AT NAG PUR, cStc. I97 



formation, the extent of which is yet but partially determined. I should 

 conceive, however, that it formed a part of the same granitic range, which 

 is found on the confines of the plains of Bengal, reaching from the Ganges 

 below Patna to the sea at Ganjam, and a continuation of the great ranges 

 of the Coast, and not merely a supposed continuation below the surface, 

 but probably traceable above ground throughout this vast extent. 



The broken and disintegrated state of the granitic rocks, which come 

 in contact with, or approach very near to the trap, afford other interest- 

 ing points that may be confirmatory of the origin now pretty generally 

 ascribed to that formation. 



The hill of Sitdbaldi, the extreme eastern point of the trap forma- 

 tion, would appear to be insulated from the range of hills to the west of it, 

 or its connection is by a narrow neck, for the sinking of wells, round the 

 base of the hill has shown it to be nearly, if not entirely surrounded by 

 gneiss. 



The gneiss at its base is much decomposed, and of a greater eleva- 

 tion than the next adjoining uncovered gneiss in the city, which is, how- 

 ever, extremely shattered, and the whole bears the appearance of having 

 been upheaved and disturbed by the basalt. 



The trap hills to the westward have, in the dry weather, the most bar- 

 ren and uninviting appearance ; being nearly destitute of water, there 

 is scarcely a blade of grass or a shrub on them, and their whole surface is 

 entirely covered with loose boulders of wacken balls of small size ; if the 

 rains, however, are abundant, they afford a scanty crop of stunted Jowar- 

 ree. The country S. and E. of Nagpur, some distance, being the black 

 soil of the trap, bears a tolerable crop of the same poor grain, and there is 



c 3 little 



