1846. J from Devamunni and Nundi Cunnama passes. 391 



length, and from one to four or five yards in breadth : their present 

 depth (much choked up by rubbish) is from five or six feet to sixteen 

 feet. The only stratum cut through is a thin layer of reddish alluvial 

 soil, into a bed of gravel of unknown thickness in some parts. The 

 pebbles composing these gravels have evidently been derived from the 

 limestone and sandstone hills of the Ghauts, at the western base of 

 which they immediately lie, and consist principally of cherts of various 

 colours, quartz, compact sandstone, and a few of basanite. Layers 

 of sand are occasionally interstratified. 



Some of the pebbles are as large as a cocoanut, but the generality not 

 larger than an orange or walnut ; most of them rounded, and lying on 

 their flat sides, having the major axis in an east and westerly direction. 

 I cannot find that the rains of present monsoons add to some of these 

 gravel beds, many of which are situated far from the reach of present 

 torrents, and through which the streams often cut deep channels ; but 

 am rather inclined to believe, that some of them must have originated 

 during the elevation of these mountains from the bed of the ocean. 



Nundi Cunnama pass. — This pass lies in the direct line of commercial 

 communication from the coast and ports of Nellore, Masulipatam and 

 Ramapatam, with Kurnool, the ceded districts, and Southern Mahratta 

 country. It is steep, and can only be traversed like the Hegulla pass, 

 by bullocks lightly laden, but is susceptible of great improvement. Yet 

 with the exception of those of Sidhout, Jungumrazpilly and Yeddedgoo, 

 the Nundi Cunnama is the most practicable, and certainly in the most 

 direct line. Loaded bandies are compelled to take the circuitous route 

 of Cuddapah and the Yeddedgoo pass. 



The improvement of the Nundi Cunnama into a road practicable for 

 bandies, would much improve the trade of the districts to the west of it. 

 In 1836, from imformation obtained on the spot, about 1,000 bullocks 

 pass over from the eastern coast laden with its salt and cloths, and 

 returning with iron for ploughs, the produce of hill furnaces, and cocoa- 

 nuts, betelnuts, and teak and other timber. Remnants of wells in 

 the forest, and a small ancient temple to the Bull Nundi, (hence its 

 name) attest the antiquity of this channel of commerce. The formation 

 is similar to that described around the lead mines : but the higher ridges 

 are capped with sandstone. That singular aboriginal race, the Chen- 



