NATURALIST IN INDIA. 177 



and a little farther on an enormous pillar, evidently the frag- 

 ment of an idol. The two last are also possihly of Hindoo 

 origin, and were overthrown mayhap by earthquakes,* or the 

 Mahomedan invaders. I recommend the traveller to mount 

 the .grass-clad kirawah, hehind Pampur, any clear day, and he 

 will not only have a magnificent view, but by running his 

 eye along the sides of the range northwards, he wUl observe 

 the old water-lines alreadynoticed ; nowhere are the latter more 

 distinct than on the faces of the limestone ridges in this part 

 of the valley. It is whUe calmly viewing the vast amphi- 

 theatre around him that the geologist will realise the magni- 

 tude of the force which upheaved the great Himalayan chain. 

 The basin of the primeval lake may have been originally a 

 fissure, scooped out afterwards by glaciers, which at some 

 far-back period were more extensive than at present, as their 

 moraines testify. These may be seen at almost all the de- 

 bouches of the valleys which enter Cashmere. 



The mountains forming the northern barrier of the valley 

 belong chiefly to the carboniferous series, and contain abund- 

 ance of molluscs and other marine animals, but beds belong- 

 ing to older formations, as well as mesozoic rocks, are met with 

 on the surrounding ranges,t and nummulitic limestone on the 

 slopes of the Peer PinjaL 



On the 15th of April we marched northwards from Pampur, 

 through its saffron-beds, which at that season were covered with 

 the wild white and red tulips, the saffron-plants not having 

 appeared above ground ; then, directing our footsteps towards 



* Cashmere has always been subject to severe earthquakes. It is on that 

 account the houses are built of wood. 



t See interesting papers on this subject by Captain Godwin Austen and 

 Mr. Davidson in the Proe. of the Geological Society of London for February 

 1866. 



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