MYSORE, CANARA, AND MALABAR. 31 
common. The strata resemble those in the Ghats. The white CHAPTER 
granite is the most prevalent ; but the masses of quartz impregnated 
with iron are much larger, and more perfect. I saw no other rocks : 
it would however appear, from the stones in the wall of the fort, 
that the country produces red granite. Near Vmcataghery I ob- 
served the water tinged with an iridescent oily matter, floating on 
its surface, as is usual in coal countries. 
3th May. — In the morning I went to Baydamungulum; leaving 
on my right a hill crowned with a fortress, and a temple dedicated 
to Seitadeva . By the way I visited a place to the north of my route, 
where the natives obtain limestone. I found it to be two small fields, 
containing what in Bengal is called Congcar. These fields are dis- 
tant from each other about three hundred yards, and are situated on 
a low piece of ground, surrounded by naked rocks of white granite. 
This low ground is intersected by the channel of a torrent, 
which at this season is quite dry; and the water of the only spring 
that I have yet seen in this arid country, passes by the sides of the 
two calcareous fields. In some parts of these fields the small con- 
cretions, of which Congcar consists, are found on the surface, mixed 
with the soil ; in others, a foot of soil must be removed, before they 
are found in any quantity. The natives have never dug deep to 
ascertain the thickness of the bed. This kind of stone seems to 
be the calcareus aquabilis incarnatus of Wallerius. II. p, 124. Similar 
beds are said to be scattered all over the country. A few families 
of Malawanlu gain a subsistence by collecting the limestone, by 
burning it in kilns, and selling the Chunam , or quick-lime, for 
chewing with betel. 
Common salt ( Muriate of Soda) seems to be also very generally Culinary salt, 
diffused over this part of the country. It is found in low wet grounds, 
contained in a black poor soil, and in Tippoo’s reign was extracted 
in considerable quantities. The trade with the Nabob's dominions 
beijig then entirely contraband, such a bulky article could not be 
smuggled in quantities sufficient for the consumption, and the 
