1842.] of the Himmalay a Mountains. ciii 



of a siliceous or magnesian character occurs ; it contains crystals of 

 dolomite, fbrachytypous lime haloide,) and traces of green carbonate 

 of copper (hemi-prismatic habroneme malachite,) also of copper pyrites 

 (pyramidal copper pyrites.) A mine was formerly attempted to be 

 worked here, but either from want of skill or perseverance, was aban- 

 doned without any profitable result. 



228. A rock occurs here, but in no large masses, which may with 

 perfect propriety be termed a gneiss. It is of a curved or undulated 

 schistose structure, and the composition is heterogeneous or mixed. 

 The ingredients are so disguised, that it is difficult to speak with perfect 

 precision, but it appears to me to contain quartz, felspar, mica and 

 indurated clay. The second ingredient is the most doubtful, and 

 exists in least quantity. Close by this rock is found one of a brownish 

 yellow colour, structure amorphous, composition simple or uniform, 

 and earthy like chalk, tender and friable, traversed by veins of a darker 

 colour, but the same in every other respect. This rock also occupies 

 but a limited space, and is succeeded by a micaceous schist of a 

 blackish blue colour, apparently much charged with argillaceous mat- 

 ter. I should note, that the summits of the surrounding ridges are 

 limestone, recognised with great certainty by their peculiar outline, 

 and mural precipices stained with yellow and black. 



229. The preceding particulars apply to the immediate neighbour- 

 hood of Mehul Chowra, the halting place below the Pass of Prendooa 

 Khal. In the ascent to the latter, quartz rock and siliceous limestone 

 are found ; still higher up, a purple argillaceous schist, containing mica, 

 which graduates into a yellowish white micaceous schist; fragments 

 were found of iron stone and of indurated talc. On the Pass, limestone 

 often highly siliceous or argillaceous prevails, and it is accompanied, 

 as it always is, by its local conglomerates, and its tufaceous deposits 

 or incrustations. On descending from the Pass, a great deal of the 

 same rock is observed, but down in the river valley, it is seen to rest 

 on argillaceous schist, the limestone still continuing to run along the 

 summits, and occasionally descending lower down. It is in the junction 

 of these two rocks that the beds or veins of iron ore occur, which 

 are annually worked, during the healthy season, by emigrants from 

 other parts of the country, who all quit the valley in May, when it 

 is said to become unhealthy. 



