52S Memoranda on the Geology oj Sikkim. 



Such are a few of the minerals noticed by me in the 

 Sikkim hills. I have no doubt many other, and more curious 

 specimens came under my eye, but that I failed to notice or 

 recognize them, my sight being imperfect, both in observing 

 objects any way remote, and in distinguishing colours ; some 

 of those mentioned I should not have known of, unless my 

 attention had been directed to them by Capt. B/s kindness. 



A remark has been made by Captain Herbert in his Report 

 on the Geology of the Himalayas to this effect, that a first 

 view of any portion of these hills suggests the idea of a cha- 

 otic mass of mountains without any perceptible principle of 

 arrangement, and that it is by tracing the river courses that 

 the best notion of the position of the mountain ridges rela- 

 tively to each other is to be obtained. This remark is em- 

 phatically applicable in every point to the portion of the 

 Himalaya which form the country of Sikkim. 



A close examination of this region is apt to suggest the 

 opinion, that it is now very much in the state assumed by it 

 at the commencement of the present constitution of things on 

 the surface of our globe. The rivers run through valleys which 

 seem at first to have been hollowed out for their reception, 

 and bear little mark of change, whether caused by violent con- 

 vulsions of nature or the slower action of the attrition of waters 

 upon barriers which may at one time have caused them ob- 

 struction in their free course towards the plains. The smaller 

 torrents join the greater streams unopposed in the direction 

 given them by their vallies, which, to borrow an anatomical 

 term, anastomose into each other ; and the great rivers are 

 poured into the plains direct through their channels, and have 

 no cross ridges to struggle through before debouching on the 

 low lands, as is the case with many other streams in various 

 countries ; as for instance with the great Gunduk, which is 

 discharged into the plains through a ridge of sandstone hills. 



Perhaps exceptions to the above observations occur in the 

 routes taken by us in some parts of the valley of the Bellassun. 



