the blast furnaces of Sweden, where charcoal is employed. It will be a matter for future consideration, whether the most desirable site for these would be in the direction of Spega and Hazardurukht, or of Tezeen. The former will have the advantage of being better situated for labourers, whilst the latter, by being near the Cabool river, will have the convenience of raft carriage to the Indus.

State of roads and means of transport.

Mining operations may be commenced in this country without incurring much expence in road-making at the outset. At present the roads are only tracks, but they answer camels, and the mountains afford pasture for the maintenance of these useful animals. Mules, ponies, &c. are also used for carriage, and the neighbouring district of Koorrum is famous for its breed of the former. Roads for wheeled carriage may in process of time be made, as improvement advances, and this will create a great saving in transport throughout the country generally. An excellent one might be cut from Cabool to Dobundee, by the plain of Sogur, and no doubt the same could be continued to the banks of the Indus by the valley of Koorrum; guns at any rate have already been taken by that route. As soon as this road is surveyed and repaired, and political obstacles are removed, the circuitous route by the Khyber Pass will be forsaken for this shorter and safer line of communication with Hindoostan; meanwhile as far as the mines are concerned, the most economical method would be to purchase a certain number of camels, the transport management could then be conducted at a moderate expence, and occasion very little trouble:

Habits and character of

the people.

The occupations of these mountain tribes are partly agricultural, but chiefly pastoral and commercial. Those who have flocks of sheep migrate from place to place according to the season of the year, whilst those who have camels, engage in trading speculations, and in hiring out their camels for transporting wood, charcoal, &c. to Cabool, salt from Kalabagh and Malgeen, iron from Bajour and Foormool, and merchandise to and from Peshawur, and various other quarters.

I regret to add, there is another class that I call the predatory, which the poverty of the people, the distracted state of the country, insecurity of property, &c. appear to have brought into existence, and gangs of these banditti have been infesting the country to the no small detriment of the industrious merchant. different tribes which contain this class within them, are the following:

The

These molest the country between Ghuznee and Jelallabad-some rob chiefly by night, break into houses, annoy an encampment, &c. others steal in broad daylight, in the bazar of Cabool even, and are famous for their dexterity in pilfering; whilst others again come down from the mountains in force, attack a cafila, and return immediately with the property they have captured.

It need not be supposed, however, that because a portion of the people have hitherto been leading this lawless life, that the hope of establishing useful works, even in the secret haunts of these robbers, is by any means impracticable. It must be remembered, likewise, that a revolution has taken place in the country, and that during the last year, the constant political excitement which was kept up, of itself produced much of this evil. Formidable as the state of affairs may seem, the difficulty of uprooting the evil is much more in appearance than in reality. There is indeed a regular system of robbery carried on, which must be systematically dealt with, to be effectually put down. This I believe may be accomplished without levelling a single fort, ravaging an acre of ground, or spilling one drop of blood. The Ghilzyes of that district, are about the finest race of people I have seen in Afghanistan, and the predatory portion, though wild, are far from being intractable. But they have been long living without the pale of the laws, in a country distracted and torn with feuds and dissensions, without any security of property; the strong ever oppressing the weak, and have in a great measure been brought by circumstances into this lawless mode of life. Give them, however, but constant employment, with good wages and regular payment; encourage a spirit of industry, both by precept and example; let strict justice be dealt out to them without respect of persons; and we shall shortly see their swords changed into ploughshares, industry take place of licentiousness, and these people be converted into peaceable and useful subjects. A firm, but just and liberal hand, in my opinion, might mould them into any thing.

During the late disturbances, it was often remarked to me, what a detestable race these Afghans were; that a man could not stir a few yards from his house or his tent, without the risk of assassination; and that three times the amount of military force was scarcely sufficient to keep this unruly country in order; and yet, I have gone with but a few followers into the midst of them, have wandered amongst the wildest and most desperate characters, often without a sword at my side or a pistol in my belt; and even during the very crisis alluded to, when I returned to Cabool, I did so entirely in opposition to my own views and inclination, and only in accordance with an express order to that effect.

Since I commenced this research, I have made a point of living with the people, and I am of opinion, that in any attempt to develop the resources of a country, an acquaintance with the character of the inhabitants is a matter of serious consideration. The result of my observations are these: that if we take advantage of the keen commercial spirit of this nation, and direct its energies into the many useful channels which may be opened to them; if the conciliatory policy be steadily persisted in, all gloomy suspicions as to our future intentions removed, and the Afghans become persuaded that we are really their friends;-there is no quarter of the east where British influence will more rapidly take root, and British power be more readily consolidated-whether the nature of the climate, the wide field for European improvement, or the freedom from prejudice on the part of the people be considered.

