all the rocks of the western coast distinctly points out the limit of the present high water. On Flat Island was subsequently found three distinct beaches, and the coral found on the different extents of the Island clearly proclaimed in their relative states of decomposition, the difference of their periods of exposure.

The external and more apparent means by which these great changes are effected, are as yet known, I believe, quite peculiar, and exhibit features which may be valuable in assisting investigation into the immediate causes of volcanic violence.

Every one of the mud volcanoes of Chedooba were visited, and examined as well as those of the neighbouring Islands, south of it, and on none with strictest search could be found any traces of direct fire, or of those peculiar formations produced by that agent, gas alone seems to be the one immediately occasioning these strange exceptions to the general character of volcanoes. It is no doubt inflammable gas, and the light given by some of them in activity has been so great as to enable a book to be read by it at a distance of 9 miles, as was credibly related to me as having occurred at the last eruption of the large Volcano of Meugbreng, the largest on the Island that heat is present in the more recent ones, I found it myself to be the case, in one examined on Ramree, where the mud brought up on a bamboo from, 17 feet in depth, shewed a temperature of 92° 20' above that of the atmosphere. But a white stone like chalk found on all the large volcanoes, which was considered as the common greenish sandstone discolored by heat, was the only substance found, which exhibited a trace of no intense heat, and in this case the abstraction of color alone was effected without the least change of composition or form. The large volcanoes of Chedooba are four in number, they are detached mounds rather than cones, varying from 100 to 1,000 feet above the level of the sea, composed of a stiff grey clay with large quantities of singular fragments of stone, their sides much cut up by the effects of rain, their summits quite bare, and from 240 to 50 yards in diameter; on these are disposed cones of stiff clay from a few inches to 4 feet in height, and the same variety of dimensions, in diameter. These are hard on the outside, but filled half way up with a thick well mixed mud, which every now and then exudes from a hole at the sides or summit", at the bursting of a bubble of gas which occurs every 3 or 4 minutes. There are two other volcanoes of small dimensions, and but little elevated above the plains where they are found to exist; they are composed of the same

The readers of the Journal will be struck with the similarity of the description to that of the mud pools at Hinglaj.-As. Soc. Jour, No. 04.

soil of mud, emitting large bubbles of gas; and besides these there are two spots whence water alone is brought up by the gas. In all these the water or mud is salt, and their number with the four Petroleum wells which are in constant ebullition with gaseous exhalation, seem to exhibit this agent as powerfully, and extensively at work, throughout the Island. The minor volcanic vents seldom exhibit any change; the larger ones when in eruption, which generally takes place during the rains, either throw forth to a considerable height accompanied with flame, fluid mud, which spreads over a certain extent, or the surface effected boils with the escapement of gas, bring too consistent to flow or be thrown up. The angular fragments of stone mixed with the mud are clearly torn from the strata, through which the vent is forced, and small portions of copper ore are found attached to some.

Besides the volcanoes seen, one was described as existing under water on what is now a reef N. W. of Fiat Island, and which a few years since gave forth flame when in eruption. But independent of such direct evidence a mere examination of many of the reefs would convince of the fact of the bed of the sea being equally affected with the surface of the land.

I conclude with the observation that the clearness of the jungle of Chedooba, the healthiness of its climate, and the late clearing of the principal hill tops for purposes connected with its survey, afford for the ensuing fine season a most interesting ground whereon to examine, more minutely than either time or ability would enable me to do, the peculiar geological features thus briefly noticed.

Examination and analysis of a soil brought from the Island of Chedooba by Capt. HALSTEAD, of H. M. S. Childers,' by HENRY PIDDINGTON, Offg. Curator Museum Asiatic Society.

This soil was sent with a collection of soils and minerals from Chedooba, for the Museum of Economie Geology, with a request that a report might be made upon them. I was immediately struck with its resemblance to the finest Georgia Sea Island cotton soil which I analysed in 1838, and which has such a peculiar appearance-resembling a mixture of sand and charcoal-that it immediately attracts attention; I thought it well worth while to ascertain their identity. To show how nearly they are like I set down in parallel columns the results of my examination of the Chedooba soils and of the American one; the last abridged from my paper on the cotton soils of America, India, Mauritius &c. in vol. VI. of the Transactions Agrl. Soc. of India, p. 198.

