1848.] Observations made on a Botanical Excursion. 387 



Air. 4 feet 6 inches under good shade of trees. 



9 p. m. 64°5 77° 



11 p. m 76° 



5|a. m. 58°5 .... 76° 



This is a very great rise (of 4°) above any of those previously 

 obtained, and certainly indicates a much higher mean temperature 

 of the locality. I can only suppose it due to the radiation of heat 

 from the long range of sandstone cliff, exposed to the south, which 

 overlooks the flat whereon we were encamped, and which though 4 or 5 

 miles off, forms a very important feature. The differences of temper, 

 ature in the shade taken on this and the other side of the river are 

 2° 8 higher on this side. 



February 17 tk. — Proceeded up the Soane to Rotasghur, where a 

 spur of the Vindhya stands abruptly forward. 



The range, in proceeding up the Soane valley gradually approaches 

 the river, and beds of limestone are seen protruding below the sandstone 

 and occasionally rising into rounded hills, the paths upon which show 

 as white as do those through the chalk districts of England. The 

 overlying beds of sandstone are nearly horizontal, or with a dip to the 

 N. W. ; the subjacent ones of limestone dip at a greater angle. Before 

 coming to the village of Akbarpore, at the base of the spur, the road 

 passes over the foot of a curious detached conical hill of limestone, 

 capped with a flat mass of sandstone, whose edges, from the more 

 rapid decomposition of the subjacent support, overhung the top of the 

 hill. At its base the beds of some are undulating and an anticlinal 

 line is passed over ; beyond this the escarpment of the Vindhya sweeps 

 backwards from the river, and returns as the spur of Rotas, which thus 

 forms one horn to a grand amphitheatre of rocks, enclosing a wooded 

 valley. The forest creeps up the sloping base of the precipices, whose 

 crests are shaggy also with a rough jungly wood. This view of the 

 conical hill with its sandstone cap, the grand sweep of the scarped 

 rocks, returning to form the fortress-crowned spur of Rotas, and the 

 foreground of wooded valley, is exceedingly fine. 



During my stay at Akbarpore we had the advantage of the society 

 of C. E. Davies, Esq. who was our guide and instructor during 

 some rambles in the neighbourhood, and to whose experience, founded 

 on the best habits of observation, I am indebted for excellent informa- 



3 p 



