1839.] Lieut. Kittoe's Journey through the Forests of Orissa. 369 



Having therefore refreshed myself with a copious draught from the 

 crystal stream, I continued the steep ascent until I reached the top 

 of the hill, I had then to descend some way on the steep southern 

 face; when I reached the cave I was sadly disappointed, for it was 

 a mere cleft in the rock, with " asthans" or seats for ascetics cut 

 within the cavity ; I had hoped to find some valuable inscriptions, 

 but there were none, excepting a few short sentences, and the names of 

 ascetics in various characters, from the old Kutita of the 13th century 

 to modern Ooreya and Devanagri, which I did not think worth 

 transcribing ; I deemed it better to take rest in the cool cave, and 

 recover if possible from the effects of my long walk under a burning 

 sun, at the hottest season of the year, so that after admiring the beautiful 

 and extensive view which the spot commanded of the sea and the 

 intervening woody plains, I laid myself down to sleep for a couple of 

 hours, which completely restored me ; I then returned to my palkee, 

 and resumed my trip towards Badeswur, passing near the hot springs 

 of Atteiree. 



As I left early in the evening I had time enough to see much of the 

 country, which undulates considerably, and is thickly studded with 

 trees and underwood. There is a gradual fall towards the Mahanuddi ; 

 from Pooree to the vicinity of the Koorda hills the country is exceed- 

 ingly low and flat, but it then has a gentle rise, caused by that curious 

 ironstone formation occurring every where at the foot of the hills of 

 Orissa. 



The hill of Koorda is a rock which has been pronounced to be 

 sandstone, but I am by no means satisfied of this being correct; it 

 contains large proportions of lithomarge and quartz, it does not occur 

 stratified, but chiefly in irregular and disturbed masses, the inter- 

 stices are occupied with a coarse red loam resembling brick dust; 

 the stone is variegated and speckled, and in some parts of its texture 

 resembles pumice stone, or brick kiln slag ; it is with this that most 

 of the temples of Orissa are built, for from its softness it is easily 

 worked, besides which it possesses a quality rendering it very desir- 

 able in the estimation of the natives — its predominant color being red. 



From the high ground (before reaching Atteiree) the numerous 

 conical and isolated hills rising abruptly from the vast level plains 

 present a very singular and striking appearance. That of Bankee, called 

 Mahapurbut, is the most conspicuous; they would all appear to 

 be of volcanic origin. I reached Badeswur at about 2 a. m., and con- 

 tinued my journey with my Cuttack bearers twenty-three miles 

 further to Bailpara, where I put up in a mango grove during the heat 

 of the day. 



