Mr. Eraser's Journey from Delhi to Bomhaij. ]45 



consisted chiefly of the same substances as the surrounding rocks, with a ce- 

 ment of ferruginous clay. This rock is much pervaded with caves and fissures, 

 seemingly of great extent : it is more destructible than the quartz rock, more 

 readily forms soil, and is consequently more overgrown with trees and herbage 

 of all sorts ; and it seems also retentive of vvater to nourish them, for they are 

 greener than in other situations. 



The stratification of these rocks resembles that of those we have consi- 

 dered at Delhi ; they seem to dip at about an angle of 75° towards the south- 

 west. 



On the top and surface of the hills, which are little covered with herbage 

 of any sort, we find a rock which in substance seems to consist of the same 

 quartz, but changed by exposure, and varying in colour; and in some in- 

 stances worn into cellular cavities. 



There is in all these hills a great deal of brown iron ore, which yields a 

 considerable portion of metal, but might produce much more in the hands of 

 skilful smelters ; for a great quantity is lost in what is considered only as 

 dross, but which in reality is so rich a slag, that workmen from Marwaur find 

 it worth while to come and carry it away, for the purpose of melting over again. 

 Continuing our course, we proceeded about twenty-six miles south-west, to 

 Alwur, still considered in the country of Mewat. During this march the hills 

 increased somewhat in magnitude, height, and picturesque appearance, but 

 did not vary in substance or structure. Strata rising beyond the surface, 

 were very conspicuous on various exposures, but it was not easy to detect the 

 dip or general direction : they seemed to be pervaded by numerous veins of 

 fine white quartz. In the plains between the connected ranges, many sharp 

 and insulated peaks, and clusters of peaks (called emphatically by the natives, 

 from their form, Dauts or teeth) Avere observed starting abruptly from the 

 surface, but no doubt connected beneath it with the more continuous ranges 

 that surround them. 



At Alwur the hills rise to a greater height, and in many places assume a 

 grander and more primitive character, than those we had left : one singular 

 conical peak, partly detached from the great hill on which the fort is situated, 

 affords a good specimen of the structure of the range at this point. The 

 strata, nearly vertical, but dipping from the horizon towards the east at an 

 angle of 70° to 80°, run in a course little deviating from north and south ; they 

 protrude far beyond the surface of the hill from top to bottom : in fact, there 

 is little soil, ana the surface consists chiefly of debris from the destruction of 

 the rocks. These strata and all the hills around are pervaded by veins of fine 



VOL, VI. u 



