160 IRON ORES OF KUNJAMULLAY. 



appear on the summit ridge at the western extremity, but disappear in 

 their easterly continuation under the debris and thick thorny jungle 

 which there covers the upper and very steep pai-ts of both slopes of the 

 ridge, and greatly enhances the difficulty of examining them. If the 

 various beds were numbered consecutively from below upwards, these 

 would be respectively Nos. 3 and 5. 



They may (very likely) be continuous all round the ellipse j but that 

 fact could only be ascertained by very close examination, which would 

 occupy many days, while practically they are of minor importance, as 

 beds No. 1 and No. 2 would, from their more accessible position, first 

 come under mining operations. 



The two lower beds (Nos. 1 and 2) are exceedingly conspicuous, even 

 when seen from a great distance, especially by morning and evening 

 light, standing out along the flanks of the ridge, in generally well 

 marked terraces (of dark purplish grey colour where not too much 

 weathered), as shown in the accompanying sketch (Plate III"^). We 

 were unfortunate in weather when visiting the hill, and our sketch was 

 taken on an unfavorable hazy morning. 



The thickness of the two lowest beds (Nos. 1 and 2) varies some- 

 what, but the average will certainly not be much below 50 feet each, 

 if not very considerably above this point ; however, it is difficult to de- 

 cide, owing to the very broken state of the beds near the surface, which 

 renders it difficult to distinguish between l)locks in situ and debris rolled 

 down from the upper beds. The torrent sections do not affijrd much 

 information on this point. The exact measurement, however, is of little 

 importance, as, for all practical purposes, the supply may be considered 

 as inexhaustible, even if only these two beds be taken into consideration. 



Bed No. 4 is hardly more than 20 feet thick where best shown at 

 the north-east end of the ridge. 



Beds No. 3 and No. 5 are about equal in size, and but little inferior 

 to Nos. 1 and 2. Vast (quantities of the ore of these beds IiavB rolled 



( 382 ) 



