66 W. BLANFORD^ WESTERN INDIA. [PaRT T. 



by my colleague Mr. Theobald (a). Only the extreme western edge of this 



... . , , . o m tract is included in the area now examined, which, 



Alluvial plains of Tap- ' ' 



tee and Nerbudda. however, comprises the two great plains of Berar 



and Khandeish on the basin of the Taptee^ and some smaller alluvial flats 

 upon the Nerbudda near Mundlaisur in Nimar, and on the Wurda, east of 

 Oomrawutee. These latter tracts are small and irregular ; rock frequently 

 appears in the river beds throughout them^ and although the alluvial 

 deposits are of great depth in places, they are not uniformly so over 

 any great extent of country, and it has consequently not been necessary 

 to represent them on the map by a distinct colour, as has been done in the 

 more extensive areas. 



The alluvium of the coast of Guzerat differs in no essential character 

 from that of the river valleys^ but it will be most convenient to treat of 

 it separately. 



The principal characteristics of the deposits forming all these alluvial 

 Mineral character of Plains are similar, and have already been described 

 alluvium. i^y ^^ Theobald. The upper portion is, in general, 



brown clay, or rather marl, abounding in carbonate of lime in the form of 

 kunkur, totally devoid of stratification, and passing, at the surface, into a 

 black soil. Beneath this, often with indications of irregular deposition, are 

 gravels and sands, frequently more or less cemented together by carbonate 

 of lime, in a manner which closely resembles the mortar in a rubble 

 wall, and sometimes so hard as to form a soUd conglomerate or concrete, 

 which is, in some places, quarried for building. Not unfrequently the 

 clays, towards their base, become sandy and pebbly, and pass into the lower 

 beds. Even high up in the clays, sandy beds are sometimes seen, and in 

 such cases, stratification is distinct, and oblique lamination is at times 

 met with. In the lower and coarser portions, obhque lamination is 

 almost the rule. 



(a). Vol. II, p. 279. 



( 228 ) 



