considerable extent. The bed of this flood stream is a mass
of loose sand for a depth of about twelve feet, when it becomes firm, and
suitable for either piling or masonry foundations ; but in the present instance
l have estimated this viaduct of simple timber piling, and gearing wide
enough for a single line of rails, and extending along the whole channel of the
river. The course of this river has been carefully examined from Hooshung-
ahad to Kaila, near the hills, where it issues at even a greater width than at
our crossing; and no place has been found more favourable than the spot best
suited for the direction of the railway. Under any circumstances, therefore,
it must prove an expensive work; but beyond that, there is no feature in it
which is at all calculated to affect the eligibility of the line. .
From the Towah, the line extends for nine miles over a level plain, and,
entering upon some undulating easy country near the three hundred and
fourteenth mile, proceeds in almost a straight line, and without a single objec-
tionable feature, to the three hundred and ﬁfty-eighth mile, where it crosses the
river Doodhye, at, the village of .Ioonhetti, with a viaduct of ordinary dimen-
sions. From the crossing of ‘this river the line runs quite free from works
along the surface of the country for fourteen miles, where it approaches the
town of Garrilwara. It there has to cross the river Sukur, by a viaduct one
hundred and seventy yards long. From the river Sukur it becomes a
practically straight surface line, over a level country, as far as the three
hundred and ninety-second mile, where it crosses the road to Katiotia, the
termination of Section No. 6. By the .tables of curves and gradients it
appears that seventy-three miles out of eighty-seven are either level, or of
first class gradients, and that sixty-ﬁve miles are straight.
The material for earthwork upon this section will be the alluvial soil of the
valley; stone and lime for building purposes are procurable, generally, from
the hills at a short distance to the south of the line ; teak of large scantling,
and other good woods, abound in the Shahpoor jungles, about thirty miles
from the railway, along the T owah ; and timber and other materials can be
conveyed down the Nerbudda early in the season. This portion of the line
passes about nine miles from Mowpani, at the outcrop of the Benar coal, of
which there appears to be abundance in that district. It may, perhaps, be
practicable to pass somewhat nearer to it; but from our last season’s opera-
tions it did not seem advisable to lengthen the line for that purpose, because
we should then have to encounter the Seta Rewa, which has scoured out a
deep and broad channel in the plain, and its course as far as its junction with
123
the Sukur, near Garrilwara, which will have to be followed by the railway,
is very tortuous. \Ve have as yet made no survey for the purpose of ascer-
taining the extent and quality of the seams of coal ; l recommend, however,
that this should be done before the engineers leave that part of the country.
_ Near Mowpani two seams of coal have been superﬁcially opened out last
season; but no shaft has been sunk, nor has any attempt been made to work
i the coal up to this time, although it has been frequently picked up in ‘various
places, and favourably reported upon. The stations upon it will probably be
at Sohagpoor, Garrilwara, Babye, Seemry, Hutwas, Bunkerry, Kaislah,
and Sehora. ‘
Section No. 7 commences near Katiotia, at the three hundred and
ninety-second mile, and crosses the river Baroorewa, about sixty yards
wide, in the three hundred and ninety-fourth mile, with much broken ground
on either side. At the three hundred and ninety-ﬁfth mile it crosses on a
level the Hooshungabad and Jubbulpore main road, and then passes close to
Nursingpoor, the well known and important mart for the cotton and grain of
this part of the country. After passing a small stream called the Singery, and
recrossing the Hooshungabad and Jubbulpore road in the three hundred and
ninety-seventh mile, the line continues of the most tavourable character until
it approaches within a mile of the Shair, where the ground is cut up by deep
ravines. That river is crossed at the fourlhundred .and fourth mile, where its
width is one hundred and ninety yards: its banks are precipitous, and the
extreme height of the ﬂood has been known ‘to reach sixty feet above the bed,
although its ordinary-level is about forty feet. From this point the railway
runs generally upon the surface of a very even tract of country, as far as the
four hundred and twenty-fourth mile, and presents nothing worthy of remark,
except the crossings of two or three streams, with sandy beds, and soft crumb»
ling banks. It then approaches the Nerbudda, and traverses some broken
ground, much intersected by nullas. At the crossing of the Nerbudda, its banks
are very high and precipitous, especially on the north side. The total width from
bank to bank is four hundred and fourteen lineal yards. The ﬂood oflast
year, the highest on record, rose ninety feet above the river bed, but subsided
in an hour or two. The ordinary floods rise seventy—four feet. During the
dry season, however, building operations may be carried on with facility, as
the river contains very little water; and early in May, when our section was
taken, the extent of dead water in it was only seventy-one yards wide, and
its greatest depth only ﬁve feet.
The course of the Nerbudda was examined for thirty miles from Sukur, at
the junction ofthe Huran, on the western side of the railwayfto Beira Ghat on
i the east. Near the Beira Ghat the channel is much contracted, and runs through
perpendicular rocks of white marble. The facilities which this circumstance
would appear to offer could not be taken practical advantage of, because during
the ﬂoods the Nerbudda not only rises high above these rocks, but before
entering the gorge ﬁnds for itself another wide channel through soft soil; and
124
added to this, a more serious objection was found to exist in the almost insur-
mountable difﬁculties of the country between Chindwara and the Beira Ghat.
