1838.] 



Description of the Valley of Sonditr. 



149 



. Valletj of So7idm\— The space lying between the two ranges forming 

 the vale of Sonduv is a plain in which rise several small hills, with a 

 direction generally parallel to the superior ranges on each side. 

 Those that fell under observation were all of the chloritic slate. 1 do 

 not recollect seeing them crested by the jaspery rock. Large calcare- 

 ous deposits of crystalline, compact, and earthy kankar, take place on 

 the banks of the rivulets in various situations. In this tufaceous depo- 

 sit is imbedded nodular and pisiform iron ore. 



Southern ewtremif?/ of Range.— Passhig down the valley in a S. 

 direction, a range of hills, about equidistant from the tv.'o principal 

 chains, runs down the centre : turning from them to the right the wes- 

 tern range is ascended to the famous temple of Comarswami, by a road 

 just practicable for elephants and camels lhat leads along the side of a 

 ravine, at the bottom of which runs a rivulet having its source in the 

 holy well of Agusta Tirtum in front of the temple on the summit. 

 Leaving the schist at the base of the range the road lies over masses of 

 •a lateritic rock, which in this locality differs from the laterite of Mala- 

 bar in being more compact and heavy, containing a larger porportioii 

 of iron, less felspar, and but little lithomarge or porcelain earth ; interi- 

 orly it has not the same sectile softness which, toge ther with the pro- 

 perty of hardening by exposure to the atmosphere, is one of the dis- 

 tinguishing characteristics of the latter and renders it so advantageous 

 , for architectural purposes, nor has it the same variegated tints of pur- 

 ple, red, and yellow, being generally of a deep brown ferruginous hue. 

 It assumes sometimes the appearance of a con glomerate, being a paste 

 of clay and peroxide of iron, imbedding angular fragments of the sub- 

 jacent ferruginous slate and nodular hematite, which, as well as reni- 

 fprm, botryoidal, and pisiform iron ore, are found in abundance. 



^ Summit of Ridge.— This rock continues to the summit of the ridge, 

 which it caps in tabular masses : here it assimilates more to the cha- 

 racter of the laterite of Malabar, being perforated by both tubular and 

 cellular cavities containing a decomposed felspar in a powdery state 

 tinged more or less by the oxide of iron. Like limestone, it abounds 

 in caverns— some of considerable extent. The one I visited (vide plate) 

 was considerably below the summit of the range: at a little distance 

 in the jungle from the path. A little beyond the entrance it branches 

 into two shafts. These shafts are stated by the natives to extend to an 

 incredible distance in the bowels of the mountain. The floor is covered 

 with the tilth of bats. I had it dug to the depth of 5 or G feet without 



