SM Mr J. Hardie's Observatimis mi the 



this, there is the Cheetore range, which separates Meywar and 

 Malwa from Harowtee. 



The hills in Meywar^ and in the neighbouring primitive dis- 

 trict of Ajmeer, Jeypore, Sec. and, I may add, in all this part of 

 India, are low, never rising higher than 1000 or 1100 feet above 

 the neighbouring plain. They are rarely seen so high ; and are 

 very frequently as low as four, five, or six hundred feet. If we 

 calculate their height, however, from the level of the sea, they 

 will hold a more respectable rank in the scale of mountains ; the 

 plain itself having an altitude, above the level of the sea, of 1400 

 or 1500 feet. 



The southern portion may be described as consisting of a se- 

 ries of mountain groups, closely studded together, and separa- 

 ted from each other by narrow and deep valleys. These valleys 

 are very fertile ; and although most miserably cultivated, they 

 afford sufficient food to supply the wants of the inhabitants. In 

 the article of water, they are sadly deficient, and are obliged to 

 rely on the rains for their annual supply of this necessary of life. 

 The consequence is, that in years when the usual supply does 

 not fall, they are exposed to all the miseries of famine, from the 

 entire failure of their crops. The country has a wild and bleak 

 appearance, and is admirably adapted for the concealment and 

 shelter of the predatory tribes by which it is inhabited. It is in- 

 tersected by numerous deep ravines (gauts), on the sides of 

 which are seen rising, over the brinks of precipices, the villages 

 and houses of this rude people. 



The rocks, which we observe in this southern portion, are all 

 decidedly primitive, being placed nearly in the centre of a pri- 

 mitive tract of no great breadth, which extends northward 

 through Ajmeer, and southward towards the valley of the Ner- 

 buddah ; but how far south, I am not exactly aware. The por- 

 tion of the district, which we are now describing, is bounded on 

 the east by the table land of Malwah, which is an immense se- 

 condary trap formation, exhibiting, in some situations, columns 

 of a very pure basalt, in others, trap-tufa, and in others again, 

 a rock deeply impregnated with iron. I am not aware of the 

 exact nature of the rocks towards the west ; but, from all that 

 I can learn, it is of secondary formation ; and I have seen se- 

 veral beautiful specimens of a shell marble brought from a dis- 

 trict to the north-west. To the south-west, again, we have allu- 



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