1840.] The Hodesum (improperly called KolehanJ . 701 



profound cave, from which spot it pursues its course underground, and 

 is supposed to join the Kole Karo. The fall is called Paraa-ghag, 

 and is a tirutli, but so remote from habitation, and buried in such 

 deep woods, as to be seldom visited, except by the Sonepoor Koles, and 

 Bhooians of Porahaut and Bundgaon. On the confines of Baumun- 

 ghattee also, is a singular cascade, described to me as a single thread 

 of water pouring down a walllike precipice of 2 or 300 feet in height. 

 It is called by the Baumunghattee Oorias, Muchkandnee Jhurna ; 

 and by the Koles, Hakoo-y^mdah, meaning in either language, 

 " The fall of the weeping fish," from some whimsical story of the 

 fish complaining of the impossibility of scaling the cataract, to emerge 

 from the dreary abyss, through which the stream winds below. The 

 peculiar distribution of the hills in this country, running in parallel 

 ranges, precludes the formation of lakes, which are unknown. 



These ranges are not of very great height, the loftiest, which are 

 in Saruda, not appearing above 1000 feet above the plain. They 

 are however intersected in parts by profound vallies, which give 

 the hills, from that side, an appearance of great magnitude. They are 

 chiefly quartz, in all stages of decomposition, permeated by limestone 

 rocks ; smaller detached ranges issuing at right angles to these, are 

 commonly of micacious slate. From Chyebassa, proceeding easterly into 

 Koochoong, are low ridges perfectly parallel, about half a mile to a mile 

 apart, gradually increasing in height till the series is closed by the 

 Choivria hills in Koochoong. They are composed of loose rocks, 

 resembling (if they are not) clink stone ; but the larger ridges are of 

 coarse granite. The northern part of the Kolehan consists in a great 

 measure of sterile plains, scattered with quartz boulders, stones, and 

 pebbles, some crystalized. The beds of the nullahs are a shingle com- 

 posed of jasper (of all hues) green stone, quartz pebbles, and flint. The 

 bed of the Byturnee is lined with flattened pebbles and lumps of 

 jasper, of bright yellow, red, purple, and black, disposed in parallel 

 streaks, or ribbands, as if artificially inlaid. The corundum is found 

 in great quantities at Juggernathpoor on the upper step of the Kolehan, 

 and several nullahs run through beds of argillaceous earth, from the 

 brightest scarlet to pure white, which are highly in request among 

 the natives. The whole of these streams wash down more or less 

 ! gold, but the Koles know not how to collect it. In Singbhoom a 



4u' 



