On the Geological Structure of a portion of the Khasi Hills, Bengal. 

 By Thomas Oldham, A. M., F. R. S., G. S., M. R. I. A., &c., &c. 



PRELIMINARY REMARKS. 



The following brief sketch of the geological structure of a portion of 

 the Khasi Hills, on the North-Eastern frontier of Bengal, is the result 

 of, observations made during two short visits to those hills, in the wet 

 seasons of 1851 and of 1852. 



Shortly after my arrival in India in the commencement of the year 

 1851, finding that it would be impossible at that season of the year to 

 commence field operations in the plains of Bengalj I proceeded to the 

 station of Cherra Poonjee, intending to examine the mode of occurrence, 

 extent, and character of the iron ores, which had for many years been 

 known to have been worked in these hills. I arrived at Cherra Poonjee 

 in the middle of the month of June, and left again in the beginning of 

 November. During that season, I visited some of the principal 

 washings for the iron ore, traced out some of the coal beds, and examined 

 and reported on the coal pits at Lakadong in the Jynteah hiUs. Advan- 

 tage was also taken of the few fiae days which occurred to make a careful 

 survey of a part of these hills, extending Northwards from the station 

 nearly to the Kalapani ; and also of the station itself. 



During the five months' duration of my visit in that year, 1851, 

 there fell at Cherra Poonjee nearly 400 inches of rain, and there were 

 only sixty-three days on which the amount was less than cue itch : 

 during this small number of working days, and having no assistants, I 

 was unable to accomplish very much. 



Returning to the same hills during the rainy season of 1852, I was 

 enabled, by the zealou said of my Assistants, Mr. Medlicott and Mr. St. 

 George, to complete the survey of the hills, commenced by myself dur- 

 ing the preceding season, from the station across to Nungklow. A 

 Map, on a scale of one mile to the inch, was the result of these 



A 



