KHASI HILLS. 161 



occur, some of which have been iucidentally alluded to. Of these cer- 

 tainly the most characteristic are the fossils of the limestone beds, and 

 among these the nummulites are most important. The existence of 

 these fossils in the so-called " Sylhet limestone" had been long known. 

 It was pointed out by Mr. Colebrooke in his valuable paper on the 

 geology of the North-Eastern frontier of Bengal (a), and has subse- 

 quently been alluded to by several other writers. The tertiary age of 

 this rock, inferred from the occurrence of these fossils, had also been 

 more than once referred to, and generally acknowledged. In the most 

 recent account of the geological structure of these hills, Dr. BIcClelland 

 speaks of this rock, but refers it to the parallel of the upper portion of 

 the cretaceous group of Europe. The state of geological knowledge 

 regarding the distribution of these remarkable foraminifera at that tinae, 

 undoubtedly justified this author in making such reference, although 

 from more recent researches geologists now ao^ree in assio^nino- the rocks 

 containing these nummulites to the earlier tertiary era. 



But this reference of Dr. McClelland's only relates to the limestones 

 fotmd near Teria-ghafc at the base of the hills, 



Dr. McClelland's views. ... 



as he distinctly draws a line of demarcation 

 between these and the limestones found close to Cherra Poonjee station ; 

 which latter, together with the associated coals, he refers to the 

 lowest portion of the coal measure group (h), and to the same age as 

 the coal beds of the Hazareebaugh and Nerbudda districts. It would 

 be quite out of place to discuss here the age of the latter deposits, 

 or that of the great coal-fields of the Damoodah and Adji. It will 

 suffice to state simply that there are no grounds whatever for referring 

 the limestones, and other rocks which occur at or near to the village 

 of Cherra Poonjee, to an older geological epoch than those found at 

 the base of the same hills. They are both nummulitic ; they are both 



(a) Geological Trausaotioua, London, Vol. i. 2nd Series. 

 (I) Reports of Coal Committee, Calcutta, 1&38, pp. 26, 33 ; and 1846, pp. 100, 103. 