The crossing of the Nerbudda which we have selected is near J hansee
Ghat, to the west of the ford of the J ubbulpore road. The viaduct will be
three hundred and seventy-one yards long, and I estimate the cost of it for a
double line of rails at £40,000. The bed of the river is rock, and I see no
reason to expect that any important engineering difficulties or expensive con—
tingencies will be met with in the execution of this large work. It is advis-
able, while the dimensions and probable cost of our crossing of the Nerbudda
are under consideration, to draw your attention to that other crossing of it
which has been contemplated near Broach. The spot which we have selected
for bridging it is upwards of ﬁve hundred miles above the town of Broach ;
and along nearly the whole of that great distance the Nerbudda receives the
immense drainage of the Vindhya and Satpoora ranges of mountains, for which
a continuous water-way several miles in length must be provided. Moreover,
at the proposed crossing, not only will the ﬂoods require an exteht of bridging
for which railway engineering practice affords no precedent, but the execution
of the work within the channel of the river will be encumbered with diﬂicul-
ties and expense by the large body of Water, twenty-eight feet deep, which
it contains even at the lowest tides; by the ordinary tide, which rises ten feet,
and is of unusual velocity near Broach; and by the enormous inundations,
which rise about seventy feet above the bed of the river, and spread for miles
over the country in one vast sheet of water, sometimes as much as ten feet
deep. Whether the proposed crossing of the Nerbudda at Broach be judged
of by analogy with ours near Jubbulpore, or whether the drainage of two
ranges of mountains for nearly ﬁve hundred miles be taken as the measure of
the work, its proportions must be extreme. The ‘character of this most for—
midable projected work bears indirectly upon your interests, and cannot fail to
affect in a most important degree the railway question now under the consi-
deration of Government: I therefore request that I may be commissioned to
report to you without delay upon the subject of the proposed railway crossings
of the river T aptee at Surat, and of the Nerbudda at Broach, and to take the
necessary steps for doing so in full detail. '
After crossing the Nerbudda at the four hundred and twenty~sixth mile,
the line traverses some rough ground and several nullas, for about a mile
and a half, and then runs for twenty miles upon the surface of a level and
even country; and at four hundred and forty-seven and ahalf miles reaches the
J ubbulpore and Saugor road, at a distance of a mile and a half from J ubbulpore,
where that part of the line upon which I now have the honour to report to
you terminates.
The whole of the last ﬁfty-ﬁve miles are of a favourable character in every
respect ; and if it were not for the crossings of the rivers Nerbudda and Shair,
the cost of it would reach the very lowest limit. The soil is alluvial;~the
requisite materials are abundant ; and the level crossings are few. The tables
I
125
of curves and gradients show forty-seven miles of practically level gradient,
' and forty-six miles of straight. The stations through this district will proba-
bly be at Nursingpoor, J ubbulpore, Peindry, Chindwara, and Kisrode.
Our ﬁeld operations last season extended to Gosulpoor, a distance of
eighteen miles from J ubbulpore; but I shall make no further allusion to that
part of the line in this Report, because it is liable to alteration when the ascent
of the Vindhyas is laid out.
Reviewing the whole of the north-eastern extension, from the top of the Thul
Ghat to J ubbulpore, a distance of ﬁve hundred and twenty-two miles, the
character of our line is unexceptionable, and its construction ought to be very
cheap: the materials are good and abundant; the price of labour is low ; and
there are no engineering diﬁiculties to be encountered upon it. if if if
The Indhyadree and Satpoora ranges, supposed to present such formidable
obstacles to laying out a railway, are proved by our sections to be capable of
being surmounted by a good working line, free from heavy works of any kind.
Nearly its entire course traverses some of the most fertile and productive dis-
tricts upon this side of India ; for after clearing the Ghats it runs through the
plain of the Godavery for ﬁfty miles ; crossing the Indhyadree range, it enters
Khandesh, and passes through that province for one hundred and ﬁfty miles,
accommodating some of its most healthy and productive Talookas, and its prin-
cipal cotton marts; then, passing the Satpooras, it ascends for two hundred
and ﬁfty miles the magniﬁcent Valley of the Nerbudda, with its valuable coal
and iron-ﬁelds, and its copious supply of grain, seeds, and cotton; and while
it presents these commercial advantages, and affords this vast extent of local
accommodation, it pursues a direct course for effecting the transpeninsular com-
munication with Calcutta, and for connecting the province of Berar with the
port of Bombay.
Sufficient returns of trafﬁc have already been made to prove that a proﬁtable
revenue will accrue to your railway between Bombay and Eastern Khandesh ;
and beyond that it could hardly be expected that the amount of existing trade
would be found sufficient to establish actual data for an equally proﬁtable return;
but there is throughout the Valley of the Nerbudda so great an abundance of
marketable and exportable produce, which only awaits the opening of a quick and
cheap communication to meet the demands both in this country and for export,
that I believe no doubt can be entertained of the commercial success of that
part of your undertaking, particularly when we regard the importance and
extent of the commerce that must pass between Bombay and Calcutta, and to
the great faeilities‘of the country for the construction of a railway.
In many parts 'of the Nerbudda Valley coal exists, of undoubted quality, in
great abundance, and lying in a most favourable position for being worked.
Iron ore, too, abounds, especially on the north of the N erbudda. The principal
mines of the district are Tendukheira, about ten miles from our line, near
Nursingpoor. They are now worked in the rudest fashion, but the iron pro--
duced is of excellent quality. ' There are furnaces also at Paneghur and Gosul-
126
poor, close to which our line passes; and although the iron is held inferior to
that of T endukheira, it is, I believe, good, andforms an article of export from
those towns. Valuable iron mines also exist at Ponassa and Chandgur; and
I ﬁnd, from papers kindly furnished by Captain Erskine, Commissioner of the
Saugor and N erbudda Territories, that besides those which I have speciﬁed
as the principal ones, and as lying near the course of our line, there are ﬁve
mines within twenty miles of Jubbulpore.
I am not yet suﬂiciently informed to furnish you with a full statement of the -
present general traflic of the Nerbudda Valley ; but I beg to append two returns
from Captain Keatinge, Political Assistant in N imar, one of which was kindly
furnished to us by himself, and the other by Sir Robert Hamilton, through the
Bombay Government. By these it appears that the quantity of goods sold in four
bazars, and which passed four points in N imar in the year 1853, amounted
to 12,417 tons, of which the trade to Bombay is entirely the growth of ﬁve
years, and is increasing rapidly. W
The traﬁic on the Agra and Bombay road, taken at Akbarpoor for twelve
months from April 1853, was as follows :—
Foot passengers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ‘95,750
Bullocks and horses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21,229
Carts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18,087
Camels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,445
Elephants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ._. . . '46
Buffaloes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 933
Asses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 293
Palanquins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
Sheep and goats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 964-
Carriages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .i . . . . . . . . . . 26
The return of traffic on the Boorhanpoor and Indore road, taken at Kherry
Ghat for twelve months, from April 1853 to May 1854-, gives——
Foot passengers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26,141
Palanquins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Sheep and goats . . . . . . .- . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
As well as the goods comprised in Captain Keatinge’s statement of the
Nimar traffic.
