200 THE HIGHLANDS OF CENTJJAL INDIA. 



overflow of basalt lias indeed been nearly universal over 

 all this vast region, the great MaMdeo sandstone block, and a 

 few isolated peaks of granite, known at once by their sharp and 

 splintered peaks, being the only notable breaks in the great 

 volcanic ocean. To judge from the great extent of table-land 

 lying at about the elevation of 2,000 feet, this would appear 

 to have been the original level of the trap overflow, the higher 

 peaks of that formation, which reach in a few places to 3,000 

 feet, being more probably the result of subsequent upheaval. 

 The plateau has, however, been generally denuded by the 

 larger streams to a depth of about 1,000 feet, where they 

 still run over volcanic beds at the level of the great southern 

 plain of the Deccan. The extent of level plateau is thus 

 much diminished, on the one hand by the ramifications of 

 the drainage system, and on the other by the higher ranges, 

 and the long sloping valleys which connect them with the 

 plateau. 



I have called this volcanic region also the region of the 

 teak tree in Central India. It is so generally, but, strictly 

 speaking, the teak tree does not accurately confine itself to 

 the trap formation ; nor, on the other hand, is the teak the 

 only, or even the principal, timber tree of the trap country. 

 No such close lines of distinction exist in nature, but the 

 coincidence is, I think, sufficient to warrant the inference of 

 some link of connection between them, an attempt to discover 

 which has already been made in the first chapter. More or less 

 teak is scattered all over this region, but the principal forests 

 are found clinging to the skirts of the higher ranges rising 

 from the general level of the plateau. The more extensive 



collects, are natural fortresses of an almost impregnable strength; and, with 

 the addition of some rude masonry works, were generally occupied for this 

 purpose by the hill Chiefs in former times. 



