OF CREATION. 



329 



CHAPTER XIV. 



THE CONDITION OP INDIA, THE ASIATIC ISLANDS, AUSTRALIA, AND 

 NEW ZEALAND DURING THE TERTIARY PERIOD. 



IN considering the geology of Europe, we have had 

 to generalise with regard to a district, most parts of 

 which have been mapped with at least sufficient ac- 

 curacy to enable us to recognise the broad outline 

 of the chief elevatory movements that have taken 

 place, and concerning which we are provided with 

 much minute and detailed knowledge of a positive 

 kind. If, therefore, in spite of these advantages, 

 there is still doubt and hesitation in determining the 

 ancient history and the exact succession of deposits, 

 it may well be supposed that not less difficulty exists 

 with regard to other countries, of whose geological 

 structure we know far less. This is the case with 

 the great continent of Asia, in spite of numerous re- 

 searches and the labours of many intelligent tra- 

 vellers ; and, unfortunately, in many parts the most 

 difficult of access, especially the Chinese empire, the 

 investigations of these travellers have not included 

 any accurate account of geological phenomena. 



With a very few exceptions, the geology of Asia 

 is known only with reference to distant and isolated 

 spots ; and this is the case, not perhaps from the want 

 of continuity of such rocks at the surface, but because 

 they are not readily traceable in the districts that 



