GEOLOGY OF CENTRAL INDIA. 



55 



Shiri, and the south of Meivar, and it is inhabited by the numerous and 

 predatory tribes of Bh'ds, Minahs, Grasias, and Kulis. It presents 

 a wild and bleak appearance, and exhibits, on a small scale, all the 

 bold and striking features of an Alpine country. It is traversed by nu- 

 merous deep and rugged ravines and ghauts, on the brinks of which are 

 frequently seen the villages and huts of the rude people by which it is 

 inhabited. As we proceed north, the country becomes more open — the 

 valleys more extensive, and a narrow belt, exhibiting amammillary aspect, 

 is very generally interposed between the large and level plains of the 

 north of Mewar, of the Ajmer district, &c. and the more mountainous 

 tract just described. The same mammillary belt also runs parallel to the 

 great central range of hills so often alluded to, as far as Karikaraoli^ 

 thirty-six miles north of Udayapui\ while to the east of this belt we 

 have the usual level plains of the north of Meivar. The hilly tract just 

 described may be considered as a continuation of the great central range 

 which may be supposed to divide itself, a little to the north of Udayapiir, 

 into a number of collateral and concentric ranges, so that it is difficult to 

 say which ought to be considered the parent range — and which not. 



Suppose a line drawn west from the cantonment of Nimach to the 

 northern extremity of the valley of Udayapur, it will give us a sufficiently 

 correct boundary for general purposes, betwixt the northern and southern 

 portions of this district to the east of the great central range. The northern 

 portion is characterised by plains of large extent, which are perfectly 

 level, and from the surface of which are seen, here and there rising 

 abruptly, hills and small hill ranges and groups. In the neighbourhood of 

 the mountainous district to the south, these hills and ranges are numer- 

 ous, and they gradually decrease in number as we proceed north, till, on 

 reaching the Ajmer district, we frequently find ourselves on a perfect- 

 ly level plain, bounded by the horizon on all sides, and at the surface of 



