46 WYNNE : GEOLOGY OP THE SALT RANGE IN THE PUNJAB. 



sides finds its way southward^and notwithstanding the elevation and 

 continuity of the chain, it forms no considerable barrier to the general 

 southerly outflow of waters from the north, this northern drainage 

 completely traversing^ it at two places to the west, while in the east 

 the Tilla ridge is likewise twice intersected, and that of Bakrala no 

 fewer than five times to afford passage to streams from the Potwar. 



From the salt-marl, most of the southern streams are highly saline, 

 those which are least salt being used for irrigation, but very few are 

 either potable or palatable even to the scattered population accustomed 

 to brackish water all their lives. 



The hollows of the Son Sakesar and Khabaki lakes on the western 

 plateau of the range are open shallow depressions without visible out- 

 fall. The basin of the latter is small, but that of the former includes an 

 area of about 60 square miles and occupies a singular position close to 

 the highest elevations. 



The four salt lakes of the range form quite exceptional features to the 



general drainage. Three of them are on the west- 

 Salt lakes. 



ern or Son plateau ; two of these, the Khabaki and 



Son Sakesar,* or Samandar, lakes, in depressions of its northern part ; and 



the other, the Jalar or Jalur lake,t in the rugged country to the south. 



These three lakes vary in size with the amount of rain-fall ; they have no 



* A fault with a north-east and south-west direction was supposed by Mr. Theobald to 

 bring the salt-marl up at the eastern foot of Sakesar, so as to impregnate the water of the 

 lake (see paper already referred to, p. 653) ; this dislocation could not be recognised on the 

 ground. 



t Dr. Fleming, translating the name " Julhur " as Sanscrit for a spring of fresh water, 

 asserts distinctly that the water of this lake, unlike others on the range, is fresh. Rain may 

 have lately fallen and produced this impression when he visited it, for it was subsequently 

 found to be as saline as the others, both by Dr. Oldham and Dr. Waagen, at considerably 

 different dates. The natives of the place considered it mita, or sweet, i. e., fresh enough to 

 drink. 



Professor Blochraann, of Calcutta, has kindly supplied translations of the following 

 Sanscrit words : " 'Jhalra,' a spring of fresh water; ' Jalar,' a thicket or copse." There is 

 no wood now near the lake to render the latter derivation for the name likely, though there 

 may have been once j doubtless there are fresh springs in the vicinity. 



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