64 



Notes, chiefly Geological, of a Journey 



[Jan. 



sienitic granite, composed of felspar, quartz, and hornblende (No. 53) ; 

 the presence of the last mineral accounts for the difference in the out- 

 line, and in their being covered with luxurious shrubby and arboreous 

 vegetation ; in opposition to the barrenness of the porphyritic ones. 



The felspar of this sienitic granite is of a pale yellow, which gives to 

 the rock a different colour to that of the same species in other locali- 

 ties. The hills to the north, very near to our encampment, were formed 

 of porphyry similar to that of Chittabunda. Their black, barren appear- 

 ance bespoke, even at a distance, the nature of the rocks formin g them. 

 That which we are now describing, however, differed in having some 

 clefts and fissures, in which many shrubs take root. In this locality, 

 many of the masses abound with hornblende, with a few garnets , the 

 rock then resembling hornblende porphyry (No. 54), somewha t similar 

 to that rock at Mantoo on the Neilgherries. Here I observed, what I 

 did not see at Chittabunda, large nests, or veins, of a fine grained 

 granite, or of pure hornblende, intruding in the usual irregular man- 

 ner, and imbedded in the substance of the porphyry, 



In general the crystals of felspar are white, but, not rarely, of a red- 

 dish colour. On the last described hills were seen rhomboidal and 

 cubic masses like those at Chittabunda, either suspended from the 

 nearly vertical facade, or laid on their convex surfaces. To the south 

 of our camp, facing and hardly two miles from the porphyritic ones, 

 are some hills, the continuation of those of the same nature opposite to 

 Chittabunda, of similar outline, and covered by the same thick vegeta- 

 tion. 



Cassimboga, March 3.— This village is fourteen miles from the last 

 stage. The pass of Cassimboga is the eastern end of the Sittumpettas ; 

 the strong hold of the famous Paykarow, Garolle, and their associates. 

 The narrowest part of the pass commenced about three miles from our 

 last camp, but its whole extent from Cassimboga is eight miles. The 

 Governor wished to survey the place where had been perpetrated 

 hundreds of murders and robberies, the victims being sometimes muti- 

 lated to annoy the Government, which was taking every measure to 

 suppress this gang of assassins, which kept the whole province in the 

 greatest confusion and alarm. We did not leave Garabunda until half 

 past six ; the road lies between two ranges of hills, along the narrow 

 valleys at their base, which, until two years ago, were covered with 

 thick jungle, almost impervious, except along foot paths known only 

 to those who frequented them. The horizontal branches of the gigan- 

 tic trees, crossing each other and descending very low, rendered the 

 path difficult and laborious, giving full scope for the attacks of robbers, 

 and, in case of their being assailed, enabling them to resist any force 

 sent against them. 



