THE HIMALAYAN MOUNTAINS. XXXV 
succeeded by micaceous schist, and this sometimes becoming talcose. The strata in general dip to the 
N.E., but great irregularities exist, and many instances are seen of their dipping in an opposite direc- 
tion, but only to a limited extent. 
Unstratiriep Rocxs.—Trap-rocks, though frequently met with in fragments, were not until lately, 
recognized as forming a remarkable feature in the structure of the Himalayas. ‘They were noticed by 
Capt. Herbert, and compared by him to Greenstone, as the schist in the descent to Khalsee, which he 
calls a Protean green slate, passing into a rock like greenstone. He also observes, that a trap-like 
rock is found in the vicinity of Bheemtal, and mentions a “'Toadstone, of which the original mass is 
doubtless to be detected.” But a vein of greenstone was discovered by Dr. Falconer in the neighbour- 
hood of Mussooree, and the presence of trap-rocks has since been detected in numerous situations. 
Previous to this, the elevatory force was supposed to depend upon granite, which is revealed at the sur- 
face in so many places in Kemaon, and was supposed to be concealed under the surface to the westward 
of the Ganges, and raised to a great elevation only at the Choor Mountain. Hot springs abound in the 
Himalayas, and evidences of recent volcanic action were observed by Mr. Vigne in Cashmere, and have 
been seen by Dr. Falconer. 
The igneous rocks, Dr. F. says, which have been found in the outer tracts, are of the green trap 
series, and are very generally met with in dykes, intersecting and rising through the regular strata, 
which are in all directions fractured or comminuted, and the limestone broken up into masses. The 
Mussooree vein is composed in some places principally of compact white felspar and pyroxene, and in 
others chiefly of hornblende, and may be traced for half-a-mile in a direction nearly parallel to the 
range of the mountains. Trap is also met with in one of the ascents to Mussooree, in the bed of the 
Jumna, and in the neighbourhood of Khalsee, and therefore abundantly displayed even within a limited 
extent. Mr. Everest mentions having crossed three different masses of greenstone in his journey from 
Mussooree to Gungotri: first, on the ridge before descending into the valley of the Ganges, and two 
others in the clay-slate and tale-slate. He could not in either case trace their connection with the sur- 
rounding rocks, but infers that it probably crossed them nearly at a right angle, and if so, their range 
must approach to a parallel with that of the granite. 
Granite.—From the foregoing extract from Capt. Herbert, the comparative absence of granite in 
the Himalayas might be inferred, though in the line of section a magnificent outburst is observed on the 
summit of the Choor Mountain, which is greyish coloured, coarse grained, with veins of quartz, and 
is porphyritic towards Roundee. Enormous boulders of it may be seen in the valleys, both to the north 
and south. It was suspected to occur in other places, as boulders and hand specimens were well known 
and totally different in character from the Choor granite. Capt. H. was well acquainted with its exist- 
_ ence in many places, as he says: “ Granite displays itself on the southern face in several places, as at 
Champawut, Dhie, Almorah, Shaee Debee, Dooarahath, Pale dhore, Kunyoor, and Choor, situated, 
except the latter, sa lie coe adn ec and a line passing through them all, has a 
direction to N. 60° W., the same as that of the strata and mountain range. West of the Ganges no such 
beds are found, but the granite occupies the summit of Choor; and this is the highest of the mountains — 
of the southern slope of the Himalayas, excepting only those which form the snowy peaks and passes.” 
In colouring these on the large map of the Himalayas they form a lime beautifully parallel to the direc- 
tion both of the Sandstone and the Himalaya range. On the higher belt and northern face, according to 
Capt. Herbert, and towards the central and highest parts, Granite veins are frequent, as at Whangtoo or _ 
Huttoo; and it is mentioned by himself, in his section of the Gonass Pass. But, notwithstanding __ 
this, he seems not to have recognized it at the sources of the Ganges, as Dr. Falconer writes me that ce 
‘the section about the formation of Gungotri, instead of being of gneiss, is all, to the northward. of we 
Sookhee, purely granite, and most palpably so, a binary compound of felspar ore with b exryst as. 
