* HUGHES : WARDHA VALLEY COAL-FIELD. 



In mapping part of the area, I received much assistance from my 

 colleague Mr. Fedden, and on two occasions I had the advantage of ac- 

 companying Dr. Oldham over portions of the ground. I have also had 

 the benefit of Mr. Blanford's suggestions. 



The country, as a rule, except in the south, is open for some miles on 



both sides of the river, with wide-spread deposits of alluvium, sands, 



and gravels, broken only by a few isolated hills of moderate height, like 



Dongargaon, Winjasan, Balar, Yenak, &c. Bordering the field, the 



scarps of the trappean rocks rise into view. And 



Hills, * 



the semiquartzites and sandstones of the Vindhyan 

 series form conspicuous ranges of hills and massive table-lands. The 

 most extensive of these is the one in almost* immediate contiguity to 

 the north-eastern extremity of the field, containing the large mass of 

 water called Lake Taroba, which is supposed to produce a fecundating 

 effect upon sterile women, and restore health to the sick. 



Towards the south the r country becomes much more hilly, and 



abrupt in its contrasts of physical contour. The upper series of rocks 



associated with the coal measures no longer worn into low land, rise 



. , high above the level of the Wardha, and at Antar- 



Antargaon range. 



gaon form a commanding range which comes 

 down nearly to the edge of the river. The Dabha hills occupy a large 

 area of ground, and there are many points of view of considerable at- 

 traction. The Totnta spur, which borders the left bank of the "Wamim- 

 pali nala, formed of distinctly bedded, and strongly colored sandstones, 

 at once catches the eye, and its bold outlines render it a prominent 



feature in the scenery. These hills give shelter to 



Dabha hills. 



one of the few herds of " Gaur" now left in the 

 Chanda district, but they are followed up and shot down year after 

 year by European sportsmen and native shikaris, and in another decade 

 there will probably be no representatives of that splendid wild animal 

 within many miles of the Wardha in British territory. 

 ( 4 ) 



