COAL AT LAKE NYASSA.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3121, 18 February 1879, Page 4

COAL AT LAKE NYASSA.

Mr John Gunn, superintendent of the agricultural department of the Scotch Free Church Mission at Livingstonia, announces in a letter dated the 12th of September last that coal has been discovered on the shores of Lake Ifyassa. Mr Rhodes, who accompanied the late CaptainElton up country, partly for the purpose of exploration and partly on a hunting expedition, proceeded to the north end of the lake, and thence advanced along the western shore. While hunting at a spot about a mile beck from the lake and 10 miles south of Florence Bay, he ascended a gully which led to higher ground of sandstone formation. At an elevation of 400lt. above the lake he met with a few pieces of pebbled coal in the bed of the gully, and, continuing his investigations, he subsequently discovered three seams of coal. One of the seams was 7ft. thick, and the thickness of the two others is lft. and 3ft. respectively. The natives who formed Mrlifaodes's party recognized the coal as the " makala " which, they said, they had seen burnt on board the steamers Several specimens of the coal have been taken to Living stonie. Traces of nlluxual gold were also discovered by Mr Rhodes, but he doubts if it is present in sufficient quantity to pay working.-r-Times.