1844.] from Masulipatam to Goa. 991 



stalactiform on a minute scale. The hardest varieties of the rock are 

 the darkest coloured, and most ferruginous. The surface masses of 

 the softer kinds present a variegated appearance. The clay and litho- 

 marge exhibit lively coloured patches of yellow, lilac, and white, inter- 

 sected by a network of red, purple, or brown. The softness of this 

 rock is such that it may be cut with a spade ; hardening by exposure 

 to the sun and air, like the laterite of Malabar. The surface of the 

 harder or more ferruginous varieties is usually barren, flat like a pave- 

 ment and often presents a glazed or semi-vitrified appearance. The de- 

 bris of this rock washed from its surface by the rains is often seen ac- 

 cumulating in low situations, and reconsolidating into a nodular con- 

 glomerate ; when the fragments of the laterite have been much rolled they 

 assimilate externally to pisiform iron ore, but have neither its specific 

 gravity, internal concentric structure, nor distinguishing lustre. The 

 felspathic cement agglutinating these nodules is often of a deep 

 brown colour, passing into various lighter shades according to the 

 quantity of iron it contains, and is evidently composed of the more 

 powdery parts of the parent rock : this alluvial laterite is seen in all 

 lateritic areas in the S. of India and is as easily to be distinguished by 

 its nodular and pisiform character, its position, and the thinness of its 

 beds from the true laterite, as the reconsolidated debris of quartz, mica, 

 and felspar is from the true granite rocks, at the bases of which it is often 

 seen, in India, to accumulate in beds of some thickness and tenacity^ 

 In tracts where kunkur and limestone prevail, as near Bejapore and 

 Bangwari, the lime often enters into the cement of this lateritic alluvial 

 conglomerate. 



Sections of the laterite presented by the cliffs and wells of Beder. 



In the sections afforded by the faces of the cliffs and deep wells of 

 Beder the laterite sometimes presents a homogeneous cellular structure 

 from summit to base. Generally speaking however, it becomes softer 

 and more sectile as it descends ; and the cavities in the lower portions 

 are better filled than those higher up. This may be attributed in 

 some measure to the action of the rain, which falling on the surface 

 percolates through the cavities of the upper portions of the rock car- 

 rying downwards much of the ochreous and lithomargic earths they 

 contain until at length the cavities of the lower parts of the rock be- 



