470 



$&ete&es of the- Meteorology, f&. 



also zeolites. In the hot season, it is everywhere traversed by deep 

 fissures : which, in some cases, have a great appearance of regularity, 

 like that observed in dried starch ; but most commonly they are per- 

 fectly irregular. The late Dr. Voysey, when at Hyderabad, subjected 

 some of this clay or cotton ground to the heat of a steel furnace, which 

 fused it into a black glass. 



The black colour of this clay, the carbonate of lime, agates, and 

 zeolites found in it, and its conversion into a black glass by heat, all 

 indicate that it has originated from the disintegration of trap-rocks. 

 The extensive distribution of the trap-rocks makes this inference still 

 more conclusive. The soil which covers the trap-hills, and which we 

 are certain has originated from the disintegration of the subjacent rock, 

 exactly resembles the cotton ground of the extensive plains. Were 

 this cotton ground to be again consolidated, it would form an immense 

 overlying formation of a substance resembling basalt or waeke. Its 

 very great importance in the agriculture of India will be considered 

 hereafter. 



Several deposites of calcarious tufa occur in the Darwar district. 

 There is one of considerable extent near Badamy. It is covered by the 

 soil, and appears to rest upon the transition rocks. Sometimes nodules 

 of calcarious tufa are found disseminated through the cotton ground, 

 and materially affect its agricultural properties. From its being thus 

 associated with the cotton ground, I think it is highly probable that the 

 calcarious tufa has, in many instances, owed its origin to the calcarious 

 spar of the trap-rocks, of those rocks the debris of which now forms 

 the cotton ground. The tufa is used for the preparation of mortar. 



In concluding these observations, I have much pleasure in express- 

 ing my acknowledgment to Professor Jameson for having corrected 

 some of my observations, and for his valuable remarks upon my speci- 

 mens of the rocks of the Southern Mahratta country. 



Agriculture, fyc. — Were I to give any thing like a detailed account 

 of the agriculture of the Darwar district, I would have to repeat much 

 that has already been published in the works of Buchanan and Mar- 

 shall ; and, moreover, such details would possess little interest for the 

 general reader. I will therefore merely present a slight sketch of the 

 agricultural features of the district, with an account of the different 

 articles of cultivation and their uses, and will particularly notice what- 

 ever circumstances have hitherto escaped the observation of others. 



The peculiarities of climate in the different parts of this district, 

 necessarily occasion a great diversity in their agricultural characters. 

 The western parts, towards the ghauts, which are covered with forest, 

 and have a very wet climate, admit of the cultivation of a little rice 

 only in the valleys or on the gentle slopes of the hills. As we proceed 



