670 Note on Volcanic Scoria in the S. Peninsula. [Oct. 



VII. — Note on the occurrence of Volcanic Scoria in the Southern Penin- 

 sula. By Lieut. New bold, A. D. C. 



1 have the honor to present to the notice of the Society, specimens 

 of a calcareous and siliceous scoria forming the substance of a small 

 hill at Budigunta, near Courtney, about 1 1 miles west of Bellary. 

 This hill is situated close to the road, at the summit of a small pass 

 over a range of hills running S.E. by which it is embosomed. Its 

 apparent height is about 40 feet — circumference, 420 feet. 



The summit is rounded, and surface partially covered with long 

 dry grass ; amid which project in every direction masses of scoria, 

 passing round the hill in almost regular succession like steps. Towards 

 the top the scoria appear to be more friable — the base is cavernous, 

 and the masses more vitreous on their surface, and stalactitic in shape. 

 The hill when struck by a heavy stone or the heel of a booted foot 

 emitted a sound as if hollow. Similar sounds were produced in 

 riding a horse over the base. I found two pieces of the scoria several 

 hundred yards from the spot : it is, however, probable that these 

 may have been conveyed thence by the traveller. On tbe summit I 

 picked up a piece of clink-stone and one of hornblende rock : the 

 latter appeared to have been excavated by art. Around the base 

 masses of scoria intermixed with the schistose sandstone, greenstone, 

 and quartz of the surrounding formation were strewn together, with 

 fragments of trap and iron ore. 



The bed of the rivulet that washes the foot of the pass I found to 

 be composed of greenstone. A partial stratum of kankar is here met 

 with, covered with alluvial soil. 



The surrounding hills are greenstone slate, in which minute scales 

 of mica are found disseminated, capped by a schistose sandstone. 

 The mound of scoria has from a distance a singular cineritious 

 appearance, strongly contrasted with the ferruginous tint of the 

 surrounding hills. By many it has been thought of volcanic origin, 

 but I could discover nothing like a crater ; nor any traces of lava, 

 obsidian, augite, olivine or other volcanic matter. 



The oldest natives can give no account how these scoria were 

 accumulated, beyond the vague tradition founded on an episode in the 

 Mahabhdrat, of their being the burnt bones of a Racsdsa of a former 

 age (Dwdpar Yug) ; nor am I aware that such scoria are produced 

 by any furnace used in the country in present times. 



Buchanan, in his geological account of the range of hills from 

 Rajmahal to Burdwan, describes a calcareous matter, in mass, called 

 Asurhar, or giant's bones. 



