348. The existence of coal all over the world, and always in the same geological situation, is another proof that even in

*

condition or state of

things, which must have been common to every country of the globe. Pursuing the analogy taught by the facts learned in the coal fields of England, that valuable mineral has been brought to light in almost every part of the world, it may not therefore be uninteresting to enter into some little explanation on this subject, in order to judge whether the deposit may be expected in this quarter, as in any way connected with the series of facts described.

349. The coal formation though, as has been observed, owing its origin most probably in every country to the action of some general cause, may yet be considered, as far as appearances are concerned, to be a local deposit, inasmuch as it is always of limited extent compared with the other strata. Its place in the system is well marked, nor has any bed of coal worth mention ever been found out of that place. It is known to overlie a limestone, which from its relation to the coal, has been called carboniferous, and which itself lies upon the rock called the old red sandstone, the lowest of the secondary strata. Above the coal measures is found the newer red or saliferous sandstone. Between these two members of the series, it has always been observed to hold its place; subordinate strata occasionally intervening, occasionally being wanting, but the coal never occurring, that is, in any quantity above the latter, or below the former rock.

350. This would seem to be a sufficiently definite arrangement to enable us always to pronounce on the greater or less probability of finding this useful mineral in any tract in which the succession of rocks has been accurately traced. Applying the principle to the present survey, it will be found that limiting facts are wanting, although the general presumption is strongly in favor of the existence of a coal formation. Thus we have the saliferous or newer red sandstone on the border of the mountain tract, dipping N. E., giving the promise of older or inferior deposits to the Southward; and again at Dehli, we have the old red sandstone, leaving it a natural inference, that in the intermediate space, intervening formations will be found.

351. The great coal field of Northumberland and Durham is situated in millstone grit and limestone shale (the upper anomalous beds of the

old red sandstone,) on the outside of which small patches occur of the newer red, and beyond that, a country of schistose formation. On one side it has the mountain or carboniferous limestone, and outside of it, a large band of the red sandstone, part of a mass which occupies the centre of England. The coal field of Wales is separated from the old red sandstone by a narrow strip of the carboniferous limestone. Those of Staffordshire are similarly situated with those of Northumberland. The coal field near Burdwan is covered by the newer red sandstone; all these facts, I think, give a strong probability to the opinion, that coal will be found in the Dooab. The facts that are wanting are such as would limit its position, and consequently give a well-grounded prospect of discovery, before commencing any thing like an expensive search. These facts will be furnished by the prosecution of the survey.

The concluding section of this Report is that upon the Mineral Productions of the Himalaya, which will be found in Vol. XVIII, Part I. p. 227 of the Trans. As. Society.-ED.