1846.] Geological features of Zillah Behnr. 57 



village a meagre bed of this mineral has been quarried for a few years 

 by natives, who manufacture cups, knife-handles, &c, from the best speci- 

 mens. Captain Richard Ouseley, Principal Assistant to the Governor 

 General's Agent S.W. Frontier, had a shaft sunk, or rather a huge pit 

 opened, in the hopes of reaching a good bed, but without success ; at 

 the depth of thirty feet only a coarse friable granite was found ; nor did 

 I perceive in the sides of the pit any traces by which hopes could be 

 upheld of ever finding any at that spot. Perseverance may perchance 

 yet discouver a valuable bed of this handsome mineral. Several slabs, 

 three feet in length, were obtained by the Honourable E. Drummond, 

 Magistrate of Gya, but being from the surface and much decayed, were 

 good for nothing, although very handsome both in colour and texture. 



To the north of this great plateau, numerous little granite hillocks are 

 dotted over the plain, extending for twenty-five miles north, amongst 

 which is the large Chirchanwan hill, five miles in length, but to the 

 N.E. they extend for forty miles as far as the Burabur hills, a range of 

 black sterile granite rocks, in which are some very curious groups, 

 peculiar to the granitic formation ; particularly that of Kawa Dhole, a 

 conical peak, rising to 365 feet in height, on the summit of which 

 rests a conical block of granite of immense proportions. It is upwards of 

 forty feet in height, standing on its base, without flaw or crack, a land- 

 mark for miles around. 



On the summit of this group, iron ore of a rich quality is scat- 

 tered about in profusion. This is the most northern point to which 

 granite can be traced in Zillah Behar. 



Returning to the west, a group of very curiously formed peaks are 

 clustered together, six miles south of Kootoombeh. One in particular 

 from its appearance is styled the Kothila (vide Map and Vignette) or 

 granary. In these hills is found, in small quantities, the sulphate of 

 alumina adhering to some of the rocks ; it is styled silajeet by the natives. 



The granite range after crossing the Koel Nuddee suddenly ceases in 

 numerous small hillocks, and is here joined by the sandstone, an offset 

 from the Kymoor sand and limestone range. Eighteen miles further 

 up the Sone river, the granite again appears in one or two hillocks 

 piercing the sandstone. After crossing the Koel river from the east the 

 country undergoes a complete change. The Tar tree (palm) becomes 

 scarce and eventually ceases altogether, the surface of the country be- 



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