216 NERBUDDA DISTRICT. 



Every analogy would lead us also to doubt the truth of any speedy 

 silicification of these stems, in which the delicate vegetable tissues are all 

 most thoroughly replaced by the silicious matter now composing them. 

 And after a full and careful examination of the principal points where 

 these occur in the neighbourhood of Sagur we feel satisfied that there 

 is evidence, that there was here an extensive and tolerably level plain, 

 broken in places by low hills of the Vindhyan sandstones ; the general 

 surface being formed partly of that rock, and partly of the lava flows, 

 which had already filled up the chief hollows, and obliterated most of the 

 original inequalities of the older surface. This plain was here and there 

 covered by ponds and marshes, with patches of vegetable mould forming 

 dry ground. The whole of the accumulations of detrital matter were 

 calcareous, and we know that many species of land and fresh-water mol- 

 lusca lived and died among them. The similar beds at Narainpur, also 

 prove the co-existence of large animals, although their remains are now 

 too imperfect to admit of a determination of their specific or even generic 

 affinities. 



The palm-trees, now found fossilized, grew in the soil, which in the 

 condition of a black calcareous earthy bed we now find lying round their 

 prostrate stems. They fell, (from whatever cause) and lay until their 

 silicification was complete ; a slight depression of the surface, or some 

 local or accidental check of some drainage course, or any other similar 

 and trivial cause, may have laid them under water. The process of 

 silicification proceeded gradually but steadily, and after they had there 

 in lapse of ages become lapidified, the next outburst of volcanic matters 

 overwhelmed them, broke them, partially enveloped and bruised them 

 until long subsequent denudation once more brought them to light. 

 They may no doubt have been still further shattered by subsequent 

 movements of the rocks, or even by the shock of the next superincumbent 

 flow of basalt : but there is no necessity for resorting to such an idea to 

 explain their present state and position. 



