4 PRELIMINARY NOTICE ON THE 



The true bearing of this important and interesting observation, as 

 showing the origin of this " laterite," will also be found referred to 

 below. 



" South of the Mahanuddi," Mr. Stirling continues, " in the country 

 " of Khoorda, a few isolated hills of white and variegated sandstone 

 " occur, curiously interspersed among the granitic ones. An indurated 

 " white lithomarge is found in company with them, from which the 

 " natives prepare a white-wash to ornament their houses." 



These are portions of the Atgurh sandstone district, referred to more 

 particularly in the following Report. 



He proceeds to give a description of the rocks in the most Northerly 

 Northern portion of portion of the Cuttack Province, where gneiss. 

 Province. micaceous and hornblendic rocks occur; " talc 



" slate, mica slate, and chlorite schist, passing into serpentine and 

 " pot-stone, being in great abundance ;" and then notices the occurrence 

 of iron in abundance throughout the whole of the Cuttack Hills, " in 

 " the state chiefly of pisiform iron ore, earthy red ore, and ochrey red 

 " ironstone. It is smelted principally in the States of Dhenkanal 

 " (Denkenal), Angol (Ungool), and Moherbenj." He also refers to the 

 reported existence of gold in some of the rivers of Dhenkanal and 

 Keonjher. 



The only limestone in the district is said to be the calcareous 

 nodules referred to previously. 



Several interesting notices of the extent to which the ancient temples 

 and other buildings of the district have been invaded by the sands of 

 the shores of the Bengal Bay will be found in this valuable paper ; 

 and the curious legend, by which the occurrence of the sandstone hiUs 

 of Khandgiri, said by Mr. Stirling to be the only real sandstone hills 

 in the country, is accounted for, as being " a part of the Himalayas, 

 '" which were taken up bodily, with their caves, ascetics, and all, by 

 " Mahabir Hanuman, to build the bridge of Rama, but, by some 



