270 MIDNAPOEE, ORISSA, &C, 



cases the only variety visible at tlie surface is that gravell}', pisolitic, 

 and nodular rock which has been already noticed. In very few places 

 are any good sections of this rock exposed, and its general appearance is 

 that of a continuous layer spread over the country, swelling here and 

 there with a gently undulating surface, the waving rolls of which are. 

 slightly elevated above the alluvial plains adjoining. The rise in the 

 ground is in fact so gradually formed that the difference of level is only 

 noticed when seen from a little distance. These long low swells of 

 lateritic gravel and laterite, are chiefly covered with low coppice, with 

 occasional patches of grassy land ; but their dry, parched, and stony, 

 soil is ill adapted for cultivation. 



The same peculiar feature, which may be generally noticed in Ban- 

 coorah, is always observable here also, that this great sheet of laterite 

 appears invariably on both sides of these long swelling undulations to 

 dip under the small alluvial flats adjoining, and to rise again beyond. 

 (See below). 



Throughout the whole of Midnapore the surface laterite, or that 



which we have alluded to above as detrital laterite. 

 All pebbly. . . 



■ . invariably contanis ni more or less abundance 



small rounded fragments of other rocks. The proportion in which these 

 occur in the ferruginous matrix of the rock is very variable. Occasionally 

 they constitute the mass of the rock, and the laterite then becomes a 

 coarse gritty sandstone of red-colour, and in no lithological character 

 differing from many sandstones of very different geological date. Often 

 the rock becomes conglomeratic, pebbles of quartz, and rounded frag- 

 ments of other rocks being imbedded, these pebbles 



Or conglomeratic. . i • ,i r • i , 



being coated, as in other terruginous conglomerates, 



with oxide of iron (near Midnapore). About four miles south of Midna- 

 pore also, near Jowfulla, the rock, which is well seen, is very conglomer- 

 atic, large pieces of quartz and jaspery rock, and well worn fragments 

 of other rocks being of common occurrence. From this coarse conglo- 



