1849.] Kohistan of the Jullundhur. 365 



The numerous lime springs, as well as masses of rock salt which 

 are contained in the red marl seems to offer additional proofs of the 

 marine origin of these deposits, since Dr. Daubeny has shewn that in 

 many of these saline sources there is an admixture of iodine, a princi- 

 ple which is confined to the sea, and its productions. This argument is 

 not however to be considered decisive, but only as forming a portion of 

 cumulative evidence, which taken in conjunction with that of the remains 

 occurring in the deposits of this age on the continent, fortifies the con- 

 clusion that the salifereous marls are of marine origin, for it might be 

 said that iodine and chloride of sodium have been derived in the first 

 instance from the interior of the earth, and that the ocean may have owed 

 its saltness to beds of rock salt, as well as that rock salt owed its origin 

 to the evaporation of sea water."* 



9. The next march to Ranee-ke-taloa, is about 14 miles in length, 

 and the country is very pretty. The road passes through several vil- 

 lages, where many a rustic lane, shaded by trees, and enclosed by hedge 

 rows, fragrant with the wild rose, the honeysuckle and violets, greets 

 the English traveller and makes him sigh for the land in which every 

 village has its own " love lane !" The road proceeds north-westward 

 along the base of the Joala range until the latter has so much de- 

 creased in height as hardly to be distinguishable from the lower hills, 

 when it turns suddenly to the north-east and passing over a low gap 

 enters a small dell in which the tents are generally pitched. The vil- 

 lage stands on the flattened crest of a short spur from the Joala range, 

 and is about 300 feet above the encamping ground, which is situated in 

 a quiet sequestered nook. 



10. Passing through the village of Ranee-ke-talao the road des- 

 cends to the bed of the stream which flows under the walls of Kangra 

 and re-ascends on to some table-land. Four miles more of tolerably 

 level road brings you to the thriving village of Dowlutpoor, thence, 

 however, the road rises considerably and afterwards descends as rapidly 

 to the level of the stream, crossed shortly after leaving the last encamp- 

 ment. The bed of this stream is some 200 feet below the town of 

 Kangra. A steep flight of steps leads to the fort gateway on the one 

 hand and into the town on the other. The length of this march is 

 about 10 miles. A road direct from Chumba ghat to Ranee-ke-talao, 

 is a desideratum, as it would shorten the distance by five miles. 



* Vide Muzchison's Silurian system. 



