1136 Geological and Mineral ogical Observations. [Nov. 



adjacent mountain. The iron ore is of the black kind, and I should 

 suppose, from its specific gravity, tolerably rich in metal. The great 

 abundance of wood and of limestone offers facilities for the establishment 

 of a foundery, — a thing greatly needed in upper India, and the acces- 

 sibility of the spot to wheeled carriage and the neighbourhood of the 

 river Jelum at the town of that name, ensures the manufacturers the 

 benefit of water carriage to Feeroozpoor, Loodiana, Bukhur and Bombay. 

 This iron ore occurs in the main summit of the formation, Moachpoora, 

 where Mr. Vans Aguew, in his late adventurous journey amongst the 

 Dhoonds, saw it worked after the rude fashion of the hill tribes. 



The ridges of mountain to which I particularly allude as having 

 been visited by myself, are called Serra. They are from 800 to about 

 2000 feet higher than the valley of Rawulpindi. The blue limestone 

 is veined with vivid streaks of white, and is found in enormous masses 

 as cliffs or disjected rocks. It will take a good polish, and if worked, 

 might supply the whole of our upper provinces, as well as the Punjaub, 

 with marble chimney pieces, pavements, and material for monumental 

 sculpture. Water is very abundant, gushing in copious streams from 

 near the summit, and of volume sufficient to turn the wheel of a saw- 

 mill. The climate is singularly happy during the greater part of the 

 year. The long mountain ridge intercepts the violent hot winds from 

 the west, which on scaling its summit are tempered by the cooler strata 

 above, and roll tumultuously down the eastern declivity, with the roar 

 of a cascade ; even then their force at that point is not very consider- 

 able. During the latter months of the rainy season parts of the hill 

 skirt are considered unfavorable to health. Others, as Noorpoor Shahi, 

 (a beautiful nook in the mountain) have a good reputation. The 

 mountain itself, which is thickly wooded with box, barberry, wild 

 pomegranate, and at the summit with fir, is habitable at a short dis- 

 tance from that point, and would afford a very cool residence. But the 

 mountain is by no means worthy of recommendation as a general resort, 

 the ridge being too sharp to afford building room and the spurs being 

 short and abrupt. It has at present a bad name, as the resort of 

 robbers. 



From these mountains there ooze out three remarkable springs, one 

 bearing upon its waters a scum of Asphaltum — another being impreg- 

 nated with carburetted sulphate of iron, and the third having a muci- 

 laginous consistence, being of the color of orange pulp, and if scented, 



