282 Geological Notes on Zillah Shahabad, or Arrah. [March, 



Specimens of this stone were sent by me to Calcutta in December 

 1844, hoping they would prove useful as Lithographic stones, but they 

 were declared to be too siliceous and too thin for any practical pur- 

 poses ; but I feel convinced, that any one who could command time 

 and had the inclination, would be rewarded by finding some good and 

 serviceable beds of this most useful article. 



In the valley named Soogeea-k'hoh, in a jungly and wild spot, are 

 situated the Gupta limestone caves, which penetrate to a great distance 

 into the mountain ; the hill Khyrwars insisted that the low passages 

 which are met with after penetrating the hill for about 300 yards and 

 through which it is almost impossible for a human being to penetrate, 

 communicate with the other side of the spur of the hill, which is about 

 half a mile broad, (vide map) and upon going round to the eastern side 

 I saw the opening, but masses of rock fallen from the roof having 

 blocked up the entrance, T was content with viewing it from the dis- 

 tance of a few hundred yards across a deep ravine. The cave is about 

 ten or twelve feet in height, eighteen or twenty feet in width, and has a 

 few stalagmites and stalactites, worshipped by the Hindus at particular 

 periods of the year. I penetrated these caves for about 500 feet. The 

 strata of limestone in the caves are very narrow and flinty, much waved 

 and contorted, and in some parts of the roof appear to have been forcibly 

 torn asunder, or as if the sides of the cave had sunken into the earth, 

 the roof splitting in the middle to allow of such an arrangement. 



The general appearance of this limestone is of a dark blue slate color, 

 fracture conchoidal, strikes fire, difficult to break ; when burnt forms 

 the best lime, is quite free from any animal exuviae, and impalpable in 

 texture. In a few cases it is nearly black, also of a pale yellow or buff ; 

 the latter appears to be in a state of decay and is not burnt for lime. 



Chalk. — 'Associated with the limestone, chalk is found in a great 

 many spots ; wherever known to exist it is extensively quarried and 

 exported. By the natives it is known as Khari Muttee, but is very 

 different from the English chalk. It is found in thin strata of a few 

 inches thick, is unctuous to the touch ; has a shiny appearance, but soils 

 the fingers ; a small detached hill at the foot of Rhotus is composed 

 almost entirely of this mineral. 



Hornstone. — This mineral is found in several spots underlying the 

 sandstone ; it is met with at a waterfall named Tootala Koond, on the 



