8 FAUXA ANTIQUA SITALEXSIS. 



same foinnation to extend from beyond Cashmeer to Patna, 

 with, valleys along the whole line.^ 



From our researches, we have been led to the opinion that 

 the whole line of the Sewalik hills extending from the Indus 

 nearly to the bay of Bengal, and formed by the debris of the 

 Himalayahs, transported by the same causes acting under the 

 same circumstances as at present, has been broken up fi-om 

 the plains of Hindostan and assumed its present Alpine 

 characters within a very late geological epoch, posterior to 

 the long establishment upon the north of India of animals 

 so highly organised as the Quadrumana, of species of Camel, 

 Ox, and Antelope, and of Crocodiles now existing in India. 

 The importance and imposing character of the deductions 

 demand a rigid investigation ; and with the risk of being 

 considered tedious and discursive, before entering on the 

 Geological details of the formation, we shall jirefix a sketch 

 of the Physical characters of the neighbom-ing plains of 

 Hindostan, and of the conterminous Himalayah chain. 



The course of the Nerbudda, in lat. 23° to 24° N. natvirally 

 and geognostically divides the continent of India into two 

 gTeat portions : the southei-n or hilly, and the northern or 

 ' plains of Hindostan.' The former is surrounded on all 

 sides by distinct Alpine ranges, disposed pretty nearly in 

 the form of a triangle ; with the Great Yindhya range run- 

 ning E. & W. for its base, and the eastern and western 

 Ghats for the sides. The two latter meet in the apex at the 

 southern extremity of the continent near Cape Comorin, and 

 at their northern limits they join on respectively with the 

 eastern and western extremities of the Yindhya chain. Prom 

 the western and central portion of the latter, subordinate 

 ranges such as the Ai'avalli are sent off to the north, jutting 

 into the division of the plains. The northern portion, or 

 plains of Hindostan, is composed of the two great exti'a 

 mountain basins of the river systems of the Himalayahs, the 

 Ganges and Indus. These form two great alluvial plains. 

 The one commencing in the delta of the Ganges and Megna 

 stretches NW. from the Bay of Bengal in 22°, to the 

 Guggar in lat. 31°, in one unbroken flat included between 

 the Himalayahs on the NE. and the northern extremity of 

 the eastern Ghat on the west, beyond which it expands to 

 the west behind the Yindhya chain. The other commences 

 in the delta of the Indus, and stretches north and east as 

 marked by the five rivers of the Punjab, to the foot of the 

 Himalayahs. The two basins are conterminous about half- 

 way between the Jumna and Sutlej in lat. 30°, where they 



' Herbert, p. 69, para. 57. Para. 284 and 285. 



