GNEISSIC EOCKS. 15 



the picture is framed by tlie fine scarps of granular quartz rocks on the 

 flank of the great Allagiri (Allagherry) hill which contrast strongly 

 with the gentle seaward slope of the plains on the eastern side. 



The per contra view, which is also very beautiful, though not quite so 



artistically perfect, is to be seen from the summit of the Perumal Mallai 



View from Perumal ^'^^S^ 5 miles west-south-west of Melur (Mailore) 



^^^^^' and 12 miles north-east of Madura, and is one 



which will well reward any geologist or sketcher for the trouble of climbing 



Shomagiri Drug and ^^^ ^^^S^' ^^ ^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^ ^^^t striking object 

 '^°^- is Shomagiri Drug hill ridge which is seen so fore- 



shortened as to be nearly cupola-shaped, while from a spur which branches 

 off to the south-westward rises an enormous tor standing boldly on a 

 much slenderer pedestal. As seen from the plain immediately to the 

 north of the hill, this tor assumes the shape of the head and neck of a 

 beautiful child. I estimate the tor and pedestal at from 60 to 80 feet 

 high. Shomagiri is seen flanked by two other fine granitoid masses, 

 neither of which are shown in sheet 80, from which many other smaller 

 hills are also omitted. 



A fine group of these is clustered round the Karrinkalgudi (Kur- 



rane^alffoody) station about 7 miles north of Melur 



Other hills. & to Jv 



(Mailore) close to the Madura-Trichinopoly road. 



The view is bounded to the north by the line of hills extending eastward from 



the Sirumalai and terminating in the bold and striking mass of Pramalai. 



To the east of Melur are two noteworthy hills, both of them 



shown on sheet 80 as Trigonometrical Stations, and both of them 



remarkable for their wild and picturesque rock scenery. The first, 



Sharangamalai, lies about a mile south-east of Melur, the second called 



Codathumputty on the map, but locally known as the Periotamalai lies 



some 7 miles further east and is the highest and most conspicuous point 



for many miles around. To the south-westward of the Permal Malai 



mentioned above are several picturesque groups of granitoid rocks 



leading up to the north end of the Anai Malai or " Elephant" hill, a 



bold and bare rocky ridge running nearly parallel 

 The Elephant bill. . J- & & J t 



with the Madura road for close upon 3 miles. 



( 15 ) 



