1840.] 



NoteSj principally Geological^ on Southern Indi&. 



129 



A little to the west of the fort runs a low ridge, with a smooth undu- 

 lating outline — the formation of which is a variety of talc and mica 

 slate with chlorite. 



Sravan Belgola.— The road from Nagamungalum to Belgola, lies over 

 a succession of low roundish hills of gneiss, abounding with large plates 

 of silvery mica. The higher peaks and tors, as well as the rock on which 

 stands the Jaina colossus of Gomutu Raya, are of granite. The latter 

 rock is a steep convex boss, crowned by the usual detached, irregularly- 

 shaped masses of a fine grained granite, consisting of granules of 

 cloudy quartz, and felspar of a pale rose colour, with small black scales 

 of mica. The ascent to the temples and colossus, on the summit of the 

 principal hill, lies over the steep convex rock, which is rendered slip- 

 pery by the bare feet of the priests and pilgrims that frequent the 

 place. I observed several inscriptions in Canarese on the surface. The 

 temples and porticos are of simple, massive and elegant architecture, 

 particularly the entrance to the quadrangular enclosure, in which stands 

 the Jaina colossus. The elFect produced by the first view of the statue 

 on passing into the quadrangle, is singular and imposing ; but a 

 close inspection can hardly be gratifying to the eye accustomed 

 to the exquisite proportions of the statues of Europe. It is about 

 70 feet high, entirely divest of drapery, in an erect position, facing 

 the north, and has the curly hair, large pendulous ears and thick 

 lips, so peculiar to Jaina images: the placid expression of the features 

 reminds one of the head of Memnon: the legs are wreathed with the 

 leaves of a parasitical plant (the ratimuUa), sculptured in the granite, and 

 together with the hands are clumsily executed. The opinion of the 

 Duke of Wellington, that the rock had been cut down until nothing but 

 the image remained, I found corroborated by the statements of the 

 oldest priests, and a personal examination of the base. Two black 

 slabs, bearing long inscriptions, copies of whhh are lodged in the libra- 

 ry of the Literary Society of Madras, stand on each side the entrance 

 into the quadrangle. 



The village lies between the two hills ; it contains, besides temples, a 

 handsome Jain college, a large bouri, the white houses of the Shravaks, 

 or Jain laity, and the dwellings of a few Hindus and Mussulmans. 



Seringapatam. — The principal rock seen in the island of Seringapatam 

 is gneiss, associated with mica and hornblende schist, and also with a schist 

 which contains both these minerals combined with felspar and quartz. The 

 best section of these rocks is seen in the fosse surrounding the fortress: 

 as we proceed from the Wellesley bridge towards the Mysore gate, we 



