334 Geological Features of the Himalayan Mountains. [April 



ing from ihe plains in both, extending to Kedarkanta in the one, and 

 to near Sbahna in the other. The formations may be treated of under 

 the heads, 1st, of the Stratified, and, 2d, of the Unstratified rocks. The 

 Stratified rocks consist of Chiy-slate, with Limestone imbedded in, or 

 alternating with it, and surmounted by a Quartz conglomerate, often 

 called in India Greywacke or Grauvvacke. Clay-slate continues for 

 some time, and this is succeeded by Micaceous and other Schists and 

 Gneiss. The Unstratified rocks consist of Trap-rocks and of Granite. 



Strati i^iED Rocks. — The Himalayas, between the Ganges and Sutlej 

 rivers, like the Sewaliks, present towards the plains abruptly steep 

 fronts, and a comparatively gradual slope in the opposite direction, 

 from the strata dipping towards the north-east. As this is frequently 

 repeated, we have a succession of steep ascents and sloping sides, with 

 a de» p valley intervening between two successive ridges, in which 

 u«;nally runs a small river, flowing either towards the Ganges or into 

 the Jumna, or their feeders, or into those of the Sutlej. The drainage 

 of these great rivers is every where separated by transverse ridges, 

 which connect the parallel ridges, having the points of junction often 

 projected into peaks, {Illustrations, Int. p. xvii). By proceeding along 

 tliese ridges, we may penetrate far into the interior, without having occa- 

 sion to descend into the valleys; but the mountain paths usually take the 

 direct course, and we have thus a succession of ridges and of valleys to 

 cross, and to experience great vicissitudes of climate, as well as a re- 

 petition of the geological structure and of the animal and vegetable 

 form'=! which are dependant on this and on the climate. The plain-ward 

 face bein^ thus abrupt towards the south-west, has the solar rays fall- 

 inff on it more perpendicularly, and therefore experiences greater heat 

 an ' dryness. The strata dipping towards the north-east, also produce, 

 from their disintegration, a greater accumulation of earth on that side, 

 while the springs following the natural slopes are more frequent on the 

 north-eastern than on the south-western face of these mountains, and 

 therefore the vegetation of the two sides varies much more than would 

 be anticipated by any one who had not observed the difference (v. p. 16). 



Clay-^late.— In ascending the Himalayas, between the Ganges and 

 Jumna, Clay-slate is invariably met with, of great variety of colour as 

 well as of texture, and in many places most remarkably contorted, as at 

 Rikikes, &c. below Surkunda Debee. In the ascent to Mussooree it 

 is soff, variously coloured, and crumbling into small quadrangular 

 pieces. At Mutrogh, below Budraj, near the spring which supplies 

 water to the village, it may be seen of a fine texture, blue colour, nearly 

 perpendicular, and easily splitting into large slabs, is used as roofing 