Rate of payment for la

It is not easy to say exactly, what the rate of payment for labour would be in those mountains, when order is completely restored, and a new state of things brought about; but there can be no doubt of this, that it will be moderate.*

bour, &c.

Osman Khan, who is a considerable landed proprietor himself, and experienced, is of opinion that only one-third of the available land of Afghanistan is under cultivation.

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Osman Khan informs me, that during Dost Mahomed's time, he used to hire ablebodied labourers for cutting canals, and reclaiming waste land at Balabagh, at the rate of two annas per day; but that now he hires them for about three annas. The rate which at present exists in Cabool is a forced one, the result of a combination of circumstances, which can only last for a limited period until things find their proper level.

The Jajee tribe, and other industrious mountaineers, are all robust and stout-looking people, and during the winter travel as far as Peshawur for employment, which they would not be induced to do if work were afforded them at home. There are few points in the country more favorably situated for a command of good workmen than the mining district under discussion.

As the price of labour, however, is directly affected by the price of food, it will be a matter of great importance for the successful working of the mines, that the arable land in their vicinity be properly attended to. If the mountains bear witness to an extent of industry unknown to their present ill-fated occupants, the state of agricultural affairs in the adjoining fertile plain of Mogur, bears equal evidence of a former state of great prosperity, and points, in a significant manner, to the withering effects of Afghan misrule. The remains of ancient canals and water courses, the quantity of available land now lying waste, or in a low state of cultivation, the wretched condition of the people, and their inability to procure the necessary means of cultivating the soil, all show how much might be done by the application of capital, as well to the labours of the field, as to the dormant mineral resources of the country.

In conclusion, the following facts I would submit, may be considered as fully established, viz.:

Decided indications of abundance of copper, and of the richest varieties of ore. Wood in abundance, for timbering the mines, and for charcoal.

Water as a moving power for impelling machinery, thus obviating the expence of steam, camels, mules, &c. for carriage.

A hardy and able-bodied population on the spot, anxious to be employed as work

men.

Here therefore are the means for the production of this metal, and apparently to any required extent. It now only remains, that the inquiries I have had the honour of commencing, should be followed up; arrangements made for the suppression of the prepatory system; the providing an adequate capital for working the mines on scientific principles; and adopting such measures as will facilitate the transit of metallic produce to water carriage on the one hand, and the different marts in the interior on the other.

Iron of Northern Afghanistan.

As no mining operations can be carried on without a command of well-fabricated iron, the state of the manufacture of this indispensable metal becomes a primary consideration, in any attempt to render the mineral resources of an uncivilized country available; and certainly if any thing be required to show the abject state of the arts in this quarter of the globe, the iron trade and manufacture may be quoted as an instance.

The iron of Bajour, which is produced from magnetic iron sand, is not only in use throughout the northern districts of Afghanistan; but from its superior quality, is

likewise in great demand in the Punjaub. It sells in Cashmeer, for three times the price of the common iron of that country, and it is used in Candahar for the fabrication of matchlocks.

Were an improvement in the manufacture to take place, iron might no doubt be obtained equal to the Swedish-the best description in Europe. It was my intention to visit the district of Bajour at this time; but having been prevented from accomplishing my object, I am dependent on what information I have picked up hastily from merchants and others, who have been in the habit of visiting it, for the purpose of purchasing iron. The supply of iron, however, which the mountains in that direction afford, must be perfectly inexhaustible, from the intelligence I have derived, as to the immense quantity of this iron sand, which is annually washed down from their deposits.*

A sample of the sand was brought to me sometime ago, and taken from the bed of the stream at once, without being sifted and prepared for smelting. On applying the magnet, the ore was immediately taken up, and the quartzose and other strong particles remained. I then placed a small quantity of iron filings in contact with the ore, and the mutual attraction of the filings with the crystals of ore, was easily recognized with the assistance of the magnifier. It is described as occurring in great abundance in the mountain streams of Deer, Belour, and Mydan, which fall into the river of Punjcora, that ultimately joins the Cabool river below Peshawur.

