282 MIDDLEMISS: GEOLOGY OF IIAZARA AND BLACK MOUNTAIN, 



of the more massive mountain blocks with steeply cut-away bases. 

 In such a settling the upper parts would remain undisturbed, while 

 the foundations by reason of being continually sapped by the streams, 

 and from the superincumbent weight of the hill mass, would suffer 

 distortion at their free and steep faces. Of course in such places no 

 gravels would be preserved ; they would be the first to be carried 

 away by such a settling process, combined with active erosion. 



I do not propose to make any lengthy remarks on the subject 

 indicated in the margin, as it is a little too 



Mountain systems of . 



the Hindu Kush and wide to drag in at the end of this chapter, 

 dnctnfsfor not **' Moreover, detailed data are wanting over so 

 much of the north-eastern parts of Afghanistan 

 that anything like a proper appreciation of the subject is impossible. 

 The following points are more obviously connected with some of 

 my recent work in Hazara and may be briefly alluded to. 



The sharp bend in the strike of the strata at the Jhelum, and in 

 the general run of the rocks and mountain 



Sudden change in 



direction of the strike ranges, from a N.W. — S.E. or W.N.W.— E.S.E. 

 at the Jhelum R. & s W ._N.E. or W.S.W.-E.N.E. direction, 



following respectively the trend of the Himalaya on the one hand, 

 and the Hindu Kush on the other, has been considered as a proof 

 that here are indicated two systems of earth movement distinct in 

 origin and perhaps in age. 



The question as to whether this is so or not brings in many side 

 issues equally important and equally difficult to settle. 



On a small scale, as in the Salt Range and many other places, 

 Similar small changes we know how flexures of the rocks, perfectly 

 in the Salt Range. parallel for considerable distances, will some- 



times suddenly veer for a while through as much as a right angle, 

 and then go on as before : although in the Salt Range no one 

 would doubt for a moment that all the directions of strike, flexure 

 axes, and lines of faulting there seen, and which pass continuously 

 into one another, are parts of one single crumpling of the rocks 

 along the south edge of the Potwar plateau. 

 ( 282 ) 



