DESCRIPTIVE GEOLOGY : CRYSTALLINE AND METAMORPKIC ZONE. 22; 



Chapter VI.— Descriptive Geology — contd. 



(A) The Crystalline and Metamorphic Zone. 



Orography. 



It will now be necessary to recross the three disturbance zones which 

 have so far been described, until we arrive at the zone made up al- 

 most entirely of crystalline gneissose and schistose rocks, or of other 

 slightly metamorphic rocks. This zone lies on the north-west side of 

 the Slate zone, and stretches away indefinitely in that direction. It 

 has been left for description to the last because of its complexity ; it 

 presents in particular some difficulties of interpretation as to the age 

 and stratigraphical position of certain metamorphosed sedimentary 

 rocks which have puzzled every observer since the southern slopes 

 of the Himalaya were first investigated. 



This zone is very varied as regards its scenery and superficial 

 characters. The hills rise sometimes to the very considerable heights 

 of Bahingra mountain, 8,503 feet, and Akhund Bdba*, 9,170 feet; 

 whilst out of the confines of the map with this memoir the snowy 

 peaks, which close in round the head of the Khagan valley, attain an 

 altitude of 15,000 to 16,000 feet. Again, the plains, such as the 

 Pakli plain north of Mansehruh, the valley of Agror, the broad 

 stretches of country only diversified by small hills like much of the 

 Tanawal country, and the wide and sometimes deep valleys of the 

 Indus and Jhelum with their tributaries, are examples of areas which 

 are in a later stage of denudation than any we have yet seen. In 

 other words, the contrasts of elevation in this zone are extremely 

 well marked. We may also note that all tendency to a linear 

 arrangement of the mountain-masses and their spurs has almost 

 entirely ceased. 



The country is wild and picturesque as we get among the higher 



hills. From about 8,000 feet upwards the hill-sides become well 



wooded with Deodars and other coniferous and temperate trees. 



The winter snows lie heavily on such ridges and summits, so that 



Q2 ( 227 ) 



