512 Notes, chiefly Geological, QNo. 163. 



rock is 1 200 feet ; and that of the summit of the latter above the plain, 

 about 900 feet. From the old flagstaff at the top is a fine view extend- 

 ing over a sea of hills to the East and Northward ; and over the great 

 regur plains of the Ceded Districts to the West. To the South the 

 Gooty range is prolonged to the Cuddapah and Mysore frontiers. 



A dark narrow cavern infested by bats is shown in the granite near 

 the top of the rock, at the bottom of which is a well which the natives 

 affirm, with little probability, communicates with the Paumri stream in 

 the plain below. Gooty is said to have derived its origin from the Rishi 

 Gotama's residence on the rock. The fort is naturally of great strength, 

 and the favourite abode of the Mahratta chief, Morari Row. 



Goontacul. Between this place and Gooty, from which it is about 

 twenty miles West, granite, hypogene rocks and basaltic greenstone pre- 

 vail ; the latter is seen often in long low black ridges of blocks piled one 

 upon the other like a huge wall of masonry, and penetrating the associated 

 rocks. The blocks and masses seen in the plain North of the village of 

 Guntacul are principally of the usual granite of India, composed of felspar, 

 quartz, mica, and hornblende, and schorl but rarely : the crystals of fel- 

 spar are large and well defined. This large grained granite is pene- 

 trated by veins of a smaller grained granite with reddish felspar, and a 

 few plates only of mica ; veins of compact opaque quartz coloured by acty- 

 nolite, are often numerous. Schorl occurs in the blocks of granite seen 

 scattered near the great tank of Rayelcherroo. 



We now cross into the ancient Hindu kingdom of the Karnatak from 

 that of Andhra. Both Telinghi and Canarese are spoken here and at 

 Gooty ; but a little farther Westward, Canarese prevails. 



Guddacul. Overlooking the bungalow on a craggy hill, stands a small 

 conspicuous pagoda to Chouri Amma. It is the easternmost of a broken 

 range from the W. N. W. At its Northern base is a thick bedded gneiss, 

 with dark coloured mica in scales. The upper part of the hill is occu- 

 pied by masses of red sienitic granite with thin veins of quartz and 

 felspar coloured by actynolite. The crystals of hornblende disintegrate 

 into a rusty coloured powder, which leaves cavities on the surface of the 

 rock in falling out. 



The rock on which the small fort stands is also of sienitic granite, 

 penetrated by a greenstone dyke. At its base is an excavation, about 

 eight feet deep, into a greenstone bed or dyke. 



