1843.] of the Punjaub and part of Afghanistan. 211 



with in the same formation elsewhere, but the greater number of them 

 are distinct. 



Talking of the relative ages of the salt formation, McCulloch has fallen 

 into a most extraordinary error. Thus, he says, " This stratum (salifer- 

 ous formation) abounds all over Asia ; and he who desires to trace 

 its extent, may apparently do it with safety, by examining the sandy 

 deserts on a map ; since wherever they have been described by travel- 

 lers, it is invariably found that salt occurs in them. There seems no 

 reason to doubt that all sandy deserts of the world belong to this 

 stratum, and hence the salt pools and the brackish water that makes so 

 conspicuous a figure in the narratives of travellers ; I may name out of 

 the many, the salt range of hills crossing the Indus at Kalabagh, and 

 extending to Jelalpore ; the desert of salt between Tehran and Ispahan ; 

 that which extends from the Helmund river in Seistan to the range 

 which divides that province from lower Mekran, of four hundred miles in 

 length ; and another of equal dimensions, which reaches from Koom and 

 Kashan, to the provinces of Mazanderan and Khorassan. But the most 

 singular tract of it is found occupying the shores of the Persian Gulph in 

 the neighbourhood of Ormuz, not less remarkable for its immense thick- 

 ness, than for its configuration and colour. It is presumed to be this depo- 

 sit, from the gypsum and salt which it contains, and from its connexion 

 with the sandy and salt deserts."* He then goes on to trace its dis- 

 tribution in America and Africa, and says, that here also we shall pro- 

 bably form a correct conclusion in considering the sandy deserts of 

 these quarters of the world as appertaining to the same system. \ That 

 some deserts may derive their salt from saliferous systems is not at all 

 improbable, but nothing is more erroneous or more incorrect to suppose, 

 that this is generally the case .% Thus in the great Thurr or Indian 



* Syst. of Geol. vol. ii. p. 229. 



t Syst of Geol. vol. ii. p. 230. 



X M. Engelhard states, that there has lately been discovered in the salt mines 

 of Hullin implements, and in such a position in regard to the beds of rock salt at 

 present worked, as to lead to the conclusion, that deposits of salt have taken place 

 since the commencement of the working of these mines, formed by the action of 

 water on the previously existing beds of rock salt; and Professor Jameson remarks, that 

 this fact is interesting in many respects, and affords a warning to geologists to be careful 

 to distinguish between original and ancient deposits, and those of a very recent date 

 formed by the action of water, and in an ancient formation. Edinb. New Phil. 

 Journal, vol. xxviii. p. 420. 



