Notices and Rxtractsfrom the Minutes of the Geological Society. 493 



snow was first encountered in the valley. The neighbouring hills are covered 

 with rounded pebbles of all sizes, sometimes loose, at others forming a con- 

 glomerate. A beautiful white marble is found near Cabool, and the rocks 

 are occasionally covered with asbestus. 



Prom Cabool the author crossed the Hindoo Caucasus to Balkh and the 

 plains of Tartary. This range of mountains is the prolongation of the Hima- 

 laya to the westward of the Indus. The height of the passes Hajeeguk and 

 Kaloo is respectively J 2,400 and 13,000 feet. 



Hindoo Koosh is, properly speaking, the name given to the highest peak 

 in the range, the only part of which that is covered with perpetual snow is the 

 Koh-i-Baba, estimated to be 18,000 feet above the sea, between Cabool and 

 Bameean, from whicjj latter place the waters flow northward into the Oxus. 

 In some of the defiles through which the author passed, the sides rose to a 

 height of 2000 or 3000 feet. The loftiest peak which he observed between 

 Cabool and Hajeeguk consisted of gneiss or granite, sometimes deeply impreg- 

 nated with iron. These formations were succeeded by blue slates and quartz 

 rock, and precipices of micaceous schist. Prom the summits of the precipices 

 masses of green granite and other rocks had been hurled into the valley 

 below. Further down is a calcareous conglomerate, succeeded by clitfs of 

 reddish and purple coloured clay, and by ridges of indurated clay mixed with 

 bands of a harder nature. In this ridge great idols have been carved, and 

 caves excavated, for it is easily worked. The neighbourhood of Bameean is 

 described as producing gold, lead, copper, tin, antimony, sulphur, and iron. 



The lower passes of Hindoo Koosh consist principally of a light brown 

 splintery limestone, of great hardness, and susceptible of a high polish. This 

 formation is followed by sandstone rocks, in one of which round flint-stones 

 are imbedded at regular intervals. The real peak of Hindoo Koosh lies about 

 a degree to the eastward of this route, and the difficulty of crossing it is very 

 great. 



Prom Khooloom, whence the author descended to Balkh (2000 feet), in 

 the plains of Toorkistan, the country slopes gradually towards the Caspian. 

 It is generally flat, and is watered by the Oxus. 



The author then describes the course of the Oxus, from its source in the 

 high plain of Pameer until it is lost in the sea of Aral, after passing through 

 a low and swampy district. He does not believe that the Oxus ever termi- 

 nated in the Caspian Sea, and concludes that what are called the dry river 

 beds between Astrabad and Khina are the remains of ancient canals. The 

 natives pretend that the waters of the Aral pass by a subterranean communi- 

 cation into the Caspian Sea, and that at a place called Kara-goombuz, be- 



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