Geology. 373 



can northward, all the way to the mouth of the Nerhudda, covering an 

 area of at least 200,000 square miles. It overlies sandstone in the dis- 

 trict of Sagur, and hence it may be inferred, that a portion of it, at least, 

 is posterior to sandstone. It possesses the common property of trap rocks 

 in general, viz. that of changing the nature of every other rock which 

 comes in contact with it; and in the district of Sagur it is always associa- 

 ted with an earthy lime-stone, which seems to have undergone calcination, 

 exhibiting strongly the marks of the agency of heat. According to Capt. 

 Franklin, the sandstone deposits are so very regular, both in their dispo- 

 sition and geological character, that they cannot be mistaken ; their gene- 

 ral parallelism to the horizon, and their saliferous nature, appear to him 

 to identify them with the new red sandstone of England; whilst the red 

 marie and its superincumbent variegated or mottled variety (called by Wer- 

 ner hunter- sand-stein), together with the deposits of lias limestone, place 

 the matter beyond all doubt. In using the term ' new red sandstone,' 

 however, it must be understood, as it is in England, to comprise all that 

 series of beds which intervenes between the ^m*and mag-nesian limestones; 

 admitting which, he concludes with confidence, that the waterfalls of the 

 Bundachel hills of Bundlecund, which are the lowest steps of the Vindya 

 range, will afford a series of formation corresponding perfectly with those 

 of England, where the lias formation has been thoroughly studied, from 

 its connection with the coal measures. 



" On the western side of India it is, as we have seen, covered by overlying 

 rocks, as at Sagur ; it appears, however, flanking the large primitive branch, 

 which runs to Odeypore, on the side of Guzerat, and to the north it sweeps 

 into the desert to an unknown extent. The paper in^he London Geologi- 

 cal Transactions, proves this fact, even if we had not the more substan- 

 tial evidence of rock-salt, which is there produced in abundance. 



'"' The next of the great surface rocks of Central India is large-grained 

 granite, frequently passing into gneiss, generally composed of quartz, flesh- 

 coloured felspar, a little brown or black mica, and hornblende. It varies, 

 however, in appearance, and also in the proportion of its constituents. 



** With regard to th^rocks of more recent formation than sandstone, In- 

 dia is peculiarly barren ; but this circumstance, above all others, renders 

 its geology interesting, if it be in reality so. Whence, says Mr Calder, 

 does such a remarkable distinction proceed ? The reply may comprehend 

 a solution of the most important phenomena of the science. 



" The lias formation is, as yet, known only from Capt. Franklin's re- 

 searches. He has found it in Bundlecund in situ, reposing on red marie, 

 or new red sandstone, and its geological character is, in all respects, so dis- 

 tinct that it cannot be mistaken. He thinks he has identified it by its 

 characteristic organic fossil, — the gryphite, — by stems of fern and fossil 

 wood ; and, moreover, the lime made from it possesses the peculiar pro- 

 perty of the species, and its finer varieties have been found to answer for 

 lithography. He entertains no doubt of the existence of this formation, 

 nor of its proving two main points: first, that the sandstones on which it 

 reposes is the red marie, or new red stone of the English school ; and se- 

 cond, that, with the exception perhaps of trap, and the concretionary for- 



