Notes, chiefly Geological, %c. 225 



In the roadstead I observed native craft only. The boats used for 

 communication with the shore, though composed of planks sewn 

 together with coir, like the Massoolah boats at Madras, differ from them 

 in being lighter, lower, and flat-bottomed, and are extremely pointed at 

 the stem and stern. As the surf here is much less powerful than on 

 the Coromandel Coast, a boat of a heavier description is not required. 



The laterite continues, by Mahe and Tellicherry, to Cannanore, a 

 little north of which it overlies some carbonaceous looking clay, and 

 slate clay. Lateritic iron ore is found at Augadipur, Satimangalum, 

 and many other places throughout Malabar ; iron sand (magnetic) in 

 most of the ghaut streams. Gold dust is also found in similar localities, 

 especially in Wynaad and Ernaad, and other places elsewhere specified. 



Payengady. — Payengady is about sixteen miles NNW. from Canna- 

 nore, and stands on the sea coast near a back water. A coup d'oeil from 

 the rising ground near the village presents a low flat, stretching between 

 an inland ridge and the sea ; and which has all the appearance of 

 having been covered by the sea up to the base of the laterite cliffs. 

 This flat is for the most part covered by marine sand, and thinly 

 scattered with houses shaded by cocoanuts. A few marine shells 

 were found at the base of the cliffs about a mile inland. Whether 

 drifted by the wind or conveyed here by the sea under former condi- 

 tions is uncertain. 



The hills in the back ground stretch out like promontories, termina- 

 ting abruptly at the inland edge of the flat. 



The laterite overlies granitic and hypogene rocks. Between Covai 

 and Cautcutcherry the Nelisir back water is crossed from Malabar to 

 Circar Canara, or from Malayala to Tuluva, where Canarese is spoken 

 and Malayalum ceases. 



Cassergode. — The laterite continues the surface rock by Hossdroog, 

 Bekul, and Chundergherry, to Cassergode. It rests as usual on gra- 

 nitic and hypogene rocks ; which, near Bekul, are veined with quartz, 

 and imbed garnets and amethystine quartz, fragments of which are 

 numerous in the sand on the shore. There is also a black magnetic 

 iron sand derived probably from the dark and beautifully crystalline 

 hornblende schists. The strike of strata is westerly : the dip is confused, 

 often vertical. The fort stands on laterite, capping basaltic greenstone. 



