1839.] of the country extending between Bhar and Simla. 1039 



the older formations present such a similarity to each other, as to 

 render it impossible to point out any specific distinction. Thus 

 Humboldt has made this remark, in regard to the rocks occurring 

 in the Andes,* discovering no difference between them and the 

 European of the same comparative ages. The same remark has been 

 madet and pointed out to us by Professor Jameson, which is amply 

 verified by the extensive geological collection brought together from 

 all quarters of the world, consisting of upwards of thirty thousand 

 specimens deposited in the Edinburgh Royal Museum; nor have 

 we met with any rocks among the Himmalehs, differing from those 

 we have seen in Europe. 



That the newer formations exhibit in different countries, different 

 characters, we were entitled, a priori, to infer. Thus the American 

 tertiary deposits, as has been proved by the researches of Rogers, &c, 

 are quite different from the European ; but it has been shewn from 

 the first time these deposits were described, that they, in their dis- 

 tribution, were circumscribed, hence the name given to them by their 

 discoverer Werner, of local deposits. J 



In extent, the Himmalehs are calculated to be upwards of 2,000 

 miles, running in a north-east and south-west direction. In such 

 a vast extent of mountainous country, we have the individual 

 mountains assuming all variety of forms, varying according to the 

 nature of the rocks ; thus we have peak-shaped, conical, dome, round - 

 backed, saddle, table, ' &c. To pay attention to the form of moun- 

 tains in connexion with the rocks which compose them, is of the 

 greatest consequence, it being a well known fact that the shape varies 

 with the rock, and an experienced geologist can, with a good telescope, 

 distinguish, and that too with great accuracy, what a distant country 

 may be composed of. 



From the different countries through which this mighty chain runs, 

 it has received various names. Thus its continuation to the west 

 has been called Hindoo Cosh, which by Humboldt is considered as the 

 continuation of the Kuen line ; of the Macedonians, it was the Emodus ; 

 and the Imaus of Pliny ; it probably also, in those days, was called 

 Himmalehs, as the Greek title was borrowed from the Sanscrit.§ In 

 its prolongation to the eastward, according to Colonel Kirkpatrick, 



* Humboldt oil the superposition of rocks. 



f Appendices to Capt. Ross and Parry's Voyage?, and Cabinet Library, vols.. 

 Polar Regions, Africa, &c. 

 X Cuvier's Theory of the Earth. By Professor Jameson, Notes to 5tb edition. 

 § Journ. Geograph. Soc. vol. IV. p. 63. 



