396 Geology of Bundelcund and Jubbulpore. [No. 125. 



viewing the prospect. New animals too, inhabitants of these, present 

 themselves. The peacock arrayed in all Iris' gorgeous hues, and shin- 

 ing in his native plumage, is not unfrequently seen perched on a block of 

 granite, while herds of antelopes bound along the plain below, and the 

 shrill cry of the Indian partridge heard on every hand, first cheers the 

 traveller with the opening day. 



At Pungrawah,* the second stage from Banda, we findthe rocks on 

 every respect similar to those described. In the march from Pungra- 

 wah to Kurtal, the next village on the route, a range of hills is seen in 

 front, and on the left hand, much higher than any previously met with, 

 and which, in place of the peakeds ummit, are crowned with a flat 

 table-land. On one of the most conspicuous of those to the left stands 

 the celebrated fort of Callinger. On reaching Kurtal, we still find peaked 

 hills composed of granite, having the same characters as that at Ban- 

 dah, Gerawah, and Pungrawah : and besides this, masses of a bluish 

 coloured trap and large boulders scaling off in concentric layers. This 

 trap rock appears to have been at one time extensive ; and I could 

 trace a superficial stratum over the granite for some way up the hill. 

 What remains of it rests on that rock, without any distinct arrange- 

 ment. The whole seems much affected by the operation of the elements, 

 and it is probable, that from this cause a large formation has been 

 removed and reduced to soil. Many of the granite blocks here are 

 also fast going into decay, and the soil of the district adjoining is 

 entirely formed from them. Its colour is sandy red, that of the felspar, 

 and in this red sand, as a basis, are contained a great many small quartz 

 crystals, which still remain entire, and unaltered in their structure. 

 Chalcedonic pebbles are also found at the bottom of the hills at Kurtal, 

 which appear to have been imbedded in a rock that had likewise rested 

 at a former period over the granite. They possess the same characters 

 as the pebbles found in the river Kane, that are so much admired on 

 account of their beautiful variegated appearance and lustre when cut. 



After leaving Kurtal, the road strikes into a wood of low trees, 

 flanked on both sides by hills with flat summits ; and for the first time 

 we observe pieces of sandstone strewing the path, mixed with broken 

 blocks of granite, and the more complete detritus forming the soil. 

 On one hill, which is nearer than the others, we can distinctly see a 

 horizontal position of the superior strata ; and under the table face, a 

 * Sp. No. A to 8. 



