1 76 Dr Boue's Geographical and Geological Observations 



tic rocks with gneiss ; and in its vicinity we find trachytes, 

 which are in connexion with those of Karatova. Trachyte 

 also extends across the low central chain, from Strazin in Mace- 

 donia, to the vicinity of Vranja south of the Morava. A sul- 

 phureous hot spring issues at the northern extremity of these 

 hills. 



On the eastern limits of Mcesia Superior^ south of Nisha, are 

 situated the lofty Start Plamna (old mountain), and the Suvo- 

 Planina (dry hill) ; these limestone ridges occur next to the mica- 

 slates of Baditschka-Gora (east of Leskovatz). A very extensive 

 group of mica-slate and talc- slate hills rises more to the south, 

 between the Morava valley and the valleys of Trn and Sukova. 

 On the north-east base of this group we find some trachytes and 

 trachytic conglomerates ; but, on the highly inclined southern 

 declivity, porphyry dykes occur in the slates ; whilst some of 

 the hill tops are composed of trachyte and a white trachytic 

 aggregate. Here, as in the Servian hills, elms cover the low 

 plateaux^ oaks the sides, and alpine pasturages occupy the 

 highest summits, the chief of which is the broad Sne^pol (Snow- 

 field). This last is a little higher than the S tar i- Planina^ and 

 attains an elevation of nearly 4000 (Paris) feet. 



The Snegpol is united by the ridges above the village of 

 Klissura (defile), to the Kurbetska Planina and the hills of Egri 

 Palanka. The talc-slates, of which these are formed, are often 

 decomposed, and contain numerous raiccoscopic crystals of 

 magnetic iron-ore, which is washed and smelted in many places. 

 These hills completely separate the upper Morava valley from 

 that of Trn, whose stream flows into the Sukova and Nissava ; 

 a fact of which most geographers are ignorant, as they make it 

 fall into the Morava. 



To the south-east of this group of hills we find lower ridges 

 composed of limestone and newer transition-slate, or Silurian 

 rocks, with numerous defiles or rents running nearly N-S. 

 These hills extend to the great longitudinal channel which 

 leads from Nisha to Sophia, and which is excavated, particu- 

 larly towards the east, in a conchiferous limestone, probably 

 belonging to the Jura formation. All the above-mentioned 

 chains are inhabited by a pretty dense population of indus- 

 trious Bulgarians. 



