LOWER TRANSITION ROCKS. 97 



acute isosceles triangle extending from the Narihalla western gorge, 

 the Oblagandi, to the banks of the Tungabhadra, measuring 19 miles 

 along the main ridge, which corresponds with the perpendicular line 

 dropped from the apex to the centre of the base, which latter measures 

 about 7 miles across. The ridge is about half a mile across its 

 top on the average in the south part, but narrows greatly to the 

 north-west of Raman Drug station. The highest part of the ridge 

 lies between the station and the base of the triangle, and may there be 

 from 100 to 150 feet higher than the Trigonometrical station, in the 

 station which stands 3,256 feet above sea level. The ridge rises 

 1,400 feet above the Sundur valley, and from 1,500 to 1,600 feet 

 above the western plains. It is nowhere cut into very deeply by 

 ravines, but more so in the south-western slopes than elsewhere. 

 Here the basset edges of the outcrops make several fine cliffs over- 

 hanging to the west. The top of the ridge is generally, but poorly* 

 wooded, the hard haematitic breccia which covers much of its surface 

 being unfavourable to vegetation. The only trees which attain to fair 

 size are figs of several species. The deeper ravines are thickly wooded 

 with thorny trees: but little deserving the name of timber is at present 

 produced, the forest not having as yet had time to recover from the 

 destructive action of forest fires continued from time immemorial. 



That they will recover in due time, thanks to the wise energy of 

 the Forest Department, admits of no doubt as the weathering of the 

 varied rocks constituting the ridge gives rise to excellent soils in 

 great plenty. Great part of the division is included in the new forest 

 reserve. 1 



The Raman Drug division is poorer in useful sections than are the 

 Raman Drug, Western others. The best of them is that to be seen by 

 sectlon " following the ghat road leading up the western 



slope. The sequence here seen is as follows : — 

 8. Schists. 



7. Haematite quartzite, rather shaley in parts, chocolate to red in colour 

 "Prospect Point" bed. 



1 The forests on the Raman Drug ridge, the Ramgol ridge, and the central part of 

 the Donimale division have been leased by the Government of Madras from the Rajah 

 of Sandur, and are being conserved with marked success. 



G ( 97 ) 



