120 



KHASI HILLS. 



thinning out, within the space of a few hundred yards, from some feet 

 to some inches in thickness. Throughout the entire series also, but more 

 especially in the upper portion, there is a frequent repetition of the most 

 remarkable cases of false bedding and oblique lamination, evidencing a 

 constantly repeated change in the force and direc- 

 tion of the currents, and in the other conditions 

 under which these beds have been deposited. The accompanying sketch 

 shows one, and by no means an extreme instance of this kind. (Fig. 5.) 



False bedding. 



''Sfeessi. 



Fig. 6. 



The beds are, I have already mentioned, nearly horizontal throughout, 

 Beds nearly horizontal, but dip slightly and Continuously as a whole, 

 towards the South and South by West. This dip is very slight, but is 

 easily traceable when observed over a considerable area. And the same 

 fact is even more markedly seen when the range of the hills is observed 

 from the plains to the South at sufficient distance to enable the eye to 

 take in a considerable sweep. In the following sketch of these hills 

 (Fig. 6.), as seen from the River Soorma, near Sonamgunj, the sandstones 

 and associated beds, so well marked all along the range by the steep pre- 

 cipitous cliffs they form, as in the vicinity of Cherra Poonjee, are seen 

 gradually to drop down to the level of the plains, as they pass to the 

 West (a). The occurrence of beds of coal, which at Cherra Poonjee are 



(a) The station of Cherra Poonjee is placed ou the hills to the extreme right of 

 Fig 6. on the nest page. 



