GEOLOGY. 223 



into no less than ten distinct torrents, which fall with in- 

 finite variety of form over a broken precipice of more than 

 100 feet, but presenting no single body of water equal in 

 volume to the main fall at Ganga Chuki. 



CHAPTER X. 



Geology and Mineralogy. 



Geolog>' and Mineralog^'-l. Soils of India, viz. Soil of Bengal ; Cot ton 

 Ground: Musaree Soil; Laterite Soil; Nitre boil; boda boil , Salt 

 Soil— 2. GeoTOOstical Structure and Composition of India— l.Hmi- 

 maleh or Alpine Region ; Its Rocks. Minerals, and Mines-2 Midd e 

 India ; Its Rocks, Minerals, and Mines-3. Peninsular India , -Its 

 Rocks Minerals, and Mines-4. Submergence and Lpraising of Land— 

 5 Destruction of the ancient City of Ougein and other Places in India 

 by a Shower of Volcanic Ashes-b. Earthquakes. 



Regarding the geology and mineralogy of India our in- 

 formation is very defective, and many years must elapse 

 before even the general geognostical and mineralogical re- 

 lations of so vast a region can be determined. The India 

 Company has miuiificently patronised the researches ot the 

 botanist ; it is now time to encourage and forward other 

 branches of science. We expect ere long to hear oi the 

 estabUshment of meteorological observatories amply fur- 

 nished, in well selected stations, from Cape Comorin to 

 the centre of the Himmalehs ;— to find carried on by sci- 

 entific men throughout India those important investigations 

 requisite for the illustration of hydrography ;— to rejoice in 

 the appointment of active and experienced geologists, mm- 

 eraloffists, and zoologists, for every part of our Eastern 

 empire.* "V\Tiat is known of the geologj' and mineralogy 

 of India has arisen from the labours of Hamilton Bu- 

 chanan, Heyne, Voysey, Dangerfield, Turnbull Christie, 

 Franklin, Adam, Hardie, Webb, Herbert, Genard, Hodgson, 



* Dr Turnbull Christie, we are happy to announce, has been ap- 

 pointed bv the Indian Company to investigate the geology of the Bombay 

 pre^^idency. A more fortunate selection could not have been made. 



