148 Mr. Fraser's Journey from Delhi to Bombay. 



of all the mountains^ and assuming the same stratiform appearance. Gneiss 

 is also found between Jaypoor and Kishenguhr, in some instances passing into 

 fine-grained mica-slate ; of which latter rock there were many varieties in co- 

 lour and substance, in strata pointing generally north and south, and dip- 

 ping at various angles. 



In one hill, which fell more particularly under examination, this laminated 

 mica-slate occupied about one-third of the height at the lower part on the 

 north-east side, the strata pointing chiefly to the north, and dipping at an 

 angle of about 20° ; and above it, quartz rock occupied the remaining two- 

 thirds, pointing towards the north-east and east, and constituting the whole 

 of the south-west side of the hill, where no more slate appeared. It seemeJf, 

 therefore, that the quartz overlaid the mica-slate from the south-westward ; and 

 the same thing was remarked in several of these western ranges. 



The mica-slate and quartz rock are both plentifully veined with quartz, 

 sometimes occurring between the laminas, but more generally in vertical veins, 

 running north and south. The granite in some parts of this tract is of uncom- 

 monly large grain. 



There are lead mines of considerable richness in the hill of Farraguhr, 

 worked by the Government; but the want of demand prevents them from 

 being profitable. 



It would be wrong to quit this part of the country without mentioning the 

 Sambur salt-lake, from which annually a quantity of salt is sent, that supplies 

 nearly the whok of Upper India. Every year, after the rains, the water 

 becomes impregnated with so great a quantity of salt, that when the lake dries 

 up, the salt is found crystallized in great quantity under the layer of mud, 

 which is also deposited. Circumstances prevented me from going to visit this 

 place, which however is not singular, for there are many lakes of less note in 

 that part of India which yield salt of various qualities, particularly one to the 

 westward of Jhodepoor. The soil, indeed, is in many places much impreg- 

 nated with salt ; and it is very rare in these parts ever to see a hollow or low 

 place without a salt efflorescence appearing on the surface. 



Our route from hence lay north-west, towards Nagore ; and after a distance 

 of twelve or fourteen miles we quitted the hills, which we observed running 

 towards the north-east in a very distinctly marked line. From this point to 

 Nagore our route lay entirely through a plain, diversified only by sand-hills of 

 no importance, with clayey bottoms between them, and occasionally high and 

 barren banks of hard clay mixed with kunker, — a sort of calcareous concre- 

 tion, found almost all over India in such situations. The first part of this route 



