GEOLOGY OF CENTRAL INDIA. 



53 



is great, and the blocks in question are detached, while the same cause 

 accelerates the decomposition of the softer and more friable strata — thus 

 affording a thick soil which is rich and fertile, and in many situations 

 covered with jungle. 



Regarding the rocks of this narrow belt I have only further to add, 

 that the strata, in the neighbourhood of the primitive formations, are more 

 inclined than in other situations. This remark holds good in the case of 

 all the rocks of this belt. The wells are seldom deep, water being gene- 

 rally obtained near the surface. This circumstance is owing to the 

 numerous artificial lakes and tanks which have been formed in this dis- 

 trict — and it is seldom necessary to penetrate the strata beyond the 

 level of these lakes, and never beyond the level of the nullahs and 

 streams. I may also mention that, in addition to the fact of springs 

 of water issuing from the strata of the low boundary range, &c. as stated 

 by Captain Dangerfield, that there is a spring at Gangra, twelve 

 miles N. W. of Chi tor, which issues from the sandstone slates near the 

 base of the group of hills which are there observed. This spring is 

 sensible/ hot. When I visited it — it was during the cold season, and we had 

 ice daily in our shorats. The thermometer in the morning standing 

 below 40", and during the hottest period of the day, never rising beyond 

 47* ; but when plunged into this water it rose to 80°. It issues from the 

 rock at the surface, and the fountain is looked upon as sacred by the 



natives. It has no sensible taste, and appears to hold little foreign 

 matter dissolved.* 



* A bottlcful of this water, afterwards subjected to the following tests, gave tlie results as 

 below. Nitrate of silver throws down a dark precipitate. A paper, dipped in a solution of lead, and 

 plunged in this water, acquires a dark color ; and a solution of acetate of lead, also throws down a 

 dark precipitate. Tincture of galls has no apparent effect, neither has the addition of a large 

 quantity of alcohol. A quantity of the water was boiled, the contact of atmospheric air being 



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