1838.] 



Neelgherries and Koondahs. 



251 



I must repeat what I said in the beginning ; that it is found in thick 

 beds, evidently imbedded either in the original rock, or, which comes 

 to the same thing, in the lithomargic earth, the result of its decompo- 

 sition. 



Iron ores are so common on these hills, independently of the oxides 

 of that metal contained in the minerals forming the rock, that many 

 springs of water are of the chalybeate class*. 



The next species of iron ore on the Neelgherries is the hfematitic, 

 forming immense beds, and sometimes whole hillocks, among the horn- 

 blende rocks, and sienitic granite. In all the places where it is found, 

 large blocks of this ore are seen projecting through the soil, having a 

 scabrous, cellular, and sometimes cavernous appearance at the surface. 



As this rock resembles very much the laterite of this part of India, 

 I shall be more particular in describing its geological position and asso- 

 ciation, in order that it might be seen whether it ought to be classed 

 with the laterite of the low lands, or among the iron ores found in many 

 other parts, associated and in veins, in primitive districts. 



Before entering into the description of this rock, I must remark,, 

 once for all, that the position and association of the rocks on the Neel- 

 gherries is not so easily ascertained, and clearly seen, as in other loca- 

 lities of India, on account of the enormously thick stratum of red 

 earth and vegetable soil, which cover uniformly the whole plateau. So 

 that we are often reduced to the necessity of judging of the nature of 

 the rock composing the hills, by the few projecting masses at the top, 

 or on its declivities. 



It is for this reason, that I am unable to say positively whether the 

 rock I am going to describe be overlaying, or one of those metallic veins 

 which traverse the original rock ; although I have more, than one rea- 

 son to surmise, that the last is the position of this ferruginous ore on 

 the Neelgherries. 



All I have been able to ascertain regarding this ore, may be detailed 

 by describing one or two of the localities, where this formation is seen 

 developed in a more marked manner than anywhere else on the Neel- 

 gherries. 



The most extensive formation of this hsematitic iron ore is seen on 

 both sides of what I shall call Scotland Valleyf . It is the vallev 

 through which the superfluous waters from the lake discharge them- 

 selves into the Moyar river; this valley runs nearly E. and W. Above 

 two hundred yards below the bund of the lake ; close to the left bank 

 of the stream, we see a large block of compact iron ore jutting through 

 the soil (No. 23). Proceeding westward along the right bank of the 



* Baikie's Observations on the Neelgherries, page 14. 



+ Sir Frederick Adam, Governor of Madras, called it by that name, on account of St 

 resemblance he saw in it to some place in Scotland, 



