1869.] Geological Notes on the Khad Hills. 17 



the conformity of the last named rocks, with the limestone, is met 

 with. In the bed of the small stream with water, near where the 

 paths to Maokerasi and old Nongkulang diverge, the sandstones are 

 seen exposed ; the limestone rests horizontally on it, and from this the 

 path leads down the easy hill side, through a descending series of 

 the limestone to the level of the main stream, in the valley, in which 

 it terminates. The way in which the sandstone passed under the 

 limestone was very striking, the former being the same kind of rock 

 one had seen higher up on the Nongkulang main ridge, where there 

 was apparent unconformity. At one spot where the main stream here 

 entered the limestone rocks, for a short distance, the scenery was ex- 

 traordinary, from the strange and grotesque way these had been erod- 

 ed. No water was to be seen, as it soon disappeared among the blocks 

 and masses of rocks that rilled the bed. All the limestone was 

 perfectly horizontal, the effects of denudation were most extraordi- 

 nary and marvellous ; huge masses formed columns and natural arches, 

 or standing on three or four thin pedestals reared themselves amidst 

 the forest trees, 15 to 20 feet in height. Sometimes such a mass was 

 surmounted by a tall stately tree, whose roots ramified among the 

 holes and crevices in the rock ; huge cable-like creepers hung sus- 

 pended from, or wound round them, while canes and ferns formed the 

 under-wood, and flourished in the dark vegetable mould of this damp 

 virgin forest. 



After leaving New Nongkulang less limestone is encountered, 

 though it occasionally is seen on the left hand side of the road, but 

 is nowhere thick, and partakes more of the character of outliers that 

 have stood out the forces of denudation. In all the numerous ravines 

 that are crossed, up to the steep descent into the Riangwylam, the 

 lower sandstone in thick beds is seen with a dip of from 10 to 12 degrees 

 west, bending to south-west, in the direction of the main ridge. The 

 descent into the Riangwylam valley was quite 300 feet ; on reaching 

 the river and looking up the gorge, a fine cascade is seen falling over a 

 steer cliff of horizontal strata, the limestone at the top ; the whole scene 

 being most lovely and grand. In the bed of this stream, lay masses 

 of limestone fallen from the cliff above, and a few pieces of coal soon 

 led to my finding a thin seam of bad quality, and evidently the high- 

 est in the series. It was about one foot thick associated with coarso 



3 



