GEOLOGY OF CENTRAL INDIA. 



57 



The northern portion of this great tract is very fertile, and is abun- 

 dantly supplied by water from numerous large lakes, tanks, rivers, and 

 wells. The deep valleys of the southern portion are also fertile, but many 

 of them are indifferently supplied with water. The splendid Dhdbar lake, 

 however, and several others of smaller size and less note, are situated 

 in this portion of the country, and the great fertility of the valley of 

 Udayapur, situated on the northern extremity of this southern portion, I 

 alluded to in my last. The country surrounding Nas'irahad forms a strik- 

 ing exception to the above rule. — Here the rock almost universally appears 

 at the surface, and where any soil exists it seldom exceeds a few inches in 

 depth. 



In spite of all these natural advantages, large tracts of land are left 

 in a perfect state of jungle, and the contrast afforded us on entering the 

 highly cultivated provinces of the British Government, is truly striking. 

 The above circumstance may, in a great measure, be attributed to want of 

 confidence on the part of the Ryots, owing to the insecurity of property, 

 which is but too often the result of Native rule. Besides, this part of In- 

 dia has not yet recovered from the effects of war and famine, which, not 

 many years ago, rendered it almost uninhabited ; and I believe that even 

 now, the produce exceeds the demand. 



Of the country to the west of the great central range I know little, 

 as I have had no opportunities of examining it personally. We have 

 every reason to believe, however, that the central range forms the highest 

 portion of the district under consideration, with the exception, perhaps, of 

 the immediate neighbourhood of Abu, — and that the country to the west 

 of it slopes gradually towards the Indus, &c. How far west the primitive 

 strata occur I know not, but that these are succeeded by secondary rocks 

 I have before stated my belief, and I have in my possession specimens 



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