1835.] Geology of the Bombay Islands . 299 



be little hesitation in concluding, from substances which 

 readily gain admittance in consequence of the exposure of 

 the tanks, and the presence of the saline matter must be 

 attributed to the same sources as in other similar situations, 

 their small proportions being explained by the want of free 

 communication between the water and the soluble portion 

 of the earth. 



The rock at Baboola is close grained, and is extremely 

 hard, approaching in some measure to a green stone, as it 

 appears sometimes in Scotland, with the aspect of an 

 aqueous deposit. It affords an excellent material for 

 mending the roads, which for their smoothness cannot be 

 surpassed. This rock appears limited in its range ; for at 

 Parell, amygdaloid occurs with very large cavities, filled 

 with the usual mineral. The northern portion of the 

 island is similarly constituted, presenting nearly a level 

 surface, thickly clothed with a great variety of trees and 

 shrubs,* which afford a grateful shade from the over- 

 powering influence of the solar rays, " vim solis umbrae 

 laevant." The coast is low and rocky with the water gra- 

 dually shoaling to the land, which at ebb tide leaves a 

 dry and pleasant beach. The amygdaloid shews itself fre- 

 quently in the form of half sunk rocks and dangerous 

 ledges, especially along the Coulaba' shores, but suffering 

 in the lapse of time from the action of the sea, and occur- 

 ring remarkably in conjunction with the clay-stone por- 

 phyry, the latter often rising up between two rounded 

 masses of the former, sometimes placed above it, at other 



* Among the trees of the island, the Ficus religiosa and Indica are the most 

 stately, which appear to have attracted the attention of Europeans, as early as the 

 time of Alexander the Great, if we may judge from the admirable description of 

 Quintus Curtius, " Plerique rami instar ingentium stipitum flexi in humum 

 rursus, qua se curvaverant, erigebantur, adeo ut species esset non rami resurgentis, 

 sed arboris ex sua radice generata^." — Q. Curt. Ruf. lib. ix, c. 1. 

 ** Branching so broad and long, that in the ground 

 The bended twigs take root, and daughters grow 

 About the mother tree." — Milton. 

 The variety of trees and shrubs is great, but perhaps, the finest ornaments are, 

 Morinda citrifolia, Capparis acuminata, Artocarpus integrifolia, Terminalia alata, 

 Getonia floribunda, Michelia champaca, Mimusops elengi, Gretvia microcos, and 

 Orientalis, Annona relicula and squamosa, and Tamarindus Indica, which if any 

 members of the vegetable kingdom can be considered as indigenous in this island, 

 must hold the highest rank. 



