96 Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. [March, 



apparent, how peculiarly Silchar is situated with respect to the neigh- 

 bouring hill ranges. We find the N. Cachar Hills running east and 

 west on its north, the low hills of the district itself, and those near 

 the sources of Barak and Eerung, almost due north and south (or with 

 their strike), on its eastern side. A closer acquaintance with the 

 country on the north and at the base of the hills shews the great uni- 

 clinal flexure that exists there, while in the gorges, where the great- 

 er rivers from the interior find an exit, we see the magnitude and 

 almost incomprehensible displacement of strata, east and west 

 strikes altering to north and south in apparent inextricable confu- 

 sion. 



I will now return to what I have before brought to notice, 

 viz., that on a point somewhere intermediate between Sherfaisip 

 and Mahadeo peaks of the North Cachar range of hills, the earth- 

 waves travelled outwards east and west. On looking at a sketch of 

 the ground, I was struck with the coincidence, that almost midway 

 between the two peaks lies the remarkable gorge of the Jatinga, 

 cutting diagonally through the strike of the outer mountain system. 

 This gorge marks a great dislocation, and such a feature would 

 as it were point to weak lines on the earth's crust, where when the sub- 

 terranean forces are exerted, they will again be felt with greater severi- 

 ty on the surface, and spread away on either side. Almost imme- 

 diately opposite the gorge of the Jatinga lies Silchar and the area 

 that has suffered most. The position with reference to the hills 

 around, points to one of all others, where crushing and grinding toge- 

 ther of the rocks would result on any motion being communicated 

 from below to it and those neighbouring hill masses, and would 

 result in upheaval of some spots and depression of others. It would 

 be compressed, causing water with sand or mud to be forced up 

 through the lines of bedding in the strata, and through the allu- 

 vium to the surface, a phenomenon apparently noticed all over the 

 more level country. 



I have not myself been in, and examined the Zilahs near Cachar, but 

 I refer my readers to the Report of Mr. Medlicott on the coal of 

 Assam, with geological notes on the adjoining districts.* Pages 46, 



* Mcmoiib Geol. Survey of India. 



