IN THE HIMALAYA, 393 



The deposit consists of a stratum of loose arenaceous sand-stone, varying 

 In color from white, which is generally in contact with the mineral, to 

 various shades of red and yellow. The Lignite (by which name I shall call 

 the substance in question) appearing in horizontal layers, frequently con- 

 torted, varying from minute threads to the thickness of one and two inches» 

 At other places, transverse sections of trunks of trees, evidently flattened by 

 a vast pressure, and the interior of which has been displaced by the ingredi- 

 ents of which the stratum is formed, are scattered indiscriminately : the 

 state of carbonization to which they have arrived is various, some specimens 

 of a reddish hue, appear as if half charred, soiling the fingers with an ochry 

 powder, and of a texture hard and tough ; whilst others, brittle, and gi vino- 

 way on exposure, present an appearance altogether similar to a coal deposit. 

 To describe the appearance of this stratum, I can compare it with great cor- 

 rectness to the variegated mixture of color of a Tiger's hide, the stratum itself 

 posessing a color precisely corresponding with the whitish red, while the 

 position of the Lignite completes the resemblance in the addition of the 

 black stripes. - 



This stratum lies between two others of conglomerate formed of clay and 

 the calcareous sand-stone, of a quality extremely tough, under which is the 

 blue clay, much inclined in position to the adjoining strata, which stratum is 

 about a foot in depth, of a blue slaty colour, and globular concretionary 

 structure, effervescing strongly with acids, and crumbling to pieces on ex- 

 posure: the inferior strata consist entirely of a bluish sand-stone which ter- 

 minates the section to the bed of the river. From the general inclination 

 of the strata throughout these hills, it may be inferred, that an angle from 

 20 to 30 N. E. is the actual dip longitudinally. 



In drawing a comparison between this and the coal at Sildni, indepen- 

 pendant of the difference in position, and contiguity of the blue clay with the 



