62 Captain Blane's Memoir on Sirm&r. 



appear alternating with strata of soft and imperfect sand-stone, which the 

 passes into these ranges disclose, inclining at an angle of 15" with the ho- 

 rizon. Primitive lime-stone rock, projecting in awful and fanciful forms its 

 craggy pinnacles, discovers itself to be the basis of the Sai7i range. The 

 schistose rock, which prevails in the regions beyond, and in Jounsdr, con- 

 tains iron, as is occasionally indicated,to the mortification of the surveyor, 

 by the deviation of the magnetic needle. 



Roads. 



The communications through the country are very imperfect, and totally 

 unfit for the marching of bodies of troops, exceeding a few companies. A 

 path of a foot and a half in width, with the mountain rising precipitously 

 on one side, and a deep glen on the other, if not very rugged, is esteemed 

 by the natives a good road. Beasts of burthen are never used beyond 

 Ndhen or Kalsi ; and it is with difficulty that a led horse, even of the indi 

 genous breed, accompanies the traveller. Tlie roads, such as they are, 

 suffice for the limited commerce of the country. It would neither be diffi 

 cult, nor expensive, to render them more commodious, and to open new 

 ones, suited to the extended and more ready intercourse, which is now re^ 

 quired. This is evident from those which have been made, in the mountain 

 ous districts, that have lately been under military occupation. Generally 

 a direct distance of ten miles, measured on the map, will give fifteen of 

 road distance. 



Passes. 

 The two principal debouches into Deira Dun, are sufficiently known. 

 They have been much improved by the late frequency of ingress and 

 egress, and are passable for eveiy species of carriage. The one leading to 

 Ndhen might, with a little labour, be made practicable for loaded camels. 

 The other passes, from the plain to Sirmdr, by the valleys of Deira and 

 Keardah, are less known and less frequented. 



Fords. 



From Onuri, a place of great sanctity, to Heripur, the Tans has six 



fords : the three upper ones practicable until the middle of May ; and the 



other three, only during the winter months. The map exhibits ten fords, 



on the Jumna, above its union with the Tans, and four below. The former 



