Professor Buckland on the Bones of Mastodon, Sgcfrom Ava. 389 



7. From the mountains of the Sakainji^ Cliain a little above Ava^ we have 

 much pure mica slate and statuary marble in its usual connexion with mica 

 slate and hornblende rock ; this marble is of the finest quality, and extensively 

 employed by the natives in making images of Buddha. 



The specimens afford no decided example of secondary rocks in this district*; 

 but a reddish sandstone, which is used for architecture in the construction of 

 thrones to receive the images of Buddha, and a limestone which resembles 

 the magnesian limestone of England, may, I think, with more probability be 

 referred to the new red sandstone than to any other formation. 



The extent and relative position of all these strata it was impossible to ascer- 

 tain from the few opportunities afforded to Mr. Crawfurd of landing from tiie 

 steam-boat in which he made his voyage : these may become the subject of 

 future investigations. The grand point is however established, of the occur- 

 rence of formations in the south-east of India analogous to the tertiary and 

 diluvial formations of Europe, and containing respectively the remains of 

 animals the same which the formations of Europe contain, or very similar to 

 them : these animals must therefore at some time or other, and most probably 

 at the same time, have existed in regions whose climate and inhabitants now 

 differ so widely as those of India and Europe. 



It must be confessed, in concluding, that the result of these discoveries, 

 though intensely interesting, and a splendid example of what may be done by 

 the skill and activity of one zealous individual, is rather to stimulate than fully 

 gratify our curiosity ; and to excite our hopes for more detailed and more 

 extensive information from the future investigations of the most intelligent 

 among our countrymen, whose professional duties call them to the eastern 

 world. 



Appendix. 



Since this paper was read, I have been favoured by Dr. Pitton with the 

 following communication, made to him by Col. Briggs, of a translation from 

 an original Persian manuscript copy of Ferishta, in the library of the East 

 India Company, procured from the library of Tippoo Sultan in 1799. The 

 manuscript was transcribed in 1648, a few years after Perishta wrote, and 

 relates to the rise and progress of the Mahomedan empire in India. It con- 



* Near Pukangji 



