240 GEOGNOSY OF INDIA. 



erroneously, that the same coal-formation, crossing the val- 

 ley of the "Ganges near Catroa, unites with that of SUhet 

 and Cashar, which he denominates the north-east coal dis- 

 trict. The rocks of this coal-formation are sandstone, 

 slate-clay, bituminous shale, and coal, traversed by veins 

 of greenstone. The bituminous shale of the coal-roof 

 abounds with vegetable impressions, and also contains some 

 animal remains. The vegetables have not been accurately 

 examined, which is much to be regretted, as it would be 

 highly interesting to know if the same or different genera 

 or species occur in the coal-field of Bengal as those met 

 with in similar geognostical situations in Europe. Men- 

 tion is made of a Calamite, a Lycopodum, and a gigantic 

 species of Patella. In the coal-pits, of which there are but 

 three, sunk to a depth of ninety feet, there are seven beds 

 of coal, one of them exceeds nine feet in thickness. The 

 coal is said to resemble that of Sunderland in England, 

 but leaves a larger portion of cinders and ashes. It is 

 nowf extensively consumed in and about Calcutta. 



in. PENINSULAR INDIA. 



A very large portion of the peninsula of India is com- 

 posed of Plutonian rocks, as of granite, syenite, and trap, 

 the Neptunean strata being much less abundantly dis- 

 tributed. We shall now state, in a general way, what is 

 known of the geognostical nature of these formations, fol- 

 lowing in our sketch a geographic order. 



Guzerat is a primitive district, with occasional displays 

 of secondary depositee, and in many places deeply covered 

 with diluvium. In the neighbouring district of Cutch, so 

 remarkable for its salt marsh called the Runn, a coal-field is 

 said to have been discovered, and is likely to be worked. 

 Our former pupil, Mr. Hardie, who has made so many good 

 observations, informed Mr. Calder that from specimens he 

 had received he was led to believe that in Cutch there ex- 

 isted secondary rocks newer than the lias. We hope Mr. 

 Hardie will be able to verify these conjectures, which are not 

 without probability, when we call to recollection the chalky 

 minerals met with in the great Western Desert of India. 



The great western or Malabar chain of mountains, which 

 commences in Candeish and terminates at Cape Comorin, 

 is, at its northern extremity, covered by a part of the ei- 



