230 



Geology of the Neilgherries, 



[No. 12, NEW SERIES, 



Moreover were it of such recent origin, we should expect to find 

 below, in a blackened soil, evidence of former vegetation ; such 

 however may be looked for in vain. 



I have observed that the ravines and vallies on the Western 

 sides of the Hills are more fertile than in the opposite direction, 

 this corroborates my opinion regarding the direction of the flood 

 from the Eastward. At the time the waters began to subside, the 

 body of them still flowing Westward, partial stagnations took 

 place under the western sides of the mountain ridges acting as 

 breakwaters upon the torrent. In such tranquil spots it deposited 

 soil in the ravines which shortly gave birth to forests. These 

 forests at a subsequent period, in their rain by the hand of time, 

 created another vegetable crust for younger trees, an operation 

 that has gone on ever since, and still continues. On the other 

 hand, the Eastern sides of the ridges being exposed to the current 

 of the waters, could hold no soil, and it was not until a long sub- 

 sequent period that vegetation took root in a stratum derived from 

 the disintegration of its groundrock. The conglomerate and garnet 

 pudding-stone, on a future occasion to be described more fully, are 

 evidently of aqueous origin, being consolidated by a clay made by 

 water. 



There cannot possibly be an objection to citing Holy Writ in 

 support of an hypothesis which, when proved to be true, in return 

 tends to corroborate the truth of the Scriptures. In the seventh 

 Chapter of Genesis in the 19th and 20th verses it is said: — 

 " And the waters prevailed exceedingly upon the Earth, and all 

 the high Hills that were under the whole Heaven were covered." 



— And the mountains were covered." 18th verse — 



" And the waters prevailed and were increased greatly upon the 

 Earth, And the Ark went upon the face of the waters." 



Now the expression t( went upon the face of the waters " obvious- 

 ly implies the existence of a current that carried the ark onwards. 

 Let us next endeavour to ascertain from the voice of tradition, his- 

 torical record, and the same high authority, the direction in which 

 the Ark was propelled. An universal opinion prevails that the 

 family of Noah and his ancestors were settled somewhere in Cen- 

 tral Asia previous to the flood. It is fair to suppose, that at the 



