1833] 



a scoriaceous character found near Bellary, 



133 



look for no close analogies) so to denominate it; tb.-it is to say, it is 

 white and osseous looking, and internally is porous and reticulated, 

 with something the appearance of the jaticellated structure of bone ; 

 but, in configuration, it has no resemblance whatever to the bones of 

 man or animals. 



I will proceed to give the opinion of Dr. Benza on two specimens 

 which I sent to him for examination. That eminent geologist writes 

 thus from the Neelgherry Hills, 24th May 1836. 



" The two specimens of Newbold in my opinion are nothing else 

 than pieces of ancient kankar \ one fragment over-calcined and semi- 

 vitrified, the other hardly so much so; which, probably, havinsj- been 

 long exposed to the atmosphere, has imbibed again some carbonic 

 acid; it is not certainly pumice, either in appearance or composition, 

 nor any other volcanic product. I should think it a common limestone 

 slag. Near brick-kilns broken bricks are seen, quite similar to the 

 specimens you send, except that they are bjackish, or red. The paste 

 of the brick having been half vitrified by excessive heat, gives this 

 appearance. In Calcutta they semivitrify the bricks purposely, for the 

 formation of roads, as they have not any rocks within many miles. 

 Some of the pieces of this burnt clay have more than once puzzled me 

 in India, when found far from any furnace, as straggling pieces j such 

 is their resemblance to porous lava." 



I perfectly coincide in the foregoing opinion. The appearance is 

 just what Dr. Benza has described, and the substance resembles no 

 volcanic product that I am acquainted with. The fragments sent to 

 me by Lieut. Newbold are of a grey white colour, hard and brittle in 

 some parts, and more friable in others, for it is not of homogeneous 

 texture or appearance. The exterior of some pieces is shining and 

 vitreous lookmg, and it is elevated into mammillary protuberances, as 

 it might be from the extrication of air during the cooling down of the 

 heated mass. In the interior it is highly porous, the cancell(B being 

 larger in these exterior portions. The substance effervesces feebly 

 with acids, and this is observed to be more the casein one portion 

 than in another. 



The isolated character of this hillock, as seen by the representation 

 at Plate 6, is singular. An excavation made at the base would most 

 likely solve the question of its origin, that is to say, whether it is an 

 artificial or a natural production. Of its true history it is not likely 

 we shall extract any thing authentic from the fables of the Hindus. 



