122 ^V, BLANFOIID, WESTERN INDIA. [PaRT II. 



West of Rajoora^ small parallel ranges flank the main range of hills, 



but they are not continuous for a long distance. 



Near Burgao the main scarp has been cut back 



for a considerable distance, the massive bed which, in this neighbourhood, 



caps the range, having been removed by denudation except on a few 



isolated summits. 



Almost to the termination of the range, the same northerly dip is to be 

 seen along its southern scarp. Indeed it is higher 



Northerly dip. . ^ ^ 



than to the eastward, being frequently 10 to IS . 

 South of the Gawilgurh range is the great plain of the Poorna. 

 ,„.,,. „ ^ It presents only one peculiarity to distinguish 



Alluvial plain of Poor- ^ j r ^ o 



na valley. [^ from the similar plains of the Taptee and 



Nerbudda, that is, the existence of large quantities of salt at a consider- 

 able depth in the alluvium throughout a portion 

 Salt m alluvium. 



of its area, extending from the neighbourhood 



of Dhyunda, north of Akola, till within a few miles of Oomrawutee. 



Wells for the purpose of obtaining brine are sunk on both sides of the 



Poorna, always to a great depth. The upper clay contains very little 



or no salt :* occasionally carbonate of soda forms an efflorescence upon it, 



but the chloride of sodium is aU obtained from beds below the gravels 



and calcareous conglomerates. Near Dhyunda 

 Sections in brine wells. 



the deepest weUs are about 120 feet; the section 



in them could not be seen, as the wells are small, and cased with 



wicker work, but the section was by the natives stated to be — 



1. To a considerable d6pth, ordinary brown alluvial clay. 



2. Yellow sandy clay. 



3. Eeddish clay. 



4. Gravel and sand of varying thickness, with a ferruginous 

 appearance. 



5. Tenacious gravelly clay. This is the saliferous stratum ; on 

 tapping it (? boring through it) salt-water rises with great force. 



* The shallow wells, however, are in places brackish. 



( 284 ) 



