ANCIENT CAPITAL OF THE PRASII. 
39 
course, as its earthy contents came to be deposited on the 
bank. At a short distance from the hills, we find the allu- 
vion of the river mingling with the black earth ; and long 
before we are out of sight of these, the soil seems almost 
entirely composed of a deposite from its waters. Granting^ 
therefore, that the J umna held its course farther to the 
south than the present bed of the river, we can easily con- 
ceive that the sister-stream of the Ganges may have joined 
its waters also more to the south and east than the present 
point of confluence at Allahabad, and in a situation so near 
to the hills, as to correspond in every respect with the ac- 
count handed down to us of the site of Palibothra by an- 
cient writers. 
From the very cursory glance I could bestow on the district, 
in passing through it, I am not in possession of such exact 
information relative to the changes in the appearance of the 
soil as I could wish, and as would be necessary to form an 
accurate conclusion on this particular point. It appears to 
me, however, that were the existing geological relations of 
countries more attended to and studied, many disputed 
points in reference to their ancient history would be deter- 
mined, and rules established, for the guidance of the anti- 
quary, which would materially abridge his labour and re- 
search. 
The other soils in Bundlecund are those formed from 
the debris of the granite and the sandstone rocks. The first 
is found at the village of Kurtul, and is very limited ; the 
sandstone soil is seen between that village and Adjyghur — - 
it is more extensive than the other; but as it abounds 
above the Ghaut, after passing Punnah, the account of its 
qualities will be best given along with the appearance of that 
district. 
The appearance of the first hills, after entering the 
Jumna, has been already detailed. It is quite character- 
