PREVIOUS OBSERVERS. 9 



Khari is described as a sort of clay somewhat like chalk. It is 

 " very generally diffused through these hills; several quarries of it have 

 " been, and still are, wrought." It is used both as a pigment and 

 medicine. The substance here referred to is no doubt the product of the 

 decomposition of the white shales of different ages which are found in 

 various parts of the hills. The resemblance to chalk does not extend 

 beyond that of colour. 



Geru, a kind of reddle, used as a pigment. 



Sandstones. — These are said to be of little use for building purposes. 



Granite occurs at Patharghata and on the Dwarka river in the 

 southern extremity of the division. 



The hill Kangreswari-ka-tok (Gundesuri) is, in the opinion of 

 Dr. Buchannan, the old crater of a volcano. This hill, which is formed 

 of a trachitic porphyry of peculiar character, will be found described on 

 a succeeding page. 



Dr. Buchannan found no traces of coal, but heard of some at the 

 Motijharna falls long after he had left the vicinity. 



The iron mines are chiefly situated in the south-east of the district. 

 The finest iron mine is on a hill named Ramkol, south of Pertabpur. 



Ghangal, a calcareous tuff (= khankar) occurs in great quan- 

 tities at Paingti (Pointi) and Sakariguli (Sikrigali). Some of the rocks 

 are described as having a coating of " brownish enamel quite thin and 

 superficial." This is no doubt the ferruginous lateritic coating which 

 is often seen on the trap rocks. 



A list is added of localities in which stones suitable for currystones 

 and such like purposes occur. 



The paper concludes with an account of the calcareous tuff called 

 by the natives Asurhar or giant's bones. It has been used to some 

 extent by both Natives and Europeans as a source of lime. 



b ( 163 ) 



