314 GEOLOGICAL RELATIONS OP THE ROCK SYSTEMS 



the same time they appeared to be linked to them as part of a sequence 

 by the continuation of the same conditions of deposit, and by the ap- 

 parent presence of some few identical plants in both. Finding, I say, 

 these facts, he was disposed to consider them identical with, and to give 

 to them the same name as, the " Bajmahar beds. .For this identification, 

 however, there did not appear to be perfectly satisfactory, or sufficient 

 ground. And as the plants preserved in these beds had not, up to that 

 time, been fully examined, it was not possible to come to any definite 

 conclusion on the matter. There seemed at first sight, a general resem- 

 blance, combined with some marked differences between the flora of the 

 two groups. But until a careful examination of all the collections had 

 been made, it was thought more desirable to continue the same general 

 principle of nomenclature, and to speak of these Nerbudda beds, as be- 

 longing to the same great formation, but as being Upper Damuda. 



Mahadeva Rocks. — We have above alluded to the fact (known so 

 long since as 1852-53,) that there existed in Bengal a great thickness 

 of rocks newer than, and separated by a distinct unconformity from 

 the true Damuda (or as we were in the habit of calling them previously 

 to 1856, the "coal bearing") series, but still, as we then believed, 

 connected with that series. This had quite prepared us for the discovery 

 of other groups in a similar position elsewhere. And when, in 1856, 

 I had an opportunity of visiting the Nerbudda district, and passed the 

 noble scarps of the Puchmurri hills, where massive sandstones many 

 hundred feet in thickness stand out boldly in almost precipitous cliffs, 

 their nearly horizontal beds resting on the much disturbed Damuda 

 rocks beneath, the eye at once recognized the distinctness, and the two 

 groups were separated. A little further examination, however, proved 

 most clearly that we had in these upper beds of Central India, no repre- 

 sentatives of the beds known to occur unconformably over and in succes- 

 sion to the Damuda beds in Bengal, (a) In every respect — in mineral 



(a) Mr. Medlicott's Upper Damuda group had not then been worked out. 



