218 W. BLANPORD, WESTERN INDIA. [PaRT III. 



Amongst the very best beds are the porphyritic basalts, such as those 



which form so large a proportion of the rocks on the Thull Ghat. 



In the nummulitics of Guzerat, the limestone appears well suited for 



building, but it is difficult to obtain it in large 

 Nutnimilitic limestone. • .. i t • 



masses, or to trim it neatly. It is employed by the 



natives for bowries, temples, &c. ; other compact calcareous beds being 



used for similar purposes. 



In the Bagh beds there are some very good building stones. The 



massive sandstones of the Deva, and those which 



occur throughout the country to the south of 



AUeerajpoor and Bagh, would famish excellent - material. The gritty 



calcareous bed at the top, where it is not too eherty, would be well 



adapted for construction and could be easily worked. 



The rocks of undetermined age near EUichpoor contain very good 



strong sandstone free from joints, hard and 

 Ellichpoor. 



compact. 



The Vindhyans contain some of the best building stone that can 



possibly be conceived. It is as hard and im- 



alterable as any granite can possibly be, and many 



of the beds are by no means difficult to work. Others are too hard, but 



there are few places amongst these rocks where sandstones of many kinds, 



all admirably adapted for building, cannot be obtained. 



The lower rocks, Bijawurs, Champaneers, and the true metamorphics, 



yield stone of various qualities, but rarely as weU 



Bijawurs, &C. i , i n i -it .1 n .1 



adapted lor building purposes as are those 01 the 



Bagh beds and Vindhyans. 



gait. — "^The salt obtained in the Pooma valley near Akola and 

 Oomrawuttee is derived from brine, which is pro- 

 cured by sinking wells through the alluvium. 



The brine is very strong, and is evaporated to dryness by solar heat alone 



* This account is from Mr. Wynne's note book. 



( 380 ) 



