1836.] 



of the Southern Mahratta Country. 



455 



mass of the hill. This granite is, in some places, penetrated by small 

 veins of quartz, which, on approaching a seam, leave their original di- 

 rection, follow the course of the seam for a greater or less distance, and 

 again abruptly leave it. 



The two surfaces of the laminae are often perfectly parallel ; and 

 when they are not of a great thickness, they can be very easily raised 

 in slabs of any size, for architectural purposes. It is seldom, however, 

 that they are of precisely the same thickness for any great extent j 

 and sometimes this varies prodigiously within a very short distance. 

 In some instances of this description, the granite loses its laminar 

 appearance. Thus, when a lamina becomes very rapidly thinner, so 

 that its two surfaces meet, it acquires the shape of an immense wedge, 

 which is not unfrequently met with. In such cases, the term laminar 

 is rather inapplicable. At the same time, it must be remembered, that 

 these are extreme instances, which are connected by many interme- 

 diate links to the most perfect form of this structure. Although, there- 

 fore, we would not apply the term laminar to these cases individually, 

 yet it is perfectly evident that it is quite accurate as a general term, 

 applied to the prevailing structure of the granite of India ; and that, 

 when we analyze the various appearances which the granite presents, 

 they may be all considered as varieties and modifications of this 

 structure. 



There are several instances, in the Hyderabad country, of huge 

 natural columns, formed of four or five separate masses of granite, 

 piled with great regularity on each other, with part of their surfaces 

 accurately adapted. These, in some instances, occupy the summits of 

 gentle hills ; and from all the appearances connected with them, it is 

 perfectly clear that the different masses continue to occupy their origi- 

 nal situations. The following is probably the manner in which this 

 curious appearance has, in many cases, originated. In a hill of lami- 

 nar granite, it is evident that if the laminae be liable to be split and 

 disintegrated by the action of the weather, those parts which rest on the 

 sides, would be more liable, from their inclined position, to be worn 

 down, and to slide into the neighbouring valley, than that part which 

 rests horizontally on the summit ; and were the upper mass to be 

 left, it would protect the portions immediately below it, while the 

 other parts were gradually disintegrated and removed j and thus a 

 rude column, composed of a number of separate blocks of granite, 

 would be formed. As the different masses rest horizontally on each 

 other, and have their surfaces (except where these have been much 

 acted upon by the weather) accurately adapted to each other, we cannot 

 for a moment suppose that they have been conveyed from a distance^ 

 and arranged in this manner merely by chance. On the other hand, 

 we have every reason to conclude, that they are the slight remains of 



