German officers report the finding of a vein of copper in one of the hills near the city and it is rumoured we are to have a coal mine opened on Ts'inglungshan. The writer passed over this hill a few days ago. It is the only lime-stone hill in this vicinity. It is a variety of magnesian limestone. On crossing the summit of the mountain one enters a region of sandstone and in the valley atasmall farmstead is a remarkable piece of iron ore, an irregular mass of almost pure iron, containing nearly a hundred cubic feet. I felt sure it was an derolite and, after meeting with some opposition on the part of the villagers, succeeded however, st ook that it contained none securing a ieee for analysis. This, of the distinguishing elements of meteoric iron. The rock is greatly reverenced by the country people and the pond on whose edge it is found is called the "iron-breeding pond." It is possible there may be more iron ore in these hills, but it has heretofore been regarded as altogether improbable.
6th May.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.