Capt. Cautley on the Sevdlik Hills. 277 



The minerals in this tract, west of the Jumna, correspond with those to the eastward, with the 

 exception of the presence of the gold, which occurs in the beds of the rivers in these mountains, 

 both eastward of the Ganges, and westward of the Jumna ; but I am not aware of its existence in 

 the intermediate tract. Under Nahun, gold-washers are constantly employed during the dry months ; 

 their daily return varying from two annas to two rupees, or from 3d. to 4s. The process is ex- 

 tremely rude. A piece of board, a long wooden trough, a ladle made out of a gourd, a sieve of 

 the large grass which grows so abundantly in this part of the country, and a piece of hollow 

 bamboo with a little quicksilver, constitute the portable apparatus of these most primitive washers 

 for the precious metal*. A great deal of the gold-dust must necessarily be lost 'by this method 

 of proceeding; and all the mercury, as it is evaporated in open air. The grains of gold are 

 not larger than the small scales of mica, so common in river sand ; and I have not heard that 

 the metal has been found in large masses. This gold, too, has its localities, some streams being 

 much richer than others. Where is the fountain head ? In some stratum of this alluvium, per- 

 haps, yet to be discovered, as the streams have no connexion with the higher mountains. A 

 description of the washers, and the method practised by them eastward of the Ganges, have been 

 given in the Journal of the Asiatic Society ; and as there is little difference in the apparatus used 

 at both places, it is not necessary to refer to it further. 



Some of the fossils obtained by Mr. Colebrooke in the hills near Cooch 

 Behar, and described by Mr. Pentlandf, are identical with some of those 

 obtained by the present discovery; and as the former were found in the 

 most eastern extremity of this line, it is possible that a careful examination 

 would prove the existence of animal remains throughout the whole of the 

 intermediate mountains; all the tract being probably tertiary. An inquiry 

 into the difference between the hills bounded by the Ganges and Jumna, 

 and those westward of the latter ; and into the confused and interminable 

 dislocations, without any flats in the former, and the more scattered ridges 

 with the intermediate plateaux of the latter, would only lead to a disqui- 

 sition on the general formation of the dhoons or valleys lying between the 

 Sevalik hills and the great chain, which the limits of this communication will 

 not admit, and must be left for future inquiry. It will be sufficient to state, 

 that the general form of the mountains approaches more or less to a right 

 angle, the long slope being covered with vegetation, and the crest terminating 

 in a perpendicular and generally mural cliff, which descends into the beds of 

 the torrents. The scenery from these cliffs is most picturesque, and many of 

 the passes or ghats up the torrents are bounded by gigantic walls of sandstone, 

 varying both in height and character, and subject to all the tortuosities depend- 

 ent on a river's course, forcing its channel through a complication of moun- 

 tains. This effect is considerably heightened by the pointed and jagged style 



* See further particulars of the gold-washings in the Gumte river, by Capt. Cautley, Journal 

 Asiatic Society of Bengal, vol. iv. p. 279 ; Plate VII. ; April, 1835. 

 t Geological Transactions, Second Series, vol. iii. p. 393 ; PI. XLV. 



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