Sec. 5.] detailed descriptions. 113 



brig-lit brick-red colour, resembling the uppermost seen in the well at 

 Alumpoor. 



The sandstones end out about 20 miles above Melg-hat, and no 

 beds from beneath the traps emerge thenceforward 

 Me^*tiSSSipr throughout the whole course of the Taptee. The 

 bed of the river from Melghat to Boorhanpoor 

 presents no peculiar geological interest. Basaltic columns occur in two 

 or three places near Melghat, and they appear to be as common here as 

 they are in the lowest beds of trap beneath the Malwa plateau. These 

 Taptee beds must also be amongst the oldest of. the lava flows. Some of 

 the best basaltic columns are seen about two miles above Melghat^ and 

 again lower down near the small village of Hurda. 



Passing down the river, alluvium begins to be found in con- 

 siderable quantities near Sindwal, and to form a large proportion of 

 the river's bank. It gradually increases in amount and covers more 

 of the adjoining country. Still there is no continuous alluvial plajn 

 along the river till near Boorhanpoor. The alluvium presents the usual 

 characters. l 



The hills north of the Taptee between Melghat and Boorhanpoor 



are of no g-reat height. They consist entirely of 

 Hills nortli of Taptee. & & J 



trap. The great Gawilgurh range between the 



Poorna and the Taptee is entirely composed of basaltic rocks. The beds 



along the southern border dip to the north ; the 

 Gawilg'urli range. 



features of the scarp will be noticed in the next 



section. Near the Taptee the dips, when any are seen, are to the 



southward. Only the verge of theSe hills was examined, but in the 



streams running from them none but trap pebbles could be found.* 



* There was one exception : in the Sipna Nuddi close to its junction with the Taptee, 

 I found a large unrolled fragment of quartzite, five or six inches across. As I could find 

 no more, and no roUed pebbles occurred^ I do not think any quartzite can be in place in the 

 valley of the stream. There is no quartzite known anywhere near the spot except the 

 fragments brought down by the Taptee, and I am at a loss to account for the occurrence. 



p ( 275 ) 



