106 Geology of Bangalore, mid of [Japf, 



the time, and it was in the same bag with others. It looks an aggregate 

 rock — k^rge crystals of grey quartz in a confused mass of felspar of 

 white colour, with only a very few of the very smallest scales of mica,, 

 scarcely perceptible. To the west of Bangalore, some most picturesque 

 and beautiful hills are seen running in a direction about north and souths 

 They are of various sizes and show a variety of shape — ^some of the 

 srfialier, peaked, but the greater number having a somewhat cupola or 

 dome shape, mentioned as peculiar to porphyritic granite, which they are. 

 In the midst of this range a large rounded mountain is conspicuous 

 above them all, Severndroog, once famed for its strength as a hill fort, and 

 now still famous for its unliealthiness. The country in the neighbour- 

 hood is of a wild and wooded character, which first commences about 

 3 or 4 miles beyond Tauverkairy, 13 miles from Bangalore. This range 

 of hills is between 20 and 30 miles from the cantonment. About 4 

 miles beyond Tauverkairy pas&es llie Arkawutty river, the largest in this 

 part of Mysore. In its bed are some beautiful specimens of granite, with 

 red and green felspar, and the mica in decomposition, giving a greenish 

 tinge to the rock. The road after crossing the river ascends, and there 

 is a pass through the hills and rocks which are elevated above the 

 surrounding jungle. The rocks are of granite, showing more or less 

 the porphyritic character — the felspar both red and v/hite, I possess- 

 some beautiful specimens which 1 found lying about, consisting of green 

 felspar vath blueish quartz and crystals of red felspar distributed over 

 them, some of the specimens are of red felirpar with a clilorite tinge lu 

 some places—other specimens again are entirely of green felspar. 



Severndroog and the surrounding kills are of porphyritic granite — ■- 

 more marked in some than in others —the felspar red and the- 

 mica greenish black. Mwih trap is seen lying about the road in small 

 pieces, and it is very conspicuous in the rocky hills, giving them a dark 

 appearance in certain jjlaces. I have never proceeded further in this- 

 direction, but my friend Mr. McGrigor sent me. som.e specimens which 

 he picked up between Coongul and Belloor, apparently a very interest- 

 ing tract of country : the specimens are trap, of which many of the hills 

 seem to consist — flinty slate, talc slate, actvnolite, and chlorite slates-^ 

 and a species of chlorite porphyry, the felspar red. This is the main 

 road to Semooga, the present capital of Nuggar or Bednore. At Chine- 

 roypatam is the famous statue cut oat of the solid rock, and near Belloor 

 are the ruins of Hallibede, both of which are well worthy of inspection. 

 Not far from here, are the Baba-Booden hills, giving origin to the Badra 

 river, which uniting with the Tungha near Semooga, forms the Toom- 

 buddra. Bv the kindness of two very zealoiisJ and talented botanists. 



