100 rOOTE: SOUTH MAHRATTA COUNTRY. 



the river within water reach^ so much so that walking becomes very 

 difficult, indeed, in places positively dangerous.* The polished surface is 

 in most places covered with a thin film o£ dark, greyish-black color 

 (hydrated perosdide of iron?), as if black-leaded, contrasting strongly 

 with the delicate and beautiful pale reddish and pink of the quartzite 

 rocks where unstained. 



None of the other numerous sections of the basement division of 

 the Lower Kaladgi series equal the Naul Tirth gorge in clearness ; bed 

 after bed may be traced upward or downward by the eye, and no doubling 

 of the beds is visible. The dip varies from 10*^ to 15°, averaging as nearly 

 as possible 12°, and the prevalent colors seen are pale shades of light 

 reddish, and pinkish and drab, with a few beds of light, bluish-grey 

 color. Near the base some of the quartzite beds are of bright red salmon 

 color, or even of pale peach-blossom color. Many minor beds among 

 the quartzites are very pebbly — perfect conglomerates in fact. Among 

 the included pebbles and fragments are many of red and grey jasper, 

 derived from hsematite beds in the gneiss. Pebbles of quartz and other 

 quartzites, also of hornblendic schist and of pistacite, are common 

 among the inclusions to be observed. The quartzite beds often contain 

 isolated pebbles, which, especially when they consist of red jasper, contrast 

 strongly with the generally uniform texture of the matrix. 



Taking the length of the section at Ij miles directly across the ridge, 

 the total thickness of quartzite and conglomerates cannot be estimated 

 at less than from 1,200 to 1,300 feet, the average dip of 12° being 

 perfectly steady throughout the greatest part of the section. Most of 

 the faces of cliff exposed in the " canon •'-' correspond with some one or 

 other of the principal lines of jointing by which the whole quartzite 

 series is' permeated. 



* The tumbled rocks in the bed of the gorge are so highly polished that a couple of lively 

 terriers that went scrambling about among them repeatedly got into places whence they 

 were afraid to stir and cried piteously for help, failing which they slipped about and fell, iu 

 a manner not at all common to such four-footed animals. 



( 100 ) 



