u 



TALCHEER COAL FIELD. 



of the gneiss and with the main faults of the district. This is better seen 

 near the Coast than inland ; as to the West of Ungool, the hill -ridges, though 

 preserving the same general direction, are longer than near Cuttack. 



The hills, as well as the low country, are for the most part well wooded 

 and present few naked bluffs (even among the almost precipitous sand- 

 stone escapments of the Talcheer field). Their outline, however abrupt, 

 is always more or less rounded, and it is evident that they owe their 

 present form principally to marine action. The accompanying Sketch 

 (Fig. l) of some small hills North of Cuttack shows their general 

 character. 



^ 



Wherever the sandstone of the sedimentary deposits rises into hills, it 

 presents a totally different aspect : these hills, though generally appearing 

 flat-topped, being found on ascending them to consist of a series of 

 sharp steep ridges separated by deep and precipitous valleys, evidently 

 due to the denuding action of fresh water, of the effects of which, upon 

 a considerable scale, they afford a fine example. 



The only large rivers of this district are the Brahmini and the Maha- 



nuddi, both navigable during the rains for boats of 

 Rivers. 



large size and for canoes at most times. None 



of the tributaries draining the narrow country between them attain to 



