1844.] from Masulipatam to Goa. 1001 



dony termed heliotrope are derived from thin beds of fine bright red 

 bole which are often seen alternating with the trap, and in nests, in this 

 vicinity. 



The surface of the country to Sindaghi presents the long, low, flat, 

 step-like elevations of trap, separated by plains along which the route 

 lies, and running in a S.E. direction. The soil is usually the detritus 

 of the trap and laterite in belts and patches of a grey colour, and dark 

 red, sometimes sandy ; the vegetation stunted consisting chiefly of the 

 Acacias the Cassia Auriculata and Hingun thorn. On a fallen blight- 

 ed acacia amid the low jungle I observed a chameleon perched motion- 

 less, with his head erect and jaws wide open, as if indeed making a meal 

 of the afternoon breeze. His skin, which mimics the prevailing hues 

 of surrounding objects ; blue when basking beneath a cloudless sky, 

 and emerald when shaded by the forest's verdure, had here so strongly 

 assimilated that of the black and ashy white stem on which he lay, that 

 at first I thought it was a singular excrescence of the wood itself. 



A little to the N. W. of Sindaghi the summit of a ridge is observed 

 covered with globular masses of a compact basaltic trap, underlain by 

 a bed of the fine red clay imbedding a profusion of Zeolites, also 

 heliotrope, plasma, geodes of calcedony lined with quartz, crystals, 

 semiopal, cacholong agate, and calc spar, resting on a greenish grey 

 wacke. Both rocks are veined and interstratified with Kunker of a 

 somewhat cancellar structure. The horizontal layers of Kunker are 

 often from 10 to 12 inches thick. The softer wacke and amygdaloid, 

 in weathering often leaves the harder layers of Kunker projecting from 

 the surface. {Plate Diagram No. V.) 



A Globular basaltic trap. B Red amygdaloid. C kunker layer. B red 

 amygdaloid. C Kunker layer, D Wacke. 



From Sindaghi by Ipperghi to Ingleswara, the aspect of the country 

 is much the same as from the Bhima to Sindaghi, but the plains become 

 flatter, more extensive, and more intersected by nullahs. At Ipperghi 

 the trap assumes the rich brownish purple or chocolate hue of the 

 trap of Bejapore, and is seen in the bed of the rivulet resting on a 

 beautiful red zeolitic amygdaloid : the line of contact is marked and 

 distinct : heliotrope and plasma are less common here. 



Indications of the laterite are perceived before reaching Ingleswara 

 in beds of its detritus re-cemented by a brown ferruginous and calca- 

 reous paste, also fragments of chert and a variety of limestone por- 