APPEARANCES.

1. When sifted, like fine dark->

grey sand and charcoal dust, arti-The same.

2. The sifting coarse sand, frag- | The same, but no shells, and the

Remarks.

Silex is mostly in coarse glittering grains like pounded loaf sugar, shewing that it is mostly from disintigrated and not decomposed rock.

duller and more powdery, silex The same, but grains of silex

with them.

N. B.-The smell of Petroleum is owing to a bottle of it having been sent in the box.

For all agricultural purposes these soils may be pronounced so nearly the same, that, in the same climate, the difference would only lie in the amount of produce being a little more or less on the one than on the other. The Chedooba soil contains but one ingredient, Sulphate of Soda, not found in the American, but this is in extremely minute quantity, and moreover seems favourable to the growth of cotton, for the soil of the Tinnevelly district, which produces the Madras, Bourbon cotton, concontains it, as does also that of Singapore, on which very fine Bourbon cotton is grown.

Captain Halstead's remarks on this soil are as follows.

'No. 11, represents the more sandy soil of the eastern circles. It was taken from the neighbourhood of Meugbreng. The circle of that name with the one just noticed (Mrooma) are the most populous on the island, the greatest quantity of exports being produced in these, and chiefly on this soil-a more productive one than its appearance would seem to

warrant.'

The importance of this curious soil to America we well know. It may be hoped that ours may be ere long turned to account and that many other spots on the islands and coast, from Akyab to Sandoway, may be found to possess it. From difference of climate, as far as this may

affect the cotton, there will be, I trust, little to fear, for we know that the dry months allow time enough for the production of all kinds of cotton, some of very fine quality, on the main land of Arracan; and it is mentioned as a product of Chedooba by Captain Halstead. Very fine Sea Island has been produced on Saugor Island, and the late Mr. Kydd gave me a very beautiful sample of it, which he said was grown there upon a sort of black sandy soil' but I could not obtain a specimen of it. I venture to suggest that if a small quantity of the Sea Island seed was sent down to the Commissioner, accompanied with a brief notice, to be translated into the Mug language, and distributed with the seed, stating what it was, its great value when carefully picked, and that no sort of extra rent or claim would be made for this kind of cultivation, we might hear of it again? Small prizes might be offered to those who produced the best samples. HENRY PIDDINGTON.

List of Soils and from whence taken.

1. Clay of upraised plain, near the N. W. point of the Island.

2. From Rua Tanghee inside the above plain.

3. From the N. W. peak.

4. From the West Hill.

5. From interior of Krae-roue circle.

6. From Eastern part of Krae-roue circle.
7. From Petroleum well of Krae-roue.

8. From West part of Inrooma circle.

9. From central valley of Inland (Inrooma circle.)

10. From Petroleum well of Inrooma circle.
11. From village of Meugbreng.

12. From interior of Meugbreng circle.

13. From Tang-roa circle near Rua Sekkea.

14. From the summit of Pagoa Hill.

15. From Ree-giung (Flat Island).

16. Iron ore from North beach of Chedooba.

17. Copper ore from different volcanoes of Chedooba.

18. Coal or lignite from Tang-roa circle.

19. Petroleum of Krae-roue.

It appeared advisable to attach to the accompanying selection of the soils of Chedooba, the few following observations on the subject in addition to the mere list of places whence each was procured.

In making the selection, which was done during a progress on the greater part of the Island, high and low, jungle and cultivated, and mostly on foot, from the 1st of January to the beginning of March, care was taken to choose soils which should represent those of the greatest extent to be found on the Island, and where specimens have been taken of soils less general, they have still existed over extents ample enough to afford room for the cultivation of that produce, for which they might be considered most applicable. But here it may be at once observed, that no material difference or contrast was found to exist in the soils of Chedooba; a clay of light brown or grey colour, more or less modified, as it had been subjected a longer or shorter period to the effects of tillage or natural vegetation, constituting the bases of all. This clay base being again on the eastern parts of the Island found with a large admixture of fine sand. This clay base seemed to give throughout a permanence to the productiveness of the soil, which must constitute a very valuable quality,