In addition to these, we are indebted to Mr. Vvrilliams, Overseer of the Schools
of Industry at .lubbulpore, for the lbllowing statement of the annual trade to
and from that station; and from his long residence there, and his knowledge *
of the commerce of the country, it may, I am sure, be safely relied upon :—
Cotton . . - . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8,571 tons.
Wheat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,285 ,,
‘Hemp, gum, ghee, iron, and other commodities . . . . . . . . 1,585 ,,
Hides . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100,000 Nos.
Imports about .. . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . .. 11,553 tons.
t1
. 127
Making a total of upwards of 26,000 tons for the present trade for Jub-
bulpore.
In transcribing the results of these returns, I by no means intend to imply
that this traffic properly belongs to our line between Bombay and 'Jubbulpore;
but my purpose is to show, by reference to its present trade, that the district
of the Nerbudda is likely to afford us a very large trafﬁc. No statistical
returns could present a correct estimate of the traffic that would be created, if
the N erbudda Valley possessed a railway communication with the ports of
Calcutta and Bombay. It is now practically shut up; but the exports of coal,
iron, cotton, wheat, hemp, linseed, timber, and other products, and the imports
of salt and manufactured goods, must eventually become immense.
The estimates% have been framed upon my experience in the construction
of our works, and upon accurate data, obtained by Mr. Graham, respecting the
local prices and facilities of those districts through which this extension would
pass. The prices of iron have been ﬁxed at the high rates which we paid for our
last supplies ; and as the market has since risen, it may possibly happen that
my estimates of the permanent way may fall short in that particular. My
rates, however, are above the average, and the future turn of the market may
therefore be in our favour. In any event, I beg to protect my estimates from
this speculative contingency.
The cost of a single line of permanent way upon the several sections of this
extension varies from £2,810 to £3,100 per mile, which is more than one-half of
the total mileage cost of each section. As this large proportion arises chieﬂy
from the high prices of the English iron materials, and from the great expense
of conveying them from the port to the interior of the country, the expediency
and advantage of establishing the means of providing a local supply of rails,
chairs, spikes, 8:0. are clearly pointed out. Although great encouragement for
the early establishment of ironworks exists in the valuable character of the
mines, in the great and urgent demand for iron in this country, and in the
fact that the high prices of English permanent way materials will be a serious
and undue impediment to the cheap construction of railways through the
interior of India, yet it is very doubtful whether the Nerbudda coal and iron-
ﬁelds can be worked so expeditiously and economically as to afford us much
‘beneﬁt in the construction of the railway between Bombay and Khandesh.
In fact, 1 am inclined to think that active and successful operations in that
enterprise will be found to depend more upon the completion of a railway com-
munication between Bombay and the Nerbudda Valley than the railway does
‘upon a local supply of coal and iron. \
* Cf £6,380 and £6,478, as an average cost per mile. The estimates are omitted for
bratty—Editor.
EXTRACTS FROM A REPORT
(DATED THE 28TH APRIL 1854)
RELATING TO THE
‘MINERAL DISTRICTS, &0. OF THE NERBUDDA VALLEY;
ADDRESSED BY
LIEUTENANT COLONEL J. F. KENNEDY,
MANAGING DIRECTOR AND ENGINEER IN CHIEF, OF THE BOMBAY, BARODA, AND CENTRAL INDIA
RAILWAY COMPANY,
TO THE DIRECTORS OF THAT COMPANY:
WITH ACCOMPANYING REPORTS ON THE SAME SUBJECT,
BY MR. JACOB AND MR. GREEN.
17n
EXTRAOTS FROM REPORT
BY
LIEUTENANT COLONEL J. P. KENNEDY.

at =x= #e as a as a a
The ﬁrst question to be answered by a railway company in India is, how
they are to bridge their rivers and nullas. This, accordingly, has been our
chief subject of consideration. In reference to it, I have framed a compara-
tive estimate* of the ordinary modes of executing a viaduct by. the use of
masonry or of .iron ; considering likewise whether the iron to be employed
shall be of English or of Native Indian manufacture, provided the latter can
be obtained. The present competition price of English iron having reached
about double the ﬁrst cost remunerative price under the former steady rates of
Wages, and the probable future demand upon the English market from foreign,
colonial, and Indian railways in particular, make it probable that even the
present high competition prices may still be largely increased, unless addi-
tional supplies can be produced elsewhere. Nor would a moderate increase
of produce go far in keeping down the competition price contemporaneously
with a very large increasing demand for that produce. No railway company,
under such circumstances, could expect to obtain their iron at anything near
to a fair remunerative price, unless by manufacturing it on their own account.
A foundry opened in India by an ordinary speculator would have little effect,
except as regards the question of freight, in reducing the price of iron to any
particular railway company, beyond what an additional foundry of the same
manufacturing power established in England would have ; the price of its
produce being regulated, as a matter of course, by the general rate of the
market.
It was in this view of our case that I selected a Geologist to accompany
our ﬁrst Surveyors, and his attention has been devoted exclusively to the
mineral districts of the Nerbudda in the vicinity of our line.
His efforts have been most successful, and his Reports? will be read with
much interest. Mr. Jacob states the existence of a rich and inexhaustible
* Copy of which is given at pages 134 and 135.
1' Copies of which, dated the 1st and 4th April 1854, will be found at pages 136 to 144,
132
supply of iron ore at Chandgur, with an ample quantity of lime and timber for
charcoal in the immediate vicinity, as well as R ﬁrst-rate quality of coking coal
in large quantities, and easily obtained, at Benar, higher up the river. The
ground between the coal and iron, and that between the proposed foundry
and our general line, he states to be most favourable for railway construction,
and situated in a rich traflic district.
By referring to Appendix No. III.,* we ﬁnd from the comparative estimate,
that if we construct our viaducts, rails, &c. of Native iron of our own manu-
facture, we may calculate on executing our railroad at an average rate of
£3,999 per mile; that if we adopt the same principle of construction, but
purchase our iron in the English or other market, we may calculate on
expending £7,041 per mile; and if we use brickwork or masonry viaducts,
with English iron rails, our outlay would be £8,717 per mile.
