Origin of some kinds of Kunkur. 27 



might be easily proved by lixivating portions of the different 

 soils. 



I do not find that we have any information regarding the 

 geology of Goruckpore, but, supposing that most of the soils 

 of Bengal are alluvial, (in South India very few soils are so,) 

 it would seem extraordinary how they should contain a 

 salt. 



Many of the wells of the Barramahal contain muriate of 

 lime in considerable quantity, yet it does not appear that the 

 people and cattle who use the water suffer any ill effects from 

 it. I am informed by a medical authority that many wells 

 and springs in South India are known to contain salts which 

 produce bad effects upon the health of persons not accus- 

 tomed to the use of them. 



In consequence of the prevalence of muriate of lime in the 

 soils of South India, it may naturally be supposed that some 

 kinds of Kunkur, such as the branched ramified kind, (which 

 some writers have supposed to be formed by deposition upon 

 the roots of plants,) may have been produced by the decom- 

 position of the muriate of lime by the carbonate of soda, 

 which appears to be common in many parts of India) and 

 accordingly the red marie formation of Mysore, where the 

 carbonate of soda is scarce, so also kunkur is almost un- 

 known, while in the Barramahal, soda and kunkur generally 

 occur together. This would be a famous subject to theorise 

 upon, but I shall pursue it in detail no more at present. 



The accounts which Mr. Liston has given us of the action 

 of tests on the waters he had examined, are much the same 

 as upon the waters of the saline wells in the South of India. 

 The precipitate by boiling is most probably sulphate of lime, 

 which being only slightly soluble, the water may have been 

 saturated with it, and a portion was deposited as the water 

 was driven off in vapour. The effects of tests for lime or for 

 muriatic acid are not given, but we must hope that Mr, 

 Liston will not let the subject drop, 



