Capt. Grant on the Geology of Cutch. 299 



principally of sandstone, except in the portion opposite Bhooj, where this la- 

 minated series also occurs. The strata being principally horizontal, the hills 

 have a conical form. 



It is a curious circumstance, that, in the same group, some of the hills of 

 the laminated strata have a thick capping of sandstone, whilst an immediately 

 adjoining peak, of equal height, has none. I conceive the thick beds of the 

 sandstone once covered the whole surface, and that on their upheavement 

 they broke into masses, which have been since denuded from some of the 

 hills, the debris forming the deep sandy plain around Bhooj. 



In the hill of Joge-ki-bit, near Nurra, on the Runn, the beds dip from 

 40° to 50° to the north, and alternate three times with basalt. The 

 strata vary greatly in character, some of them being very hard and cry- 

 stalline, particularly those containing calcareous matter; whilst other parts of 

 the series, immediately adjoining, are very friable and earthy. Some of the 

 schists assume the character of a roofing-slate, and others are only soft, lami- 

 nated blue clay. 



A cluster of hills, occupying a surface of three or four square miles to the 

 north-west of the city of Bhooj, called the Bhoodha hills, also belongs to this 

 formation, being composed of slate-clay, tabular sandstone, and limestone 

 slate, in many parts assuming a very friable, earthy texture, and frequently 

 capped with thick beds of coarse, soft sandstone. The strata are often hori- 

 zontal ; in which case the hills are conical ; but in many instances the beds 

 incline at a considerable angle ; and the hills assume, when capped by the 

 sandstone, the usual form of an abrupt escarpment, with a long inclined oppo- 

 site side. They are intersected by numerous ravines and nullahs ; the loose- 

 ness of the soil, and peculiar tabular construction of the strata, offering a very 

 slight resistance to the action of the rains. The Chuppal hills, between Gu- 

 ranee and Nurra, in the north-western division of the province, afford another 

 example of the elevation of these strata into hills. They consist of beds of a 

 very earthy and friable description, covered by a thick stratum of hard cry- 

 stalline sandstone, slightly calcareous ; and the lower part forming a sloping 

 talus, capped by the hard rock, in masses 20 feet thick ; they appear as if 

 they were surmounted by old ruins or turrets. 



Manner in which the Hills have been formed. — From an attentive exami- 

 nation of these hills, I am led to infer, that they have all been uplifted by a 

 movement which proceeded from below; the laminated series having yielded 

 to the upheaving power, and the loose brittle sandstone having broken off 

 abruptly. That this has been the case with the minor ridges, and what I may 



VOL. V. SECOND SERIES. 2 R 