Hence, then, the very ﬁrst preparation that I should earnestly recommend,
to enable us to secure the most successful result in our future railway opera-
tions, would be the immediate establishment by our Company of a Native
iron foundry.
I can have no hesitation in recommending that the site of such foundry
shall be at, or near Ponassa, in the neighbourhood of what I believe to be the
best iron district in India, the ore being as inexhaustible in its quantity as
it is superior in quality. I am justified in recommending the adoption of this
locality upon the authority of our Geologist, who has devoted much
time to its examination, and comparison with other mineral districts, and who
has tested its ores by repeated and careful analysis; and also upon the
still more convincing fact that its ores have been manufactured from time
immemorial, and continue to be manufactured extensively to the present
day by the Natives, in their own rude, costly method, and that the metal they
produce, the Chandgur iron, has always been considered of the very highest
quality; that the situation of Ponassa is considered healthful ; that there is the
best quality of lime for our purpose in close "proximity; that there is a very
large supply of charcoal jungle in the neighbourhood; and that when that
may fail, we have a ﬁrst-rate quality of inexhaustible and easily worked coking
coal, higher up the river, to depend upon for our fuel, the road to which would
pass through a country favourable for railway construction, and a good trafﬁc
district. .
Under these circumstances, I cannot hesitate to recommend the immediate
establishment of an iron foundry at, or near Ponassa, as an indispensable
essential to the fullest success of our railway operations.
The attention of one of our Engineers, Mr. Green, has been especially
given to test the beds of the principal rivers. He was furnished with the
requisite boring tools for this purpose, having had considerable experience in
the construction of viaducts such as we require. His examination of the
* Being Report by Mr. Jacob on the Mineral Districts of the N erbudda Valley, a copy of
which will be found at pages 136 to I44.
133
Taptee and N erbudda justiﬁes me in recommendingif that those rivers should
be bridged by an iron superstructure, supported on iron pile piers.
a as =x= as as a s a as a
A line from Baroda to Indore would admit of extension eastward to connect
with the Calcutta line at or near Allahabad, and it could throw off branches
to‘ the northward to any extent that the trafﬁc of .the district might require.
This line cdmmands, likewise, the power of giving an approach from the north-
ward to the Nerbudda mineral district, by an extension branch along the
Nerbudda north bank, from the point it reaches before entering the Vindhya
Pass; and I believe it is impossible to overrate the beneﬁcial consequences
that the Nerbudda mineral district is calculated to produce in the industrial
development of India, if properly dealt with.
My reason for not having executed a section of the line from J ulgaum to
the proposed Ponassa foundry, and thence to the Benar coal-ﬁeld is, that
being quite satisﬁed with the Report of Mr. Jacob, together with my own
observations as to the facility of constructing a good line through that
district, when I went to put a party to take the section, I found the engineers
of another company already occupied in the same work, and it appeared
quite superfluous that a duplicate section should be taken by me, when so
much important information was wanting on other districts; I therefore placed
my party elsewhere. The information furnished by the other company will be
no doubt ample to enable the Government to come to a decision on all matters
relating to the district in this respect.
* Vide Mr. Green’s Report, at pages 144 and 145.
“E
TYSI
ESTIMATE BY LIEUTENANT COLONEL KENNEDY,
ALLUDED TO AT THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE FOREGOING EXTRACTS.

A Comparative View of the proximate Cost of Constructing an average Mile of Single Truck Railway by each of Three
Methods of making the required Viaducts and Bridges, viz. 1st, by using Masonry or BTiCkwOTk; 2nd, by using English
Iron ; 3rd, by using Native Iron. The Emhanhments are assumed to average 9 feet in height to Formation Level. Average
Length of Viaducts or Bridges per M'ile 1-27 th of the entire.

Estimate per Mile, supposing Viaducts and Bridges to be of


Detail of Works. Masnmgnggiglriggggrk’ and English Iron. Native Iron.
Rate per Amount. Rate per Amount. Rate per Amount.
_ 8e 8. a. e 8e 8. 0!. 8e 8e 8. d. ‘86
Is
Surveying expenses . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 . . 30 . . 30
Lawcosts .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 5 .. 5 -- 5
Land .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..
Fencing with growing plants . . ‘ 10 - - 10 - - 10
' 0. yds.
Earthworks . . . . . . . . . . . . 58,080 0 0 1% 363 0 0 15 363 0 O 15 363
Rock-cuttings . . . . . . . . . . 10,000 0 1 0 500 0 l 0 500 0 1 0 500
Bridges and viaducts . . . . . . ~ . . lin. yds. 64 60 0 0 3,800 36 O 0 2,304 9 O O 576
. ¢ _ 0. yds.
Ballastlng, 18 inches deep . . . . . . . . 4,620 0 2 6 565 O 2 6 565 O 2 6 565 ,
Tons. 8
Iron rails, sidings, switches, &c., 80 lbs. per yd. . . 132 12 0 0 1,584 12 0 0 1,584 5 O 0 660
Cast-iron sleepers . . . . . . . . . . 130 6 0 0 780 6 0 0 780 3 0 0 390
Laying permanent way, per lineal yard . .~ . . . . 0 O 8 58 0 0 8 58 0 0 8 58
Station-houses, 1 to every 5 miles, at £150 each . . . 30 . . 30 . . 30

Termini and workshops . . . . . . . . . A 50 . . 50 . . 50
981
*-
Electric telegraph . . . . . . . .
Pumps, tanks, &c. . . . . . . . .
Plant for execution of works
Rolling Stock.
Engines and tenders, 1 to every 10 miles, at
£2,000 .. .. ' r .. .. ..
Passenger composite carriages, 1st and 2nd class, 1
to 10 miles, at £500 .. . . . .
3rd class carriages, 1 to every 3 miles, at £180
Goods trucks, 1 to every 2 miles, at £60 . .
Horse boxes, 1 to every 10 miles, at £100
Cattle trucks, 1 to every 5 miles, at £70 . .
Carriage trucks, 1 to every 20 miles, at £100
Superintendence.
Direction in England
Direction in India . . . . . .
Engineering expenses and salaries . .
Overseer’s and gauger’s departments
Gross Total per mile. .

35
70
50
200
50
60-
30
10
42
20
60
300
8,717
35
7O
50
200
50
60
30
10

35
70
50
200
50
60
30
10
10
42
20
60
120
3,999
136
(APPENDIX N0. 111.)

