1837.] 



through the Northern Cirears. 



57 



numerous as to form strata exclusively. The direction of this range is 

 the same as the preceding, the strata being nearly vertical. 



The sides of some of the hills presented a chalky colour, owing to 

 the number of decomposed *felspathic strata. I must here particularize 

 an observation which occurs in more than one place of my note book, 

 regarding the durability of this gneiss, namely, that quartz seems to 

 give a greater compactness to the rock, than- when the other two 

 minerals are the only ones composing it. 



Besides the seams of the strata, this gneiss is intersected at all angles 

 by many fissures, which divide the strata into rhombs, cubes and other 

 angular forms ; which is clearly seen in the two hills close to Cassim- 

 cotta to the north. The usual nodular kankar is frequently seen over 

 the soil. This concretionary rock, met every where in the plains of 

 India, and particularly along water-courses, seems of recent origin, and, 

 indeed, to be daily forming. 



Aganampoody, Feb. 12. — Anukapilly being only three miles on 

 our way to this place, instead of remaining at Cassimcotta the whole 

 night, some of our party went to visit the residence of Sooria Pracasa 

 Row, who has laid out his gardens, and fitted up his houses after the 

 European fashion. Sooria is one of the Zemindars who contributed so 

 materially to the destruction of Paykarow and his gang. He is one of 

 the rarce aves among the higher class of people of India. He is very 

 partial to European manners and adopts them (not for affectation sake). 

 He speaks # and writes the English language uncommonly well, and his 

 pronunciation evinces hardly any foreign accent. He disregards the 

 show and glitter, the suite of attendants, the umbrella-carriers, and other 

 indispensable appendages of his countrymen, of rank corresponding to 

 his own; and wears none of their ornaments. He came to visit 

 the Governor on a superb Arabian horse, and was introduced without 

 a single attendant. We accompanied him on his return to Anukapilly, 

 and he conducted us to his garden, which was laid out in a most beauti- 

 ful style, rich with indigenous and exotic plants and trees, before 

 Paykarow laid his destructive hands on it, as well as on his other 

 houses. Yet, being in some degree repaired, the garden and bungalow 

 were in a very neat and comfortable condition, all in true European 

 style. Some* of us slept at Anukapilly, and had scarcely eight miles 

 journey to Aganampoody, and did not leave the former village till past 

 seven in the morning. 



All the hills on the way had the usual conical shape, and were 

 formed of gneiss. Those to the north of our camp, were quite of a 

 different outline and form from most seen during this excursion, 

 being of a ridgy shape, with spiry summits and naked precipitous 

 sides (PI. 17 fig. 4). Close to the camp was an isolated hill about 



