290 Capt. Grant on the Geology of Cutch. 



the Indus and the territory of Sinde. 

 about 180 English miles, and its extreme breadth is 50 miles ; but in one 

 place it is not more than 15 miles across. It contains about 6500 square 

 miles, independently of the Grand Runn, which ought, however, to be con- 

 sidered as a part of the province, and which, including the islands with the 

 portion bounded by the Guzerat coast, occupies an area of at least 9000 

 square miles. 



Physical Aspect of the Country. — The province is hilly and rocky, with the 

 exception of the part forming the southern coast, which is a dead flat covered 

 with a fine rich soil. Three distinct ranges of hills, having an easterly and 

 westerly direction, may be traced (see Map, PI. XX.). The most northern 

 forms an irregular chain bordering the Runn, and, for the greater part, pre- 

 sents to the north a perpendicular cliff surmounting a sloping talus, and to the 

 south an inclined plane. It is composed chiefly of rocks, containing marine re- 

 mains. The next, called the Charwar range, passes transversely through the 

 centre of the province, and is connected with the former, at its north-western 

 extremity, by a cluster of hills. It consists partly of sandstone containing beds 

 of coal, and partly of a series of strata of slate clay, limestone slate, and slaty 

 sandstone. The third, or southern range, and composed entirely of volcanic 

 materials, has the same direction as the other two ; but it is of smaller extent, 

 and a branch of it, striking nearly north and south, passes through the 

 centre of the Charwar range. A number of isolated volcanic hills are also 

 scattered over the plain and in other parts of the province, particularly on the 

 borders of the Runn, where is situated the hill called Denodur, the largest in 

 Cutch. 



There are no constant streams, the river courses being merely channels 

 for conveying the periodical floods to the sea, and containing, during the re- 

 mainder of the year, only detached pools. The banks of these courses are, 

 however, very high and precipitous, and afford excellent sections of the strata 

 through which they pass. 



Formations. 



I have divided the country into the following eight distinct formations : — 



1. Syenite and quartz rock. 



2. Sandstone and clay, with beds of coal. 



3. Red sandstone. — This formation I have not coloured in the Map, having been unable to 



trace its boundaries. In mineralogical characters it resembles the new red sandstone of 

 England, and differs materially from No. 2., or the formation which contains the coal. 



4. Upper secondary formation, consisting of slate clay, limestone slate, and slaty sandstone, 



and containing Ammonites, with other fossils characteristic of the secondary formations of 

 Europe. 



