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



interesting to the antiquary and mythological enquirer, than to the 

 geologist ; and the lover of arts will find abundant subject of admira- 

 tion in the beautiful remains of ancient Hindoo architecture which 

 still exist within the walls of both these forts. 



The country for a short distance from Adjeeghur is open, and the 

 soil which hitherto had partaken of the qualities of the prevailing rock, 

 again resembles that on the other side of Banda. It is of a dark colour 

 and soft, what by agriculturists at home would be termed rotten soil, the 

 " putre soliem" of the Poet. 



" Nigra fere, et presso, pinguis, sub vomere terra" 



" Et cui putre soliem 



" Optima frumentis ; non ullo exsequore cernes," 

 " Plura domum tradis, decedere plaustra juvencis." 



A few miles further on, we came to the village or hamlet of Besseram- 

 gunge, beautifully situated at the foot of a wooded hill over which are 

 the Ghaut passes to the upper district. This Ghaut leads from the 

 low country of Bundelcund to the elevated table-land on a level w T ith the 

 hills last mentioned. The path is cut through, or carried over granite, 

 trap, and sandstone. At first the ascent, though pretty steep, is not diffi- 

 cult, as there are few large stones, and no rock rising from the surface. 

 Soon, however, it becomes steeper and more obstructed ; granite, trap, 

 and sandstone masses presenting themselves in succession, and in many 

 of the last, may be perceived quartz nodules included, like those found 

 in the sandstone of Table Mountain at the Cape. The arrangement of 

 the sandstone is in general horizontal, but at some points it appears to 

 rise from the surface, in the form of ridges almost vertical. The trap 

 rock exhibits no well defined arrangement at the several points where 

 it is found in the Ghaut ; and I could not penetrate into the jungle 

 here to examine the strata more extensively. It may, however, be 

 inferred, that it is in every respect similar to that rock at Callinger, 

 which I afterwards found lying chiefly in rounded masses of various 

 sizes, occupying the middle of the elevation, and composing the greater 

 part of it. These were in general mouldering at the surface, and many of 

 the smaller boulders could be reduced to powder without the assistance 

 of the hammer. The larger masses were more compact, and possessed 

 great hardness. This rock belongs to the transition trap of Werner, to 



