NERBUDDA DISTRICT. 145 



typical Vindhyan Sandstone — also that in the north part of the Jubbul- 

 pur district a series of indurated slaty shales occupy a large area be- 

 tween the same Vindhyan rocks on the one side, and the crystalline 

 schists and metamorphic rocks on the other. Now a comparison of these 

 observations seems, we think, to suggest, that the latter may be only 

 the more altered representatives of the former, namely the more arenace- 

 ous Pullassi beds, of those of a similar character at Kuttra, and Bilohi ; 

 and again the slaty argillaceous beds of Punagur, the representatives 

 of the shales of Sirbo Hill. While it is convenient here to maintain, 

 provisionally, the separation of these Sub-Kymore from the Vindhyan 

 rocks above, and from the more crystalline rocks below, yet the question 

 of their true relations must be in reality reserved until more is known of 

 their habits, and especially regarding their junction with the metamor- 

 phic series on which they rest. 



In the Vindhyan series no fossil has as yet been found. No trace of 



organized existence has ever rewarded much la- 

 Absence of fossils. 



borious search among the beds of this group. 



Some day, we have no doubt, fossils will be discovered, but meanwhile 



it is vain to speculate on the possible age of this formation. The far 



more simple question of the relation of the Vindhyan to the newer 



rocks next above them in the general section is but obscurely made out, 



at least stratigraphically considered: no section showing superposition 



has been found within the area now described, some fragments of a 



rock attributed to the Vindhyan Sandstone are found in the lowest 



conglomerate of the Talcheer and Damudas of the Nerbudda valley ; 



little more however of tangible direct evidence can be offered. 



The indirect evidence bearing on the question, abundantly makes up 



for this deficiency, and no geologist, after examin- 

 Indirect evidence. 



ing the country, could fail to perceive that the 



Vindhyans are geologically distinct from all those rocks to the south 



which are next to be described. The circumstance that almost all pre- 