Report on the'Iron and Coal Districts of the N erbudda Valley, from
Ponassa t0 Jubbulpore.
Surat, April lst, 1854.
From Mr. A. A. JAooB, B.A., ’ ‘
Asst. Engr., and Geologist to the B. B. and C. I. R. Go,
To Lieutenant Colonel J. F. KENNEDY,
Engineer in Chief and Managing Director, Surat.
SIR,
I have the honour to lay before yiou a summary of the reports and observa-
tions which I have forwarded at various times, during the ﬁve months that I
have been employed in the examination of the N erbudda mineral districts.
According to my instructions, I proceeded to join Mr. Keatinge, the chief
British functionary of the principal mineral districts, whomI found in camp at
Asseerghur, on the 19th November last; and, acting under his advice, I pro-
ceeded to Kautkot, on the north bank of the river Nerbudda, where I arrived
on the 30th November.
My attention was here directed to the iron mines belonging to Holkar,
situate about four miles from the village, in the dense jungle. They were in a
fearfully dangerous state, no regard being paid to the workings, the aim of the
people being to extract the greatest quantity of ore without the least regard to
future workings. The ore is the hydrated peroxide of iron (ochreous variety),
yielding by dry assay 37.22 per cent. of iron, which may be considered as a
high per-centage. '
The most primitive form of Catalan forge is used by the few poor people who
earn a livelihood by the manufacture of iron. A description of their furnace
may not be amiss.
It is in height from three to four feet, the top section twenty inches by ten
inches, and the bottom twenty-three inches by twenty-two inches. In the base
of the furnace is inserted a ﬂat earthen plate, with several iridentations, which
are, during the smelting, pierced for the outﬂow of the slag. The blast is sup-
plied through very fusible earthen pipes by goatskins plied alternately. When
these earthen pipes are burned away, the iron is ﬁnished. This process occu—
pies about ten hours. The base of the furnace is then broken out, the lump of
iron extracted, and beaten with hammers to remove the slag ; the defective
apparatus used obliging them to re-heat the iron ﬁve times.
I hired one of these furnaces, to ﬁnd whattamount of iron could be extracted.
I allowed the men to work .in their usual method, only taking the ore and coal
137
from heaps which I had carefully weighed. The following is the result of my
investigation :—-25 seers of iron ore consumed 26 seers of charcoal, and ﬁIr-
nished 5.61 seers of iron (and this not in a marketable condition); thus giving
22.84 per cent. of iron; 104 per cent. of charcoal being consumed in the
process, or at the rate of 4 tons l2 cwt. of charcoal per ton of iron.
A proper furnace, ‘with this ore, could not, under the most unfavourable
circumstances, consume more than 220 bushels of charcoal to the ton of iron;
and taking the bushel to be 9.75 lbs., the amount of charcoal to a ton of iron
would be 2,145 lbs., or 95 lbs. less than one ton, being about 4.8 times less
than the quantity required by the above furnace.
The above percentage of iron appears small when compared with my assay;
but it must be remembered, that as no flux is used, every pound weight of
silex will absorb and convert into slag 3 lbs. weight of iron.
Each furnace has three men attached to it, who dig out the ore in the ﬁrst
place, next cut their timber, and burn their charcoal, then draw the ore and
coal to the village, set up their furnace, and smelt their iron. During this time
they must run an account with the Bunnia (or Native merchant), and such
account he manages shall swallow up the produce of their labour.
The cost of manufacture is as follows :—The ore purchased at the mines
comes to 84 tokrees the rupee. I found 1 tokree to contain 12 lbs. nearly,
the ore coming in round numbers to 4s. 6d. per ton nearly. Three men
Working at one furnace are able to make 24 lbs. of iron per day ; it therefore
requires 280 men to one ton of iron, by their rude process : then—-
_ £ 8.
4 tons 12 cwt. of charcoal, with 8 cwt. for waste, at 93. 4d . . . . . . 2 6 8
4%; tons of iron ore, at 4s. 6d. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . l O 3
Labour, 280 men, at 2 annas (3d) per day each . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 10 0
£6 16 l l
The Bunnia’s price for the iron is £7 15s. per ton, leaving him, as above,
18.9. proﬁt per ton.
As an illustration of an improvement in the manufacture of iron, even in
these rough forges at Tendukheira (to be described further on), where the
people are rendered industrious by having a greedy and ready market for
their iron, any amount may be had for 20 seers the Nagpore rupee, or £4 163.
per ton nearly, notwithstanding that they bring their charcoal from a distance
of 12 gond kos, or fully 36 miles. Yet, because they distribute their labour,
and keep their little furnace in regular work, they are able to give iron at the
above low price, and hundreds of tons are annually sent out through the
country for consumption. Their charcoal only costs them 5s. 6d. per ton at
the furnace; and yet the Lower Nerbudda workmen, with the timber on the
spot, will charge 9s. 6d. per ton-—their coalings are so very defective.
From Kautkot I went to Burwayee on the Nerbudda. Here is a large
mine of the same ore as last, but more silicious.
18n
8 138
As I consider the Ponassa and the Chandgur districts of by far the greatest
commercial importance, I will not say more of the intervening country.
I arrived at Ponassa on the 12th of December, and examined alarge deposit
of dolomite (carbonate of lime and magnesia), which exists there, about two
miles west of the town. -
The deposit is, practically speaking, quite inexhaustible, the outcrop being
four miles in length: the stone, for a ﬂux, is superior to pure limestone, magnesia
being a much ‘more powerful base than lime. It is also well adapted to
lithographic purposes.
From .Ponassa I went to Chandgur, where the red hematite ore of iron‘
abounds. It is of surpassing richness, yielding 63.4 per cent., the theoretically
pure ore giving only 69.34 per cent. ' '
At one of the mines (that marked as Upper Chandgur on plan), the ore lies _
in rounded nodules on the surface, the depth varying from six inches to ten
feet. It is dug out by the people with the greatest facility. _
This friable deposit is the result of the disintegration of the metalliferous
rock beneath. I have veriﬁed this 'by direct observation, having laid bare
several veins, by cutting trenches down on them. '
In addition to the above loose ore, the ground for hundreds of acres is strewn
with it, and every stream runs down quantities of the purest kind, the débris
from the various veins intersected in their course.
