KHASI HILLS. 169 



'Above and upon these again, another series of beds of -varying 

 character, sandstones, limestones and coal, of considerable aggregate 

 thickness, was formed. Throiighout the whole of this series, from top 

 to bottom, in the conglomerates found at its base, in the clean sand- 

 stones higher in the series, in the fossUs found in these beds, in the irre- 

 gularity of their development, and the constantly repeated occurrence 

 of current-marking and " false bedding,'"' there is sufficient evidence to 

 prove that the entire group, not less than two thousand feet in thick- 

 nes.s, has been deposited and formed in water of no great depth. The 

 same evidence is extended by the organic contents of the limestones. 

 To admit of this occurring, there must have been a gradual and con- 

 tinuous depression of the surface within this area, maintained during 

 the deposition of the whole of the series. These sandstones have sub- 

 sequently been invaded by igneous rocks which have been forcibly 

 intruded among them, and have produced considerable alteration in their 

 texture and structure. There is no evidence to show the exact period 

 at which such intrusion took place ; but it must have been subsequently 

 to the formation of all the sandstones. 



The whole succession of groups has been subsequently elevated until 

 it attained its present position. There is no sufficient evidence to show 

 whether this elevation, or rather, the commencement, of this elevation, 

 was synchronous with or not, or was caused by or accompanied by, the 

 intrusion of the trappean rocks. 



The elevation of the rocks to their present position must, however, 

 have been gradual and long-continued, to admit of the remarkable con- 

 ditions under which we find them as shown by the many 'detached and 

 small outlying portions at considerable distances from the main mass. 

 . Coincidently with and subsequent to this elevation of the hills, en 

 masse, the ordinary atmospheric causes of degradation, which, owing 

 • to the peculiar climatal conditions of the district, are here exerted with 

 great force, have been in operation to produce and modify the present 



