1840.] 



Geological Features of the Himalayan Mountains. 



32^ 



dering the geological configuration of tlie district, it was ever undertaken 

 at all, since it is scarcely possible to conceive one less calculated 

 for the success of such an attempt. The immediate succession of a 

 close grained, hard, compact, primary rock of unknown thickness to 

 a bed uf porous sand, would effectually prevent the percolation of 

 water to any depth exceeding that of the sand itself, and conse- 

 quently the formation of those interior reservoirs on which the eco^ 

 nomical value of artesian wells depends. There are no porous strata 

 beneath the sienite, nor is the sienite itself a cavernous rock like certain 

 limestones in which water may collect in large basin-shaped hollows ; 

 hence the attempt must have been made with but little consideration of 

 the principles by which such operations ought to be guided, and hence 

 also an additional motive for the encouragement of the study of a science 

 which promises to obviate such unnecessary expenditure of materials, 

 money, and i\m.Q. — Calcutta Journal of Natural Hhiory, vol. \,pp. 

 188—199 



Calcutta, 9^A April, 1840. 



XI. — Geological Features of the Himalayan Mountains. 



(From Royle's lllusiratiojis of the Botany, ^t. of the Himalayan 

 Mountains, Supplementary Pari). 



Having noticed the extent and physical features of the Indian em- 

 pire,* we might proceed to describe the materials of which its moun- 

 tains and its plains are composed, as well as the soils produced by 

 their disintegration. But the most cursory notice of the Geological 

 features of so extensive a field would require more space than can be 

 allotted to the subject; the Author must, therefore, confine himself 

 to the part with which he is best acquainted, and which can be eluci- 

 dated by his specimens and observations, which have attained some 

 value from the kindness, as stated in the Preface, of his friend Mr. De 

 la Beche. But the sectionst can only be considered as giving a general 

 idea of the dip, direction, and nature of the formations met with. The 

 sections of the Himalayas correspond with that given, as far as it goes, 



* In the " latroduction" to Professor Royle's Illusirations,—^n abstract of which 

 will ha found at page 151 of No. 12 of this Journal.— Editor. 



+ " Illustrations,'" Tlate 1, 