The methods of reduction in this country, appear to be the same with those employed in different parts of India; and the manufacture in the Himalaya mountains, already described by Capt. HERBERT, is equally applicable to that of Bajour. It is evident, that whatever quantity of the ore is submitted for reduction, a small proportional part of the iron contained in the ore is brought to the state of useful iron. In the first process, a very crude mass of iron and scoria is produced; this crude mass is then submitted to the fire by a blacksmith, and after an incredible sacrifice of labour, a piece of malleable iron, fit for ordinary purposes, is at last produced, which, as may well be supposed, is any thing but the purest.

A more rude and inefficient system of smelting could not be devised, nor must it be understood from the simplicity of the management, that the processes are economical-they are the most expensive which could possibly be employed. It would be absurd to suppose that a refractory metal like iron, can ever be properly or economically fabricated by means of a great expenditure of manual labour, to the neglect of a mechanical power, such as a plentiful stream of water can afford, and which is to be obtained abundantly in the district that yields the sand I have described. So long as the miserable air bags, and a common blacksmith's sledge hammer are used for that purpose, iron inferior in quality, very deficient in quantity, and at an extravagant price, must be the necessary consequence.

But Afghan inexperience and mismanagement does not stop here. The crude iron is not converted into malleable on the spot, where charcoal abounds and labour is exceedingly cheap; but is transported slag and all, to Cabool, for instance, where both charcoal and labour are exceedingly dear. Again, in working up this

Should there be a proportion of titanum combined with this ore, I imagine it will be trifling. When I submit a supplementary Report, with the chemical analysis of different ores, this will be explained. The colour of the iron sand is dark black.

crude iron into malleable, one-third is lost, so that the unfortunate purchaser has not only to pay for an expensive and ill-manufactured article in the first place, and for the difference in the price of labour and charcoal, pointed out in the second, but for the carriage of a large proportion of dross.*

The cost of the transport of a khurwar of iron, (13 Hindoostanee maunds,) in Dost Mahomed's time, was about Rs. 15 from the Punjcor ariver to Kooner, and from thence to Cabool Rs. 10, making in all Rs. 25. At present, the hire will I am told, be about Rs. 35; but for the sake of example, let Rs. 30 be looked upon as the expence of conveying a khurwar of iron from the Punjcora river to Cabool. A hundred khurwars of this iron are said to be about the quantity annually consumed in Cabool, in the time of Dost Mahomed; lately the demand has greatly increased. Taking this quantity only, however, as the estimate, we have at the rate of Rs. 30 per khurwar, an expence of Rs. 3000 for carriage; but to render the iron fit for use, one-third is lost, so that an expence of Rs. 1,000 is every year incurred in Cabool, for the conveyance of slag. The information I have been able to gather respecting the probable quantity annually produced in Bajour is so vague and contradictory, that I do not feel justified in carrying out this calculation farther. At a guess, I believe it must be about a thousand khurwars; but be this as it may, there is no doubt that the saving, effected by a well manufactured article in the mere transport alone, would in a short time cover the expence of erecting an iron work upon the Swedish principle.

As a set-off to the practical difficulties inseparable from establishing works of this kind in a new and uncivilized country, the advantages which the manufacture of Bajour would possess over that of Sweden, would be these:

First. The difference in the price of labour, the wages of a workman being about 2 annas per day, according to the present rate; whilst labour in Sweden, though moderate, varies from 6d. to ls. per day. Allowing, however, that the price of labour should rise in Bajour, and that able-bodied workmen received from to 2 to 4 annas per day, still the rate would be considerably less than the Swedish.

Secondly. The circumstance of mining being commuted for the easy process of collecting and washing the sand, would occasion a great saving of expence; women and children are employed in this operation.†

Thirdly. The forests are described as being of great extent, and close by the localities where the iron sand is collected, and the charcoal used, is made from oak (quercus beloot,) which is the best adapted for that purpose. This will give the manufacture of Bajour a decided superiority over that of Sweden, where the light charcoal of the pine only is used, oak and hard wood being scarce in that country-the charcoal moreover is transported in sledges during the winter, a distance frequently of 30 miles to the furnaces.

I shall here offer a few observations on the subject of the iron in Northern India, for the purpose of showing, that if an improvement be called for there, the argument applies with still greater force to the remoter regions in this quarter.

* The iron is sold in the shape of bricks of different sizes. In making a trial the other day of one of these, which weighed one seer of Cabool, (equal to six seers of Hindoostan,) I obtained out of 16 parts, 10 of iron fit for use.

The iron sand is brought down annually by the melting of the snow in spring, and in such vast quantity, that for one iron work at any rate, the supply is ample without having recourse to mining.