1835.] Trap Rocks of Bombay. 531 



2. Black basalt of Elephanta, presenting a homogeneous aspect when frac- 

 tured, but frequently containing minute portions of olivine, sometimes in 

 rounded granules, at others crystallized : texture highly indurated. This and 

 the other variety fuse before the blowpipe per se into a mass resembling pitch- 

 stone. The celebrated figure of the elephant, close to Galliputi, consists of this 

 rock, but it appears to be of limited extent. 



3. Amygdaloid, appearing at the great temple of Elephanta, possesses a hard 

 wacke basis, containing cavities filled with rock crystal and zeolites, &c. The 

 rock has a purplish aspect, and is evidently decaying in many situations, by the 

 readiness with which the atmospherical influences act by the medium of the 

 amygdaloidal cavities. Before the blowpipe this rock simulates fused basalt. 



4. Yellowish gray claystone porphyry, at the lower cave of Elephanta. The 

 predominating particles have a yellow resinous appearance, with a black basis. 



5. Green claystone porphyry, appearing at Babula Tank : fine ground, and 

 admitting of a good polish, interspersed with dark-coloured soft particles, which 

 have an even fracture, and appear to be small masses of indurated clay. 



6. Amygdaloid, with a light-coloured porphyritic basis and green cavities, 

 accompanied generally with large crystals of calcareous spar from the neighbour- 

 hood of Parell. The ca!c-spar is sometimes dark-coloured, probably from the 

 effect of reflected light. 



7. Numerous large fragments of shell conglomerates may be observed on the 

 6hore of Elephanta, consisting of a nucleus of porphyry, or amygdaloid, closely 

 surrounded by adhering bivalves, which afford means of extending the limits of 

 the growth of the mangrove. 



The amygdaloidal cavities contain numerous species of various classes of miner- 

 als, of which under the genus silica may be enumerated, 1, rock crystal, termed 

 palanca in the Malabar language, and spadika in the Grantham dialect ; 2, quartz ; 

 3, milkand rose do. ; 4, calcedony ; 5, amethyst ; 6, agate ; 7, cornelian ; 8, oriental 

 jasper, or bloodstone, rare at Bombay, but abundant in Gujerat and Cambay. 



Of the alkaline class are ; 1, calcareous spar; 2, mesolite, whose composition 

 (by Thomas) is expressed by the formula 3 Al. S + (£ C + § -N) S 3 -f 3| aq. 



3. Heulandite, in Caranja and Elephanta, in large white crystals. 



Of the cornelians a beautiful variety is brought to Bombay, containing elegant 

 arborizations resembling the ramifications of inclosed mosses, a phenomenon 

 which in many instauces appears to be justly attributable to such a cause. The 

 remark of Pliny, " Infestantur plurirois vitiis — aliis capillamentum rimas simile*," 

 with regard to rock crystal, refers to the presence of titanite. The same natura- 

 list observes of rock crystal, " Oriens et bene multis, sed Indicse nulla prsefer- 

 turf," which is ignorantly denied by Garcias ab orto, who was for several years 

 viceroy of India. He says, " nullo autem ex prsedictis loco crystallus invenitur 

 quemadmodum nee per universam IndiamJ." 



The bloodstone, or oriental jasper, appears to be imported from Gujerat. It is 

 characterized by presenting a greenish appearance, with numerous blood-red 

 streaks or veins, traversing it in various directions. It is to the latter species, or 

 to the mock pearls so frequently employed as ornaments by the inferior castes, 

 that we are to refer the expression of the historian of Alexander " lapilli ex 

 auribus pendent§." But with regard to the " gemmas margaritasque mare 

 litoribus infundit," it is not easy to give a satisfactory explanation, although the 

 Jitter obviously relate to the pearls of the Indian Seas. 



* Hist. Nat. Lib, xxxvii. c. '2. f xxxvii. 2. % Hist. Arom. i. qVJI, 171. 



§ Quint. Curt. i. 8. c. 9. 



