1833. ] Miscellaneous. 607 
on the east, this formation first shows itself, supporting basalt, on the Rajmahal 
hills ; it again prevails throughout the interval between the confluences of the 
river S6n (Soane) and of the Jamna with the Ganges, and thence stretches across 
W.S. W. through the Bundelkhand district to the banks of the Nermada (Ner- 
budda), which flows into the Gulf of Cambay, as far as 79° Long. E.; where it is 
overlaid by the eastern extremity of the great basaltic district of North-western 
India near Sagar: the red sandstone shews itself again emerging from beneath the 
north-western edge of this basaltic district, at Nimach, near the western sources 
of the Chambal (the great southern branch of the Jamna) and at Baug, in the 
valley of the Nermada. In both places, as also along the central portion of the 
platform before described, stretching through Malwa, it is frequently covered with 
a thin crust of grey argillaceous limestone, supposed to represent our lias, but 
nearly destitute of organic remains, although a single gryphite is said to have been 
found. The general absence of organic remains in the secondary rocks of India is 
remarkable ; but Mr. Voysry mentions an argillaceous bed full of fossil shells 
(species not stated) beneath the trap of the Gawilgarh hills (between the conflu- 
ences of the Tapti and Purna, in the Berar district :) the same lias-like beds occur 
with the red sandstone of the Golconda district. A primitive range, extending 
from near Delhi to the head of the Gulf of Cambay, separates the secondary rocks 
of Malwa from those of the great basin of the Indus ; but on the western borders 
of this ridge through Ajmir, the red sandstone again shews itself, containing rock- 
salt and gypsnm. ‘The whole of this immense basin appears to have been hitherto 
geologically neglected, although it would probably best repay such an examination, 
for here if any where in India, we might most probably expect a fuller series of 
secondary rocks. Mr. Govan has observed at the very source of the Satlej, one 
of the chief tributaries of the Indus, amid the highest primitive peaks of Himalaya, 
a small basin of secondary limestone, containing ammonites and cardia. 
3. Tertiary rocks at the foot of the first rise of the primitive rocks of the 
Himalaya, in the north west of Bengal, where the Brahmaputra issues from them 
at the pass of the Garrow hills; cerithie, turritelli, remains of lobsters, sharks, 
crocodiles, &c, are here found, and further east, nwmmulite limestone prevails at 
Silhet. The soil throughout Bengal is often occupied by deposits of clay, contain- 
ing concretionary lumps of limestone, called kankar; this, which affords the 
principal supply of lime in India, is probably of very recent origin. It remains 
only to notice the great basaltic district of the north-west. This extends from 
Nagpur, in the very centre of India, to the western coasts between Goa and 
Bombay, occupies the whole of that coast to its termination at the Gulf of Cam- 
bay, and thence penetrates northwards as far as the 24th parallel of north lati- 
tude. 
In the Burmese Empire we find primitive rocks in the chains above Ava, but 
tertiary beds, with the characteristic shells, in the valley of the Irrawady, near 
Prome ; also remains of the mastodon, &c. in the diluvial gravel. West of this 
‘the whole chain of the Malayan peninsula is primitive, consisting principally of 
stanniferous granite. 
I believe that the above, condensed asit is, willbe found the fullest general 
account of the progress as yetmade in Indian geology, hitherto presented to the 
public. 
