INTRODUCTION. 3 



where it is joined by the Morel, a river which has scooped out the central 

 part of the hills ; from Burhait eastwards the combined rivers make 

 their way through the plains to the Ganges. 



The denuding action of these rivers has produced transverse sections 

 of the rocks which serve to disclose the structure, and to indicate how 

 far the different groups have contributed to the formation of the hills. 



During the rains the above-mentioned rivers become violent torrents, 

 S rin s which can only be forded with considerable risk ; 



but for the remaining portions of the year they 

 contain but little water. No inconsiderable proportion of this water is 

 supplied by springs, which are of not uncommon occurrence near the 

 junction of the different flows of basalt and the laterite. In several 

 cases the hill population depend upon these springs for their supply of 

 water throughout the year. Cases of hot springs have been reported to 

 occur in these hills, but I did not meet with any that were more than 

 tepid. The natives say that in most of them the water is warm in the 

 winter and cool in the summer. This is, of course, due to the contrast 

 afforded by the temperature of the water to that of the surrounding 

 atmosphere at the different seasons. 



The principal springs which I visited were near the villages of 

 Ruksi, Rajbhita, and Puraya, west of Burio. There is also one on the 

 Chuperbhita range and another in the valley north-east of Burhait not 

 far from the Mahadeo cave. 



The general elevation of the hills and plateaus varies from between 



500 and 800 feet above the sea: but sometimes 

 Hills. . .. 



individual hills are as much as 1,500, and a few 



peaks are said to rise to the height of 2,000 feet. The Mohwagarhi hill, 



which is 1655*5 feet high, was at one time proposed as a suitable site 



for a sanitarium. Fortunately, the project was never carried out, as even 



supposing the top to have been healthy — a thing in itself improbable — 



I 157 ) 



