390 Observations made on a Botanical Excursion. [Oct . 



The Zoology of these regions is tolerably copious, but little is known 

 of the natural history of a great part of the plateau ; a native tribe, 

 prone to human sacrifices, is talked of. Tigers are far from unfrequent, 

 and bears numerous, they have besides the leopard, panther, viverine 

 cat, and civet. Of the dog tribe the pariah, jackal, fox, and wild dog 

 called Koa. Deer are very numerous, of 6 or 7 species. A small 

 alligator inhabits the hill streams, a very different animal from either of 

 the Soane species.* 



During our descent we examined several instances of ripple mark 

 in the sandstone ; they resembled the fluting of the Sigillaria stems, 

 in the coal-measures, and occurring as they did here, in sandstone a 

 little above great beds of limestone, had been taken for such, and as 

 indications of coal. 



On the following day we visited Rajghat, a steep ghat or pass up 

 the cliff to Rotas Palace, a little higher up the river. We took the 

 elephants to the mouth of the glen, picking up Mr. Davies in our way, 

 who had taken his usual before break-fast walk, of from Akbarpore to 

 the top of Rotas ! and down by the Raj ghat pass. Dismounting we 

 followed a stream abounding in small fish and aquatic insects, (Bytisa 

 and Gyrini), through a close jungle, to the foot of the cliffs, where 

 there are indications of coal. The woods were full of monkeys, 

 and amongst other plants I observed Murraya exotica, but scarce. 

 Though the jungle was so dense the woods were very dry, no Palm, Aroi- 

 dece, Peppers, Orchidece or Ferns. Here, at the foot of the cliffs, which 

 towered imposingly above as seen through the tree tops, are several 

 small seams of coaly matter in the sandstone, with abundance of pyrites, 

 sulphur and copious efflorescences of salts of iron : but no real coal. 

 The springs from the cliffs above, are charged with lime, of which 

 enormous tuff beds are deposited on the sandstone, full of impressions 

 of leaves and stems of the surrounding vegetation. In some part of 

 their course the streams take up quantities of the efflorescence, which 

 are scattered over the sandstones in a singular manner. 



At Akbarpore (alt. 399 ft.) I had sunk two thermometers, one at the 

 depth of 4 feet G inches, the other 5 feet 6 inches, which both indicated 

 76° during the whole time of my stay, the air varying at the surface 



* For the better part of this information and much other of value, whose inser- 

 tion would cause this paper to exceed its proper limits, I am indebted to Mr. Davies» 



