310 



On the Geologrj of Cufch. 



[Oct. 



Grand Runn, which ought, however, to be considered as a part of the 

 province, and which, including the islands with the portion bounded by 

 the Guzerat coast, occupies an area of at least 9000 square miles. 



Physical Aspect of the Country. — The province is hilly and rocky, 

 with the exception of the part forming the southern coast, which is a 

 dead flat covered with a fine rich soil. Three distinct ranges of hills, 

 having an easterly and westerly direction, may be traced. The most 

 northern forms an irregular chain bordering the Runn, and, for the grea- 

 ter part, presents to the north a perpendicular cliff surmounting a slop- 

 ing talus, and to the south an inclined plane. It is composed chiefly of 

 rocks, containing marine remains. The next, called the Charwar range, 

 passes transversely through the centre of the province, and is connected 

 with the former, at its north-western extremity, by a cluster of hills. It 

 consists partly of sandstone containing beds of coal, and partly of a series 

 of strata of slate clay, limestone slate, and slaty sandstone. The third, 

 or southern range, and composed entirely of volcanic materials, has the 

 same direction as the other two ; but it is of smaller extent, and a branch 

 of it, striking nearly north and south, passes through the centre of the 

 Charwar range. A number of isolated volcanic hills are also scattered 

 over the plain and in other parts of the province, particularly on the 

 borders of the Runn, where is situated the hill called Denodur, the 

 largest in Cutch. 



There are no constant streams, the river courses being merely chan- 

 nels for conveying the pericniical floods to the sea, and containing, during 

 the remainder of the year, only detached pools. The banks of these 

 courses are, however, very high and precipitous, and afford excellent 

 sections of the strata through which they pass. 



Formations. 



I have divided the country into the following eight distinct forma- 

 tions : — 



1. Syenite and quartz rock. 



2. Sandstone and clay, with beds of coal. 



3. Red sandstone.— This formation I have been unable to trace the 

 boundaries of. In mineralogical characters it resembles the new 

 red sandstone of England, and differs materially from No. 2., 

 or the formation which contains the coal. 



4. Upper secondary formation, consisting of slate clay, limestone 

 slate, and slaty sandstone, and containing Ammonites^ with other 

 fossils characteristic of the secondary formations of Europe. 



