238 Note on the Distribution of Soils 



barriers in the upper portion of its course, (and it drains 

 a great portion of the Nipal territory) behind which masses 

 of loose calcareous matter may have accumulated, and which 

 the water as it escaped swept along with it. But though 

 such hypothesis would explain the fact of a pretty uniform 

 sheet of calcareous matter covering the region now spoken 

 of, it will not clear up all the appearances, for there are 

 alternations of soil, as of Bangar over Bhat, to be met with 

 in some places, which shew that various changes in the con- 

 dition of the tract have taken place. 



North of Selempoor, and on the left bank of the little 

 Gunduk, small eminences abound ; these have generally been 

 selected as sites for villages, and are Bangar, or siliceous 

 earth, while the lower lands are Bhat. But I am told in 

 digging wells on these elevations, after the Bangar strata are 

 penetrated, Bhat earth is met with. Did then a uniform sheet 

 of siliceous soil at one time cover this section of the country, 

 which has subsequently in great part been washed away? 

 If so, how come these knolls to form exceptions ? Or if not, 

 how came they in their present places ? 



The Bangar countries, so far as I have observed, undu- 

 late more than the calcareous districts, and the water shews 

 a disposition to collect into shallow lakes. The water in 

 the Bhat countries rather affects to form itself into streams, 

 hollowing out for itself in the rains canal-like beds, through 

 which water that would otherwise be stagnant is drained 

 off into the larger rivers. The Bangar country is more 

 congenial to the human constitution, and I may add to 

 horses and dogs also, than Bhat lands are ; the inhabitants 

 are better grown, stronger, fairer, handsomer, and the children 

 more gamesome in the former, than in the latter. In the 

 calcareous damp lands goitre prevails, idiots are common, 

 and in general the people are feeble in mind and in body. 



The following analyses of some soils will serve to give 

 a more definite idea regarding the land in different parts of 

 the country than is to be got from more general observations. 



