18 WYNNE : TEANS-INDUS SALT REGION, KOHAT DISTRICT. 



times here called s/wr, but known elsewhere as hdler or toor. This 

 disappeared after rain had fallen, but was to a certain extent renewed 

 again in the few following fine days, both on the sandstone rocks and 

 superficial deposits. 



Subterranean drainage. — It may be doubted whether all the water 

 derived from the atmosphere over this district finds its way to the 

 superficial streams and thence to the Indus. The steep forms of the 

 ground would show that this must be the case most commonly, but 

 where the superficial form is favourable, the occurrence of large crater- 

 like pot or swallow holes, in very numerous localities, caused by dissolu- 

 tion of the salt, shows that under-ground channels exist. Springs of 

 saline water at the bases of some of the ridges will be readily accounted 

 for in this way, but the percolating water may be much in excess of any 

 which comes again to the surface within the district. Where it may 

 do so is very doubtful, and it seems strange that the whole drainage of 

 so large a salt-bearing area, most of the streams in which are saline, 

 should have so small an effect as to be unnoticeable to the taste in the 

 waters of the Indus below this region, and but slightly so even in the 

 larger streams of the district itself, such as the Tin Taui, the water 

 of which has more frequently the predominating taste communicated 

 by the s/wr of the country * than that of water saline from edible salt. 



Physical geology. — As may have been gathered from some of the 

 foregoing remarks, the physical geology is closely connected with the 

 physical geography of the district. The ridges, ranges, and valleys, not- 

 withstanding some extraordinary complexities (which will be pointed 

 out), may be considered as long waves in the strata, many of which 

 might not inaptly be compared in form to the breaking rollers of a 

 heavy surf. The anticlinal portions of these waves show every sign of 

 intense lateral pressure in north and south directions, and the forms of all 

 have been greatly modified by erosion. 



* Called kdrd pant or kaora pani all over the country in contradistinction to mita 

 pant, sweet or fresh water. 



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