20 GENERAL OBSERVATIONS ON THE 



From the above desultory observations, it would appear, that the 

 Geology of India is far less complex, than that of most other countries, 

 of the Geology of which any thing is known. It is said* that, in- 

 stead of twenty different formations, as in, England, there are in 

 India only four, viz. The granitic, the sand- stone and clay -slate, the 

 trap, and the diluvial; with their respective subordinate rocks, each 

 of which formations possesses characteristics in common, that strong- 

 ly mark their cotemporariety. This conclusion, however, requires some 

 modification. We have the primary series, both stratified and unstratifi- 

 ed, in complete succession. We have the transition class — -the carbonifer- 

 ous order, and also the secondary class — nor does there appear to be any 

 thing anomalous, until we ascend in the series to the overlying rocks of 

 the trap family ; these rocks, as has been, shewn in another part of this 

 paper, form the most striking feature of our Geology, and as some of 

 them at least are proved to be of a later epoch than secondary sand-stone, 

 it is apparently to the period of their formation (whatever may be their 

 origin,) that we must refer the commejjcement of anomalous appear- 

 lances^. , ; : ' ' 



In this view of the Geology of India, therefore, our safest plan will 

 be to confine purselves as much as possible, within simple rules, and to 

 such terms of nomenclature as may least embarrass the subject. The best 

 writers in the Transactions of the Geological Society of London, seem to 

 have very generally adopted the synoptical arrangement, which is given 

 in the introduction to Conybeare, and Phillips's Outlines of the Geology 

 of England and Wales ; and it is to be presumed that they have done so 

 after due consideration. The English Geologists have certainly shewn, 



that 



* By the late Dr. Voysey in a letter to Dr. Abel. 



