Vol. 56.] THE GEOLOGY OF GILGIT. 339 



The next observer who visited this region was Mr. — now Sir — 

 W. Martin Conway, who made a larg6 collection of rock-specimens, 

 which were examined by Prof. T. G. Bonney, D.Sc, F.R.S., and 

 Miss C. A. Raisin, D.Sc. The report on these specimens by the 

 above-named authors forms part of the appendix to Sir Martin 

 Conway's work on ' Climbing & Exploration in the Karakoram. 

 Himalayas,' 1894. An account of the results obtained was also 

 given in a paper read before the Royal Society. 1 



Sir Martin Conway's main object was the exploration of high 

 peaks and glaciers, from a mountaineering rather than a geological 

 point of view ; and for that reason, probably, his collection, though 

 extremely rich from peak and glacier, is extremely poor from the 

 valleys. I can only find the description of one specimen in a 

 stretch of 50 miles from Bunji to Chalt. 



This hiatus of specimens from the main line of communication 

 up the Gilgit-Hunza Valley, however, is to some extent compen- 

 sated for by the abundance of the specimens collected in the 

 Bagrot, Hispar, and Biafo Valleys ; and as the rocks in those 

 localities are on the same strike as some of the rocks dealt with in 

 the present paper, Sir Martin Conway's specimens form a valuable 

 supplementary collection to the specimens sent home by my son 

 and Capt. Roberts. 



Sir Martin Conway did not proceed higher up the Gilgit Valley 

 than Hunza, where he turned eastward towards the Hispar and 

 Biafo Glaciers. The traverses to the Kilik and Darkot Passes, to 

 Chilas, up the Ashkurman Valley, and to Nanga Parbat, described 

 in this paper, covered new ground. Moreover, as Sir Martin 

 Conway does not appear to have recorded any field-notes (beyond 

 the dip and strike) regarding the relations of the rocks to each 

 other, there seems room for supplementary observations as a step 

 towards the elucidation of the geology of the Hindu Kush. 



To Prof. Bonney and Miss Raisin all geologists who may here- 

 after work in the Gilgit region will be under great obligation. 

 Their careful study of the numerous specimens submitted to them 

 contains a mine of valuable penological information. I personally 

 feel greatly indebted to them for their valuable work ; and I have 

 found it of great help, especially in the matter of the crystalline 

 limestones, as it enabled me to trace the connexion between the 

 Carbo-Triassic limestones of Kashmir, mapped by Lydekker, and the 

 great limestone-series of the Gilgit Valley. 



With these preliminary remarks, I will now proceed to describe 

 the geology of the Gilgit area, as far as the information at my 

 disposal enables me to do so. I trust that, at all events, my 

 remarks may suggest points for enquiry and observation to future 

 explorers in this difficult mountainous country, where the pre- 

 cipices are stupendous ; where joints and cleavage-planes closely 

 simulate bedding ; and where field-investigations are often brought 



1 Proc. Boy. Soc. vol. lv (1894) p. 468. 



