1842.] Geology of Bundelcund and Jubbulpore. 405 



quent occurrence in what are termed the Vindhya chain of mountains, 

 from the centre of Behar to Malwa. The hill of Chunar consists en- 

 tirely of the former, and in the range to the south of that station, the 

 gravel is met with, as I have been informed, in great abundance. 



The same association is observed in Bundelcund, and all the way to 

 the Nerbudda ; so that it may be inferred from this connection subsist- 

 ing between them, as well as their coincidence in chemical properties, 

 that the one is formed from the other. In what manner the chalybeate 

 impregnation has taken place is not very evident, nor the source from 

 whence the metal has been derived ; but there can be little doubt the gra- 

 vel is a secondary formation of the sandstone rock, and one too in all pro- 

 bability going on in many situations at the present day. It is interest- 

 ing, as being the matrix of the diamond, both in the old and new world, 

 and much speculation is necessarily connected with it on that account. 

 It would, however, be foreign to the object of this communication to 

 inquire into any opinions not obviously suggested by the facts detailed, 

 and nothing occurred to me at the time I examined the gravel forma- 

 tion at Punnah and elsewhere, that promised to elucidate the origin of 

 this highly prized jewel. 



In proceeding southward from Punnah, we very soon approach ano- 

 ther series of small hills, or cliffs, that rise out of the table-land to the 

 height of one hundred feet or upwards. These elevations are also flat at 

 the top, and composed entirely of sandstone, in every respect similar to 

 the strata at Adjeeghurh and on the Ghaut, of which indeed they are 

 but a part. For eight or ten miles the road here ascends occasionally, 

 and we seem to cross over a low ridge connecting the hills to the 

 right and left. The soil in the whole of this course is formed from the 

 debris of the sandstone rock. It is of a light red colour and very dry, 

 imparting rather a pleasing character to the aspect of the country, as 

 well from its own sensible qualities as the vegetable productions it affords. 



It appears admirably fitted for the culture of the vine ; and should 

 this ever be attempted on a great scale in India, perhaps no better situ- 

 ation could be selected for the purpose, than at the bottom of these 

 sandstone hills in Bundlecund. Near the village of Cuckurettee,* a 

 slight descent occurs ; and we again enter upon an extensive plain, 

 whose soil resembles, in some degree, that of the country below the 



* Sp. 13 to 15. 



