MIDNAPOKE, OEISSAj &C. 263 



The strike of the metamorphic rocks in this part of the country is very 



variable, in places it is 10 or 15 degrees N. of E. to 

 Strike of rocks. 



S. of W. in others as much S. of E. to N. of W. 



The ranges have a general E. and W. ran, those tending to N. and S. being 

 composed of several smaller hills with the prevailing E. and W. strike. 

 Many of these are not correctly marked on the published maps, there 

 being no ranges but several detached hills, which are separated from each 

 other by plains of alluvium or laterite ; others of the hills here shewn on 

 the maps however are quite erroneous, none existing in the places where 

 they are marked. In the detached hills E. of the Kuttak road, the strike 

 is diiferent from that in those more to the W. thus in Neltigree hill it is 

 S. 40° W. and in the hills just south of Chutteea Bazar S. 10" to 20o W, 

 The hills near the Mahanuddi W. and S. W. of Kuttak are of sand- 

 stone, but the province extends up the river on its 

 IBaDkoe. 



southern bank for 30 miles, and includes the 



estate of Bankee, which contains some fine hills ; the main peaks, as usual 

 detached, running in a semicircle from near Bankeegurh to the village of 

 Bydessur. These hills are partly of the garnetiferous gneiss, like those 

 North of Kuttak, partly of more compact and hornblendic rock. Bankee 

 Peak is of very quartzose gneiss. The strike varies in a peculiar man- 

 ner, the rocks having a general tendency to dip inwards towards the point 

 which might be considered as the centre of the semicircle of peaks. 

 Both strike and dip are, however-, very irregular and varying, especially 

 in the two hills South of Bydessur. 



There is a large undulating plain south of these peaks, partly covered 



„ „„ , with laterite, throu2;h which the gneiss rises at 



Country S. of Bankee. _ ' o a 



intervals. In the extreme west of the province 

 around BoUghur and Goreallee, there are two very barren ranges of no 

 great height, running east and west, and formed of compact gneiss,* 

 striking in the same direction as the hills run. 



* The rock here and elsewhere termed compact gneiss is a granitoid variety very hard 

 and compact, with blotches roughly crystallized of white or pinkish felspar. 



