.Capt. Fbani'lin's Memoir on Btmdelkhund. 2J5 



MOUNTAINS, HILLS, &C. 



The mountains of Bundelkliund run in continuous ranges parallel to each 

 other, each successively supporting a table land, one above the other, and 

 hence they are called ghats. 



The first of these ranges is called the Bindhydchal mountains. They com- 

 mence at Kesoghar, five miles north of Smnda on the Sindh river, and 

 making a circuitous sweep by Narawdr, Chandri, H'lrapur, Rdjghar, 

 Ajeyghar, and Calanjara, they cease, near Barghar, to belong to Bundel- 

 khund, and continue their course, by Bindhyavdsini and Tdrd, until they 

 approach the Ganges at Surdjgliara, and again at Rdjmald. 



Nothing can be more striking, as a topographical feature, than the plains 

 of Bundelkhund, which resemble a vast bay of the ocean formed by these 

 natural barriers, crowned with the fortresses above mentioned ; and wnat is 

 somewhat remarkable, the progressive elevation of the soil from the bed of 

 the Jumna, is towards the apex of this bay : hence the diminished altitude 

 of the range at that point, being scarcely SOO feet above the surface, whilst 

 at Calyanghar the same range is 800 feet. The most elevated summit does 

 not exceed 2,000 feet above the level of the sea. 



Another remarkable feature is the picturesque appearance of numerous 

 isolated hills, which seem to stand alone, and entirely unconnected with any 

 other mountains: but tliis appearance is deceptive; they are portions of 

 ranges which alternately disappear and emerge, sometimes in the form of 

 isolations, and sometimes in continuous ranges; and it is also v?orthy of 

 remark, that they all radiate from the apex of the bay, as if from a common 

 centre, and diverge from it like the sticks of a fan. 



The second range is called the Pannd range, which runs parallel to that 

 of Bindhydchal, preserving a distance of about ten miles from summit to 

 summit. 



The third range is called the Bandair range ; and in topographical feature 

 it resembles an acute spherical triangle, the apex of which is near Ndgaund, 

 the area being table land, and the sides of the triangle having their abrupt 

 faces outwards. This range gives rise to the Ken and Palni rivers. It is 

 the most elevated portion of the province; and its contour describes in 

 miniature the greater curves of the lower ranges, as if it was the nucleus on 

 which they were formed. 



Vol. I. 20 