The river Nerbudda cuts four great veins within the short space of one mile, -
one of them having a breadth of one hundred and twenty-two 'feet. The veins
run almost vertically into either bank. '
At Makeraban, on the river .Towa, two miles from its junction with the Ner-
budda, is another friable deposit ; but its quality is nqt so good as that on the
north side of the river. It is needless‘ to dwell on the many places in the
district where iron ore abounds ;--the deposit may be looked upon as inexhaust-
ible. Since I left Ponassa, Mr. Keatinge wished to ﬁnd a mine close to the
town, in order to employ the prisoners in the manufacture of iron, and having
offered a reward of Rs. 25, he was shown two mines, which I have since
examined. One of them is of much value.
Your superintendent, when he would be stationed in the district, would
have no difficulty in laying bare deposits in addition to the very numerous ones
which are at present known.- 1 _ i
The loose ore, which ought to be the ﬁrst used, would be collected by the
people of the neighbourhood. Allowing the liberal price of 4. pics per tokree,
the ore would be placed at the depdts at the low price of Is. 35d. per ton. My
camp was four miles from the mine, and yet the villagers offered to bring any
quantity to it for that price. ' '
The district for miles round is dense jungle; the timber is of the highest
speciﬁc gravity, including undian and stunted teak; it is admirably suited to
the manufacture of charcoal ; and the supply will last for very many years.
Yet it is well to know that a cheap communication can be opened with ‘the
A
139
inexhaustible coal—measures of Hooshungabad and Nursingpoor (to be hereafter
described), and that a line joining the coal with the iron mines would pass
through a district of the most extraordinary fertility (vide Supplementary
Report). I consider that, with proper coalings, charcoal cannot possibly cost
-more than 4.8. per ton.
I would furnish you with an appropinquate estimate of the expense of
manufacturing iron at Ponassa with proper apparatus, but I consider that the
fact’ that the inhabitants of Tendukheira manufacture malleable iron for £4
165. per ton, under much less favourable circumstances, consuming more than
four times the requisite quantity of fuel, to be much more valuable than any
estimate I could give. '
‘ Ponassa I would recommend as the proper site for an iron manufactory:
it possesses the following advantages :-—-
lst.—It is on British territory.
2nd.——-The soil about it is most fertile, the place healthy, and abundantly
supplied with water at all seasons.
3rd.—-— It is most conveniently situated with regard to trade; the country
around it ﬂat ; and should a line from the Taptee Valley branch to Jubbulpore
be deemed advisable, it would pass in the vicinity; and the dolomite basin
is close by.
The north bank of the river is foreign territory, and very barren; besides,
the dense jungle would render it most unhealthy.
Your ore banks and mines would be ten miles distant from your works;
but a proper road to them would enable you to draw the ore very cheaply, and
the road being through jungle, your coalings would be along it.
()ne circumstance vastly in favour of these mines is, that no shaft or pumps
would at any time be required, as the great veins can all be worked and drained
by adits.
Baraj Sing, one of Sindia’s petty Rajas, is owner of the mines and forests
on the north side of the river, and he derives a small income from them of
about £10 annually. ' ‘
Kurrock Sing is owner of the royalty at the south side of the river, and he
derives a small income of about £3 ; but I am informed by the Commissioner
of the Saugor and Nerbudda Territories, that the Government will, in the
approaching settlement, reserve all mines for their use.
With these men, negociatibns for purchase should be opened.
Leaving this iron district, I proceeded to the coal-ﬁeld, which I entered
above Sewnee.
At Sonadeh, several thin seams of coal outcrop, which, though of little
value, are sufficiently indicative of a rich mine beneath; and I have no doubt
but that a few deep borings would be attended with the most successful
results.
Here an abundance’of ﬁne ﬁre-clay is to be had,-a substance essential in
the construction of your furnaces. ’
140
The probable available coal-measure here will be about ﬁfteen miles long,
by seven miles wide. \ '
From Sonadeh I proceeded to Benar, in the Nursingpoor district‘, eight
miles to the south of Garrilwara. ‘ Here are three workable seams, the top-
most being eight feet thick where I measured it ; but as the strata were there ‘
injured, it will probably reach ten feet.
The next seam is three feet six inches ; and below it another seam, six feet
three inches.
As these are only separated by laminated shale of one foot four inches, both
seams could be wrought as one, giving an available seam of nine feet nine
inches : thus about nineteen feet of coal could be worked from one‘ shaft, the
intervening rock being only about twenty feet. '
The beds are highly inclined, owing to the occurrence of trachytic veins
higher up the stream; but they will present no extraordinary difficulty in
working. '
It is highly bituminous lignite, containing little sulphur, and leaving but a
* small residue on incineration.
Colonel Ouseley, in the Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, states that
this coal was tried on the Indus steamer at Bombay, where one hundred
maunds did the same work as one hundred and eighty-three of the best Glas-
gow coal, heating one of the boilers ﬁfteen minutes sooner than the Scotch coal.
I carefully experimented upon the coal, and found that one hundred parts
gave 66.88 of coke ; an average of eleven specimens of coal from the various
Newcastle collieries giving 60.77, and eight specimens from the Scotch col-
lieries giving a mean of 54.23.
These seams are available throughout a large tract of country, and were a
coast communication once opened, numerous other mines might be‘ wrought
throughout this great coal formation.
That such mines, discovered so far back as 1837, should still be untouched,
speaks volumes for the state of communication through the country.
Leaving Benar, I went northward, to examine the iron mines of Tendukheira.
They are situated about six miles'from the Nerbudda, in a highly cultivated
district. \
As I before alluded to the smelting of the ore, I will conﬁne my remarks to ~
the mines themselves. .
The ore is found beneath the surface, at depths varying from ﬁfteen to ﬁfty
feet: the pits are so carelessly made, that they require to be re—dug every cold
season, the monsoon rains quite ﬁlling them with the earth washed in.
