EASTERN PLATEAU. 143 



feet of dull brown oMve shales, so far as seen without coaly layers. The 

 lumpy part of the nummulitic limestone above this contains nodules 

 of pyrites, and the rock seems to be very incoherent, the ground being- 

 covered by its debris.* 



The metamorphic-pebble conglomerates, shales and sandstones of the 

 " olive group ■" are apparently only locally present, but the underlying 

 red zone with salt pseudomorphs is well seen : still largely composed of 

 red shale at the top and more flaggy below. Here is its last appearance 

 in force. From this country westwards it is much thinner, the upper 

 clays mostly disappear, and it is evidently dying out. Some lumpy, 

 brecciated, shaly, pebble-bands, seen hereabouts, are of unusual occurrence 

 in the group. 



Section V. — Eastern Plateau. 



Between Diljaba mountain and the country last described, the convex 



contour of the Eastern Plateau rises with the dip 

 Outline to east. 



of the tertiary sandstones, &c., at angles of 25,° 30° 



and 40"; but except at Ara these beds do not extensively overlie the 



plateau. Some outlying patches, however, occur near Saida Leri and 



Umrala (Oomrala of the maps). On that part of the border of the 



plateau facing the north in this neighbourhood, the angle of dip is 



steeper, up to 60°; and from the higher hills the sandstones and clays 



can be seen forming a broad synclinal trough which opens to the east, 



one side resting on the flanks of Diljaba, and the other upon the 



edge of this plateau, and the red clay zone occupying the hollow 



along the foot of the hills. The surface of the plateau undulates 



in places very considerably, the undulations f re- 

 Nummulitic limestone. 



quently coinciding with the stratification of the 



gray nummulitic limestone, which, stripped of the overlying beds, 



* The effect of violent rain, evidently recent, was well seen on a steep hillside covered 

 with this debris — the loose stony covering having been, as it were, ploughed by the rumielsy 

 and the contents of the channels thrown off, forming ridges on either side of the furrow. 



( 143 ) 



