1837.] 



Geology of the Deccan, 



351 



frequently the tops or terminal planes of columns are observed on the 

 table-land forming a pavement. The perfect columns in the flanks are 

 generally small, four, five, or six-sided, and rest on a stratum of basalt 

 or amygdaloid. In some spots the columns are articulated, in others 

 not. In a mass of columns in the face of the table-land towards 

 Serroor the columns are of different lengths, but spring from the same 

 level. More articulations having been washed from the outer columns 

 than from the inner by monsoon torrents dashing over them, a pretty 

 flight of steps remains. The columns of this table-land are from the 

 most part erect, but sometimes stand at various angles, to the horizon, 

 usually at 45o. In one instance, near the village of Kurdah, they lean 

 from the east and west, towards a central upright mass : these are 

 about fourteen feet in length, and are not articulated. In a mass of 

 columns facing the west, and two miles south of the cavalry lines at 

 Serroor, some are bent and not articulated ; they are nevertheless 

 associated with straight columns, which are articulated. At Karkul- 

 lah thirty miles north-west of Poona, between Tellegaon and Lo- 

 ghur, a hill has been scarped for the great military road. Very nu- 

 merous small columns occur in the escarpment, and they lie piled 

 upon each other in a horizontal position ; the only instance of the 

 kind within my knowledge in Dukhun. Two or three hundred yards 

 west of the village of Yewtee Purgunnah Kurdeh, in the rocky banks 

 of a rivulet, imperfect columns are seen. On the right bank they are 

 so marked, as to have excited the attention of the natives (an unusual 

 event) ; and they are daubed with red lead, in the manner of Hindoo 

 deities, and venerated. 



At Kothool, twenty-two miles south of Ahmednuggur, there is a 

 thick stratum of close-grained gray homogeneous basalt in the face of 

 the hill on which is seated the temple of Kundobah. Vertical and 

 horizontal fissures are seen in the lateral plane or exposed edge of this 

 stratum, but they are so far from each other as to leave huge blocks 

 between them, giving the appearance of the superstratum of the hill 

 being supported by massive articulated pilasters. Parts of the expos- 

 ed edge are detached from its mass, leaving rude columns four or five 

 feet in diameter, eight or ten high, and composed of three or four 

 weighty stones disposed to assume geometrical forms. In the water- 

 courses near Kurroos Turruf Ranjungaon, columns are observable. 

 The basalt is bluish gray, compact, has a vitreous hue, and sharp 

 fracture. The columns occur very abundantly in the slope of the 

 hills, on either side of a very narrow valley running westward from 

 the village of Ankoolner, Ahmednuggur collectorate. They are five 



