GEOGNOSV OF PENINSULAR INDIA. 249 



ccmtams imbedded in it small masses of clay, quartz, or 

 sandstone. In its native beds, a short way under the sur- 

 face, it is so soft that it can be easily cut with a hatchet or 

 spade ; and when sufficiently compact, and not containing 

 imbedded portions of quartz, &c., it is cut into square 

 masses like bricks, and used as a building-stone. Hence, Dr. 

 Buchanan Hamilton names it laterite or brick-stone ; and 

 its names in the native languages are derived from the same 

 circumstance. When these square masses remain in the 

 open air for some time they become very hard ; and whea 

 not exposed to constant moisture they answer admirably as 

 building-stones. Most of the handsome Roman Catholic 

 churches at Goa are built of this laterite. In the principal 

 fronts it is covered with plaster ; but in other parts it is left 

 bare, and retains its hardness when exposed to the atmo- 

 sphere. 



2. EARTHY MINEKALS. 



1. Corundum. — Gray, green, blue, and red varieties of 

 this very hard mineral, usually more or less perfectly crys- 

 tallized, and ranging fromopaque to translucent, occur im- 

 bedded in granite and syenite in the district of Salem in the 

 Madras presidency, among the mountains of the Carnatic, 

 and in other parts of the peninsula. It is associated with 

 cleavelandite, indianite, and fibrolite. Some varieties, as the 

 blue, when cut in a hemispherical form, exhibit, when 

 turned round, a white star with six rays. It is used as 

 emery for polishing hard bodies. 



2. Spinel Ruby.— This fine gem is found at Cananor, ia 

 the Mysore country. 



3. Beryl. — The varieties of this gem at present most 

 highly prized by the jeweller occur in a locality lately- 

 discovered at Cangayum, in the district of Coimbetoor, 

 where they are associated with cleavelandite. The most 

 beautiful cut beryl known is in the cabinet of the late M. 

 H. P. Hope. In the language of the jeweller, its colour 

 and transparency are perfect, and although weighing not 

 more than six ounces, .500/. sterling were paid for it. It is 

 reported, although we believe erroneously, to have been 

 found in Ceylon ; for Mr. Heath, who discovered and worked 

 the beryl mine of Cangayum, assures us that beryl does 

 not occur in Ceylon ; and, therefore, as Mr. Hope's beryl 



