320 



On the Geology of CuicTi. 



[Oct. 



latter ; likewise those near Beyla, at the north eastern extremity of the 

 province, and many others The Katrore hill, forming the eastern extre- 

 inity of the Charwar range, belongs to this formation, and, therefore, dif- 

 fers materially from the greater part of the rang^, which is composed 

 principally of sandstone, except in the portion opposite Bhooj, where 

 this laminated series also occurs. The strata being principally horizon- 

 tal, the hills have a conical form. 



It is a curious circumstance, that, in the same group, some of the hills 

 of the laminated strata have a thick capping of sandstone, whilst an im- 

 mediately adjoining peak, of equal height, has none. I conceive the 

 thick beds of the sandstone once covered the whole surface, and that 

 on their upheavement they broke into masses, which have been since de- 

 nuded from some of the hills, the debris forming the de'^p sandy plain 

 around Bhcoj. 



In the hill of Joge -ki-bif, near Nurra, on the Tlunn, the beds dip from 

 40" to 50° to the north, and alternate three times with basalt. The 

 strata vary greatly in character, some of them being very hard and cry- 

 stalline, particularly those contair ing calcareous matter ; whilst other 

 parts of the series, immediately adjoining, are very friable and e-irthy. 

 Some of ihe schists assume the character of a roofing-slate, and others 

 are only sofr, laminated blue clay. 



A cluster of hills, occupying a surface of three or four square miles 

 to the north-west of the city of Bhooj, called the Bhoodha hills, also be- 

 longs to this formation, being com.posed of slate-clay, tabular sandstone, 

 and limestone slate, in many parts as^'uming a very friable, earthy tex- 

 ture, and frequently capped with thick beds of coarse, soft sandstone. 

 The strata aie often horizontal ; in which case the hills are conical ; but 

 in many instances the beds incline at a considerable atigle ; and the hills 

 assume, when capped by the sandstone, the usual form of an abrupt es- 

 carpment, with a long inclined opposite side. They are intersected by 

 numerous ravines and nullahs ; the looseness of the soil, and peculiar 

 tabular construction of the strata, offering a very slight resistance to the 

 action of the rains. The Chuppal hills, between Guranee and Nurra, in 

 the north-western division of the province, afford another example of the 

 elevation of these strata into hills. They consist of beds of a very earthy 

 and friable description, covered by a thick stratum of hard crystalline 

 sandstone, slightly calcareous ; and the lower part forming a sloping ta- 

 lus, capped by the hard rock, in masses 20 feet thick ; they appear as if 

 they were surmounted by old ruins or turrets. 



Manner in which the Hills have been formed. — From an attentive ex- 

 amination of these hills, I am led to infer, that they havf^ all been uplift- 



