Geological Notes on Assam and the Hills to South of . 



A season^s excursion over a great part of Assam could 

 scarcely fail to yield some results of general geological interest. Had 

 such a general survey been the primary object of my visits much 

 more than I can show might have been made of it ; but not 

 knowing how much I should have to go through in examining the 

 many coal-localities reported to exist^ and which were the special 

 subject in hand^ I nowhere turned aside to investigate more general 

 questions. 



Although direct observation was sufficient to satisfy me of the 

 extent and value of the coal-measures on the south 

 of the valley, it was of much interest to arrive 

 at some general opinion regarding their geological age. In the absence 

 of fossil evidence in such distant sections, this object could only be clearly 

 effected by tracing the rocks into connection with others that were 

 known. For this purpose the Cossyah Hills afforded the required stand- 

 ard. I therefore ran an intermediate section across the whole range 

 by the Kopili and Asaloo to Cachar, concluding the season^s work by an 

 eight-day trip in the Cossyah Hills. It is indeed to be hoped that we 

 shall yet have a good collection of fossils from the coal rocks of Assam. 

 The very limited search I was able to make cannot be taken as settling 

 their character for barrenness. The shales, which are so largely developed, 

 are full of plant remains, yet I obtained none that could possibly be 

 identified. It is true that I had found the coal rocks, at least those of 

 Jaipore, in contact with rocks so familiar to me as those of the Sub- 

 Himalayan Series, and in the same intimate relation to them as are the 

 nummulitic strata of Subathu in the North-Western Himalaya ; but it 

 would have been unpardonable to leave the question on so slender a 

 footing when there was a chance of doing better. I will then com- 

 mence by giving some little additional information regarding the geology 

 to the Cossyah Hills. 



( 416 ) 



