KHASI HILLS. 165 



But although a question may exist regarding the geological date ot 

 the sandstones below, there can be none whatever that the sandstones, 

 coal, &c., above this limestone, are either of the same epoch as the lime- 

 stone itself, (and therefore Eocene,) or of a still later date. In either 

 case this Cherra coal (which has hitherto been referred to as the lowest 

 portion of the coal measures) (a) is undoubtedly tertiary. 



I have above described the appearance presented by the upper surface 



of the limestone^ and the curious manner in which 

 Interval between the . 

 deposition of limestone it has been scooped out, and the hollows filled 



and upper sandstones. • i i n i i t-i 



either by sandstone or vegetable matter. Eor 

 such degradation of the surface, I conceive that a considerable time must 

 have elapsed, and a considerable change of condition have occurred. 

 And it is, therefore, possible that this bed of coal, and its associated 

 sands (for so slightly indurated are they that they scarcely deserve 

 the name of sandstone), may belong to a still more recent sub-division of 

 the tertiary group than the underlying limestone ; and that this may be, 

 at Cherra Poonjee, the last remaining relic of a series of beds corres- 

 ponding, in time, with the largely-developed groups of the Siwalik hills 

 and of the Salt range ; beds analogous to which the researches of Mr. Scott 

 have proved to exist along the Western flanks of the Garo hills, not far 

 from the Khasi range. 



No fossils have been as yet discovered in these overlying beds, which 

 •would throw any light upon this question, and the occurrence of beds of 

 similar coal, much lower in the series, and associated with the sand- 

 stones (as at Tung-jinath), and of precisely similar nummulitic limestone 



such sway over his mind, that to meet this difficulty, the stronger evidence of organic re- 

 mains (which Dr. McClelland to a great extent interpreted accurately) was rejected, or 

 explained away on an untenable hypothesis. The extent of the author's researches during 

 his very brief visit is the most convincing proof of the zeal which he brought to his investi- 

 gations. 



(a) Of course, all the reasoning founded on this assumption, and the comparisons thence 

 drawn between the coals at Cherra and at Hazareebaugh, &e., as to quality, and the cause 

 thereof, cease to be applicable. See Coal Committee's Reports. 