The ore‘ is extracted in quite as careless a manner as at Kautkot ; the
shaft is ascended and descended by huge steps, out in the clay; and though
now accustomed to the various rude expedients made use of by the Natives,_
I was hardly prepared for the ludicrous method by which the ore is brought
to the surface. A woman seats herself at the base of the shaft, and then
commences throwing up the lumps of ore to step No. I (about three feet high);
“Q
14]
when this step is so covered with ore that she can but just ﬁnd sitting room
on it, she climbs up, repeats the process, till the ore is brought to the surface ;
it is then placed in baskets, and carried by buffaloes to the town, three miles
, distant, to be smelted. I confess I was much disappointed with the ore de-
posit, after seeing the vast quantities of iron sent out through the district round.
Though very ﬁne red hematite ore, it is vastly inferior to the Ponassa iron, both
in quantity, quality, and in the facility afforded to the working.
It may appear strange that this rude method of extracting the ore should
be accompanied by such a neat and systematic method of smelting; but I
attribute the latter to Captain Franklin’s exertions, who was sent there some
years since by Government; while in the former case I presume his improve-
ments (if such be adopted) must have lapsed into disuse. At all events, the
great demand for the iron through the surrounding agricultural districts
has given a stimulus to the trade, while the increased competition amongst
producers has reduced the price of the manufactured article.
Leaving Tendukheira, I proceeded to examine the J ubbulpore district. Here
I found large and rich deposits of the micaceous variety of specular iron. It
is extensively wrought, holding the same price and position in the market as
the iron of Tendukheira, the principal seat of manufacture being Penaghur,
ﬁfteen miles north-east of J ubbulpore.
At Betharee Ghat, the Nerbudda cuts a large coal seam; but it is highly
pyritous, and the strata, being inclined at an angle of eighty degrees, is uncon-
formably overlain by dolomite. The difficulties presented to working the seam
render it probable that no use will ever be made of it.
I here found unmistakeable evidence of the presence of copper, but was
unable to discover the lode. _
A ﬁne statuary marble is found lower down the Nerbudda, and the whole
district is of the greatest interest, as well to the capitalist as to the geologist.
I have, &c.
(Signed) ARTHUR A. JAcoE, B.A.,
Assist. Engr., and Geologist to the B. B. & C. I. R. Co.

Report by Mr. J AcoB, in reference to the Line required to open up the
Mineral Districts of the N erbudda Valley.
Surat, April 4th, 1854.
To Lieutenant Colonel J. P. KENNEDY, \
Engineer in Chief, and Managing Director.
SIR, _
Having sent in ‘my Report on the Mineral Districts of the Valley of the
Nerbudda, I now beg to lay before you the result of my examination of the
142
physical features of the country with reference to the levels, &c., in order that-
you may from it form a correct idea of the best means of dispersing not only
the mineral but the agricultural produce of these territories throughout India.
Aware of your intention of opening out the Valley of the. Taptee, I will
speak ﬁrst of the junction between J ulgaum and Ponassa, the proposed site for
your ironworks; secondly, I will shortly refer to ‘the line of country between
Ponassa and Mundlaisir, with regard to the opening out of the Lower Ner-
budda Valley; and ﬁnally, I will describe the line of country between Ponassa
and .Iubbulpore, with a view to the connection of the iron districts with the
coal basins eastward, and to the affording of an outlet for the enormous grain
and other produce of the valley, a large portion of which constantly rots for
want of means of communication by which it could be brought to market.
This line may also be considered as a portion of the connecting link between
your main line and‘ the Calcutta railway.
From J ulgaum to Boorhanpoor is, as far as I could observe, a comparatively
easy country: good gradients can, I am of opinion, be had all through it.
Boorhanpoor is a large, wealthy, and populous city.
The main question to be settled, on a minute examination, will be the precise
point for passing the Taptee.
Proceeding then north-east, Asseerghur should be passed at a few miles
east of the fort, where the Satpoora range is much broken, and affords an easy
passage. Thence to Peepleod, a distance of ﬁfteen miles, no difﬁculty will be
found of any moment, and the country becomes more fertile. Twenty-one miles
further on the branch to your ironworks would probably join, turning off
toward Moondee, and crossing the Towa on a ﬁne rocky bottom, without any
difﬁculty. This branch would be about sixteen .miles in length, and probably
its extension across the Nerbudda to Indore will be a matter of future consi-
deration, opening out, as it would, the great iron country further from Ponassa.
At Sakur, where it would_ probably cross the N erbudda, the ﬁne-weather
breadth of the river is but forty-eight feet; and I do not hesitate to say that it
affords the best site for a bridge throughout the two hundred and eighty miles
of that river which I have examined, save, perhaps, .Ihansee Ghat,'near
Jubbulpore (to be described further on). i
The line of country from Ponassa to Mundlaisir (about forty-eight miles),
presents easy gradients; no difficult rivers are crossed, and Burwayee, a ﬁne
town half-way, would afford considerable traffic.
The Nerbudda line, after passing the Ponassa junction, should diverge in a
straight line to Hurda, a further distance of twenty-eight miles. Here is the
commencement of a district of endless fertility and unknown wealth; and, if
the little ravines on the edges of the very few nullas to be met be excepted, the
country may be considered level.
Hurda is a large town, carrying on a ﬂourishing trade, as far as the wretched
communications of the country will admit. It sends'down quantities of cotton
every season to Bombay. I am informed by Mr. Keatinge, the Political
143
Agent of Nimar, that cotton carts passeMsseerghur during the last season at
the rate of two hundred 'per day.
Crossing the Gungal river at a distance of eighteen miles, Sewnee will be
. reached seven miles and a half further on.
This is, again, a fine business town.
I would ' not recommend a divergence from the straight line toward
Hooshungabad, as that town, though large, would not, I think, have sufﬁcient
traffic to authorise such divergence; and the river Towa, a troublesome
stream, would near Hooshungabad be passed with much diﬂiculty. It would
be better to continue straight to Patroda: the line would pass near the
Sonadeh coal-ﬁeld (see Geological Report), and it is probable that valuable
coal mines will be found between Sewnee and Patroda.
At Patroda the Hooshungabad road is crossed. Quantities of opium will
here be taken up from the Baitool district, and abundance of teak timber of
ﬁne scantling can be had in the hills south of the line.
