1842.] of the Himmalaya Mountains. cxli 



If we suppose the lower strata continuous across this tract, and allow 

 for the inclination, we shall have eight miles for the extreme thickness 

 of this formation, and about six for its mean value. 



298. The direction of this zone of gneiss is generally, I might say- 

 almost always, North 60° West, being thus parallel at once to the direc- 

 tion of the line of greatest elevation, and also to the general bearing or 

 tendency of the mountain land. The inclination lies between 20° and 

 30° in by far the greater number of instances. It is, however, some- 

 times, though very rarely, as high as 50°, and in one solitary instance 

 was observed to be 56°. There are very few reversals of the dip, 

 at least towards the centre or middle of this zone ; but along the 

 southern boundary, which is very irregular in its outline, forming 

 various incursions into the adjoining zone of schists, there do occur 

 several irregularities both in dip and inclination, and the former is 

 sometimes reversed. That it is pretty regular in general, however, is 

 proved by the fact noticed by all travellers, of the uniformity of aspect 

 in the sides of slopes and precipices in these mountains. 



299. The character of this rock is highly crystalline, and it appears 

 to consist almost always of the regular ingredients, and united in the 

 usual regular proportions. It is surprising how few varieties present 

 themselves in so extensive a tract of country, and in general, these 

 varieties differ more in colour and grain than in mineralogical charac- 

 ter. The occurrence of imbedded minerals is rare, and of these only, 

 the most common have been observed, as quartz, garnet, and kyanite. 

 It is almost equally barren in beds, containing only some very small 

 ones of hornblende rock, quartz, limestone, and mica slate. Of the two 

 last, I do not know more than one or two instances of each. In fact, 

 there is a character of sameness throughout this formation, extremely 

 tiresome to the geological traveller, as continually disappointing him in 

 his hopes of meeting with something new and interesting. 



300. Veins of granite are numerous, particularly towards the central 

 or highest parts; but no beds have yet been found, the granite of 

 Wongtoo being supposed to be veinous. Towards the boundary, however, 

 there are some patches, which would appear to have some connection 

 with a series of beds found beyond the limits of the gneiss, and sur- 

 rounded generally by rocks of a more earthy and less crystalline 

 character. These latter beds have been described as occurring at 



