1850,] Note on Patna Boulders. 137 



size, angular and rounded ; — in the mass being of a lightish red color, 

 the bed of sand extends from Mussourie to the Marhar river 4^ mileSj 

 and exceeds 20 feet in depth, being on an average about 6 feet below 

 the surface. 



9. The stones in the gravel are of different kinds and sizes and are 

 similar to what are now met with a short distance from the mouth of 

 the Soane ; they appear to be of similar quality to the large stones and 

 like the shingle on the sea coast. 



10. The sand, a specimen of which is sent, is now being used for 

 covering the surface of the road in the vicinity, to serve as ballast for 

 kankar metalling ; it lies on the surface of the spot whence it is 

 brought ; the same quality of sand is procurable at Teringna : underneath 

 the upper sand at a depth of about 5 feet below the surface and under- 

 neath the gravel, is another bed of sand more than 20 feet deep ; the 

 other specimen of sand was dug from a hole close to the road opposite 

 the Dak Bungalow, and seems to be of similar quality. The direction 

 of the bed of sand appears to be from south-west to north-east, which 

 corresponds with the slope of the country from the bank of the Soane 

 to Monghyr. 



11. At the spot where the stone was found, water is met with about 

 4 feet below the stone or 9 feet from the surface. 



12. Another circumstance in connection with this stone is deserving 

 of remark ; at No. 1, in the accompanying rough sketch, a nail was dug 

 out from amongst a large quantity of these stones, which were firmly 

 imbedded in clay with a great quantity of broken bricks both above 

 and below them, and this was continued for a distance of 20 feet in length 

 and 2 feet below the surface ; at Nos. i, 3, 4, are old wells in a patch 

 of scrub jungle, and I understand that there are several more in nearly 

 the same line. 



13. This would seem to point out the site of some ancient town 

 or building, and the natives have a tradition of the kind, and it seems 

 almost probable, that it may have been destroyed by some sudden 

 irruption or deluge from the Soane or other mountain torrent in the 

 more immediate vicinity, such as the great and little Pompon or Mur- 

 har river. 



14. Should such have been really the case the stability of any raised 

 embankment or railroad from Gya to Patna is much to be doubted, if 



T 



