1836.] the Country between Hyderabad and Ndgpur. 103 



are some flat hills, which 1 had not an opportunity of examining. 

 They corresponded in their steep sides and flat summits with the trap 

 hills to be presently described, and Mr. Geddes informed me, that 

 they are formed of amygdaloidal trap, based on decaying granite. With 

 these interruptions, the granite continues to Kamareddypettah, but 

 the mamillary eminences, and the tors and logging stones formed 

 from their decomposition, are of more rare occurrence. The granite, 

 however, still continues to exhibit the lamellar structure, and is easily 

 split into large slabs. In some instances, where the lamellae are thin, 

 the vertical fissures which frequently intersect them in right lines, and 

 greatly assist the progress of decomposition, cause the rock to break 

 into regular rhomboids. The last " tor stones" observed on the road 

 to Nagpur were north of Jakrampilly, where they occurred on a lofty hill, 

 on which there is a small pagoda. After leaving the basaltic hills near 

 Bekanurpettah and Jungampilly, black soil is seen in the valley below 

 a large tank, and some dykes of greenstone pass the road in the direc- 

 tion of S. by E. to N. by W. at Kamareddypettah : the granite is 

 lamellar white, with black mica and some hornblende, and fragments 

 of amethystine quartz are scattered about. A little to the north of the 

 town, on ascending a very gentle ascent, the red soil and granite give 

 way to black soil, derived from decomposed trap rock, which is concen- 

 tric on the top, but lower down is arranged in imperfect strata. On 

 descending the hill to the north, the black soil conceals the granite 

 for a short distance ; but at the bottom of the hill, and in the bed of a 

 small water-course, it is seen of the same appearance as before. 

 Immediately beyond this, there is a very remarkable hill, which is seen 

 from a considerable distance standing out from the gently indulat- 

 ing country, and possessing the peculiar form of the trap hills of the 

 Deccan. It lies five miles north of Kamareddypettah, and four miles 

 south of the village of Nugger, and is marked on the specimens as 

 the "hill of Nugger." On approaching it by a very gradual ascent, 

 the soil changes to black ; and all at once the hill rises with nearly 

 perpendicular sides, constituting a narrow ridge, about half a mile in 

 length, and of a shape approaching to that of an Italic f running 

 nearly N. by E. to S. by W. The hill is entirely formed of basalt, as 

 its form had led me to expect. Above and in the body of the hill it 

 has a concentric globular structure, the external layers of which are 

 remarkably soft, and on the top of the hill resemble a peperino ; lower 

 down it is soft, of a greenish color, and soapy feel, (Nos. 66 and 69.) 

 The nuclei left undecayed on the top, are exceedingly hard and tough, 

 of a deep black colour, and contain large crystals of olivine, and small 

 globules of calcedony. Many small but very characteristic specimens 

 p 2 



