The Sun.
London, England, 1847-03-10 00:00:00

(INDIA.

THE KATHIES.—The Calcutta Christian Observer for
January gives a notice of a singular race of people
called the Kathies, who inhabit a part of Guzerat.
4. These people are supposed by some to be the
ancient Cathie, who in the time of Alexander's in-
vasion occupied a portion of the Punjaub, near the
confluence of the five rivers. Among the Kathies
there are no distinctions of caste. Besides priests,
they have an official class of persons called bards, who
possess authority almost equal to that of the Druids.
They become security for the payment of debts,
the conduct of individuals who have misbehaved, and
the appearance of persons in pending actions, either civil
or criminal. On the same terms they conduct travellers
and caravans through districts infested with robbers, or
in a state of war. If a troop of predatory horse appear,
the bard commands them to retire, and, brandishing his
dagger, takes a solemn oath that if they plunder the
persons under his protection, he will stab himself to the
heart, and bring upon their heads the guilt of shedding
his blood. Such is the veneration in which he is
held as a person of celestial origin, and such the
horror at being the cause of his death, that the threat in
almost every instance deters them from making the med-
tated attack, and the party is allowed to pass on unmo-
lested. The religion of these people consists of little
else than adoration of the sun. They invoke this object
of their worship before commencing any great under-
taking, and if a plundering expedition be successful, a
portion of the money stolen is consecrated to the service
of religion. The only functions of the priests are to
celebrate marriages and funeral selemnities. They have
but one sacred building—a temple—situated near
Thuam, dedicated to the sun, and containing an image
of that luminary. The size of the Kathies is above the
average, often exceeding six feet. The women are tall
and often handsome ; generally speaking, modest, and
faithful to their lords. The Kathies have no restrictions
of any sort regarding food or drink."

CONSUMPTION OF COAL IN
FRANCE.

Some statistics received connected with the consump-
tion of coal in France and the production of her col-
lieries will furnish a partial clue to the industrial
progress of that country during rather more than the
last fifty years. It is stated that coal had been em
ployed in France before the fourteenth century, but it
was not till the year 1787 that the consumption
reached an important point. In that year the quantity
of coal consumed was 4,053,919. /metrical quintalb,
and the consumption went on steadily Increasing till in
1815 it amounted to 11,121,942 metrical quintals.
Considerable as this increase was in comparison with
former periods, a much greater augmentation took
place in the course of the next ten years, and then
it appears that the quantity consumed had gra
dually advanced to 19,943,853 metrical quintals.
The next important stage that occurred was
between that date and 1834, when we find that from
19,943,853 metrical quintails, the quantity had again
augmented to 34,144,059 quintals, each year of tin
intervening period showing a further and progressive
increase. From that time forward an increase has
annually taken place in consumption, and the later'
return for 1844 gives the amount for that year at
54,861,501. Of this quantity of coal consumed the pro-
production of the interior during 1843 was 37,827,395
metrical quintals; and the difference between consump
tion and production was made up of importations from
the colleries of Belgium, Great Britain, and the Rhenish
prOvinces joining Prussia and Bavaria. During the year
1843 Belgium alone imported into France 11,157,949
metrical quintals, and the importation from Great Bram,
represented 4,276,936.

RAILWAY SHARE MARKETS.

LIVERPOOL, MARen_9.

STOCK EXCHANGE.—The sales are—East Lancashire, New, l jo p,

New Scrip, 265. 3d. p.—London and North-Western, 180%
ex div.—Ditto, New Quarters, 11%—London and Manchester and
Birmingham, 71% ex div.—Manchester and Leeds (late 'lnd. and
Shelf.), 4% p.—Ditto, 321. Shares (late Extension), 2% p.—l)itto
(late West Riding Union), 1% p.—Manchester, Sheffield, and Lin-
colnshire (late Great Grimsby Dock), 2% dis.—Midland Stock, lIS
—Ditto, Preferential, 125—Ditt*, New, 3% p.—Ditto, Consolidated
Birmingham and Derby, 92—South-Eastern and Dow'', New, No. 4,
Ils. 3d. p.—Belfast and Ballymena, 8 dis.—Caledonian, llalves, %
dis.—lludderstield Canal, and Railway, 32%—Ditto, p.—Leeds
and Think, I 7i dis.—Ditto, New, % dis.—Birmingham and Oxford
Junction, 8% Clitheroe, &c., par—East Lincoln-
shire, 2% p.—Great Northern (Nos. 1 to 108,000), Is. 30. dis.—
North Staffordshire, 231 p.—North Western, IA p.—Shrewsbury and
Birmingham, (A), % p.—Shropshire Union, I % dis.—Wharfdale,
par—Leicester and Bedford, 3s. 9d. dis.—Manchester and South-
ampton, PA—South Yorkshire, Doncaster, and Goole, par—Dutch
Rhenish, 2% dis.

MANCHESTER, Mexcit 9.
Stoca EZCPIANGE.—The sales are—Ambergate, Nottingham, and
Boston, IA --Birmingham and Oxford Junction, 834 Blackburn,
Clithcroe, and North-Western, par cum all—Ditto, Preferentials, 134
Dublin and Drogheda, 15—Eastern Counties (York Extension), 34
East Lancashire (late B. and P.), New, I X —Ditto, New (scrip),
I%—ileetwood, Preston, and West Riding Junction, M c.—Great
Northern (London and York), Registered, par—Liverpool, Manches-
ter, and Newcastle Junction, % London and North-Western, 181
Ditto (Manchester and Birmingham), Quarters (A), 6h —Man-
chester and Leeds, 321. Shares (late Extension), 2%—Manchester,
Sheffield, and Lincolnshire (Grimsby, 201. Shares), 134 —Ditto
(Grimsby Dock), 234 c.—Manchester mad Southampton, 23s.—North
Staffordshire. 3 c.—Preston and Wyre, Halves (A), 4—Shropshire
Union, X —South-Eastern and Dover, No, 4, —West Riding
Union, %.

LEEDS, M& cu 9.
STocK ExcnANGE.—Tho sales are—Ambergate, Nottingham, and
Boston, 58. dia.—Buckinghamshire, 6s. c. p.—Eastern Counties, York
Extension, 38. p.—East Lancashire, New, 18s. 6d. c. p.—Ditto, New
(scrip), 265. 6d. p. —East and West Yorkshire, 19s. p.—Great
Northern (late London and York), par—Ditto (Direct Northern),
Extensions, par—Leeds and Dewsbury, New Extensions Scrip (pink),
Iss. p.—Leeds and Think, 2 dis.—Ditto, New, I Is. 3d. dis.—Ditto,
Preference, 288. 6d. p.—Leeds, Wakefield, and Midland, 121. dis.—
Leicester and Bedferd, 38. dis.—Malton and Driffleld Junction, IIA
/L.—Manchester and Leeds, 321 Shares (late Extensions), 2% p.—
North British, Quarter Shares (late Carlisle Branch), 40s. p.—Ditto,
Extensions (scrip), 12s. p. —North Staffordshire, 3 c. p.—Northern
Counties Union, 30s. dis.—North-Western, 4s. p.—Sheflield, Rother-
ham, and Goole, par—West Riding Union, 325. 6d. p.—Wharfdale
Junction, Is. 6d. p.