From Patroda to Sohagpoor is about twenty miles, the Towa river being
passed half—way. This is the ﬁrst troublesome river to be passed ; the bed is
deep sand, and about three quarters of a mile wide.
Keeping above the town of Sohagpoor, the line would still pass through a
most fertile and populous country for ﬁfty miles, where the Benar coal mine
‘would be reached (vide Geological Report).
Garrilwara is about twelve miles north of the coal mine: it is a ﬁne popu-
lous town. From this to Nursingpoor is twenty-three miles: this is another
large town.
From Nursingpoor to .Ihansee will be twenty-seven miles: the line, passing
under the’ hills, would cross the Nerbudda at J hansee Ghat, where a ﬁne site
for ‘a bridge is to be obtained about ﬁve hundred yards below the J ubbulpore
road.
The river is about six hundred feet wide, and fordable; the banks high; the
bottom is a ﬁne ﬂat-bedded sandstone, nearly horizontal; and should timber be
required for centering or superstructure, the ﬁnest teak can be ﬂoated down
from the J ubbulpore jungle.
There will be no ravines crossed on the south bank of the Nerbudda, as the
line will run along a strip of high land between two tributaries ; but on the
north bank they will be troublesome for the ﬁrst half mile.
Twenty-three miles from this, Jubbulpore will be reached without the least
difficulty.
The lateness of the season prevented me from continuing my examination
toward the Ganges.
Throughout this whole line, no gradient, 1 am convinced, will ericeed sixteen
feet to the mile, and the only gradients coming at all near this are those in the
vicinity of Asseerghur.
As a practical proof of the cheapness of provisions of every kind, I was
enabled, while about the Hooshungabad and Nursingpoor districts, to feed
" 144
three ponies and myself for the smalnsum of Rs. 23 per month ; and I did not
act ungenerously either to myself or them. I if
The land bears two crops per year, without manure. After the monsoon,
jowaree, bajree, &c. are sown; and they being removed in November, wheat,
gram, linseed, &c. are sown.
The demand is so small for the grain, that it lies in deep holes in the ground
for years, and frequently rots there.
Wheat may be had for 90 seers the rupee, and gram for 120 seers the rupee.
Sugar is largely sent from Mirzapore westward, and salt, English and other
goods, are carried eastward. ‘ t
In ubbulpore, lac is largely manufactured for the English market; and, as
I have stated in my Geological Report, its mineral resources must make it a
place of vast commercial importance.
I have, &c.
(Signed) ARTHUR A. JAooR, B.A.,
Assist. Engr., and Geologist to the B. B. & C. I. R. Co.

Report on the N erbudda River by Mr. J. T. GREEN, First Assistant
Engineer to the Bombay, Baroda, and Central India Railway
Company.
Danica—The north bank, east and west of Broach, is high and precipitous,
showing evident indications of the encroachment of the river during ‘the period
of ﬂoods ; and . by information obtained from the inhabitants, this wearing
away is to the extent of thirty feet in a period of twenty years. The upper
stratum of this bank is black earth, three to four feet thick, under which are
alternate layers of sand and clay, varying from two to eight feet thick, mixed
with kunkur (specimen forwarded); twelve feet from the bed of the river, the
clay becomes hard and tenacious, and appears to resist the action of the ﬂood
very considerably. '
The south bank is low and shelving, about twenty—one feet above the summer
level of the river; the upper stratum alluvial deposit of earth and sand, in parts
cultivated, and in others covered with low jungle, extending a distance of more
than a mile, to a former channel of the river, when the bank again rises
abruptly. '
Floods are of two descriptions,-—those occurring annually, during the
periodical rains ; and rapid freshes at the same season, owing, probably, to the
combined inﬂuence of a heavy fall of rain, a strong westerly wind, and high
spring tides.
The highest known rise of ﬂood took place seventeen years since, by the
account of the inhabitants, and appears to correspond with the great ﬂood
145
mentioned in the Report of the Taptee river, namely in the month of August
1837. 'iThe country in the vicinity of the river is spoken of as being entirely
under water, except solitary knolls, upon which human beings and cattle con-
gregated. This inundation, similar to the Taptee river, took a period of
three days to attain its greatest height, and subsided in one, remaining nearly
stationary twenty-four hours. NVith regard to the extent of country which was
flooded, no positive information can be obtained ; there is a prevalent report
that the Waters of the Taptee and N erbudda joined, which, if true, would
make it about forty miles.
Large quantities of drift timber, and grass, bushes, tops of houses, and
cattle, are brought down during the period of periodical floods, and which is
considerably increased -upon a sudden rise in the river : tigers, bears, and
several descriptions of deer, are also frequently brought down, together with a
large number of snakes.
The nature of the deposit, after the floods have subsided, is alternate layers of
sand and clay, as regularly as if deposited by human aid. Some of the layers
vary in thickness, owing to the freshes being less at one time than another.
Velocity of Current—The velocity was observed when the river was free
ﬁ’om tidal water, and at summer level : the mean of three observations gives
1.23 feet per second, or 4,428 feet per hour,—less than one mile.
Borings have been made in four places,——one on the north side, between
high and low—water, one in the centre of the river, and two on the south side.
A reference to the accompanying section will explain the different strata pene-
trated : no stones, gravel, or pebbles were met with on the north sicle,—-—the clay
is ver tenacious - the sand and gravel found in the centre boring is com act
> e a P
and ﬁrm ; that on the south side becomes ﬁrm after the ﬁrst ten feet is passed
through; and I have no hesitation in stating that screws of four feet flange
will both enter the different strata with facility, and at a depth of twenty feet
be found to afford a good and suEclent support for any structure.
The drift timber brought down in inundations is of considerable size and
quantity; and on this account I would beg to suggest that the water may be
left as wide as possible,—-a span of eighty feet would not, I conceive, be more
than suflicient. The number and size ' of piles used in each pier will of course
be regulated by the span decided upon, and consequent weight to be borne by
such pier. Cylindrical tubular piles of wrought-iron, with screws of four feet
ﬂange, will, I believe, he found the best adapted for piers in both the Taptee
and Nerbudda rivers,——the modiﬁcation to be made in the screws used in the
former, as described in the Report thereon.
(Signed) J. T. GREEN,
' First Assistant Engineer.
Surat, 4th April 1854.
1
1922
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