1831.] 
found in the Himmalaya. 
269 
supposed the rock has not its primary character yet fully developed. But in the 
superior part of this zone, and in the gneiss zone, nothing of the kind has ever 
been detected. 
The gneiss zone being stratified and dipping at no great inclination to the N. E. 
the consequences to be expected are, that in proceeding to the north eastward the 
same succession of strata would be found, hut at greater elevations. And this is 
the fact, although the development of the rocks to the north is not equal in extent 
to those on the south side. Micaceous schist with its associates gradually give 
way to gray-waeke slate or gray-waeke, which rocks are found at very great 
elevations : limestone with organic remains is found in beds in these rocks, and at 
such an elevation, that the tertiary strata may be expected to occur at very great 
heights, and even the superficial deposits which have been called diluvium. It may 
be proper here to note, as the source of many erroneous ideas on the geology as 
well as physical character of the Trans-himmalayan countries, that the term 
plateau or table land cannot with any propriety be applied to such part of them as 
we have any means of visiting, or even of viewing at a distance. This subject I 
have fully discussed in my report of the survey in which I was engaged by order 
of Government : it may be sufficient here to state, that the country is mountainous 
and uneven, intersected by deep ravines, the beds of torrents, or by river gorges of 
great depth and steepness, and that any thing like a plain or moderately undulat- 
ing valley of a mile square is not to be found. In fact, when it is considered that 
the tract in question is occupied by the Sutluj and Indus with their branches, it 
may well be supposed to be any thing rather than a plateau . 
The occurrence then of the organic remains we have lately had before us, 
would seem to he some warrant for our expecting the tertiary strata much 
nearer to the zone of gneiss, than judging from the analogy on the southern 
side we should expect to find them. As a consequence of this proximity to the 
crest of the highest chain of mountains in the world, and the small inclination of 
the strata, they must be situated at higher levels than these rocks have yet been 
observed to occupy. As a corollary we may also expect, that the superficial 
and most recent deposits will be found at a great elevation ; and in this way there 
may certainly be a central plateau or table land far beyond our frontier, of which 
however we can scarcely expect ever to have a glimpse. 
Having thus cursorily illustrated the physical structure and geology of the tract 
in question, I proceed to notice the several occurrences of organic remains with 
which I am acquainted. 
The first notice of organic remains from the Himmalaya mountains was I believe 
derived from the fact of the Gunduk river bringing down, with the stones in its 
hed, specimens of Ammonites , the Saligrami of the Hindus. As nothing was known 
at the time of the geology of the mountains, the fact attracted little notice, and 
mdeed was only known perhaps to those who interested themselves in the history 
and nature, of Hindu observances. The next occurrence in point of time was the 
fact learned by Europeans resident in Kemaoon, of the occurrence of fossil bones 
as well as of Ammonites in the interior of the snowy range, and their circulation in 
commerce as an article of export. These bones were called Bijli ca har , lightning 
h °nes, as the expression may be translated ; and they were valued, not only as 
c harms, but as medicines ; belonging in the latter case to the class of absoi bents. 
As they consist chiefly of carbonate of lime, it appears that they were not un tte 
for this office. Who was the first discoverer of these bones, and appreciate t le 
interest belonging to them in Europe, I cannot positively say ; 1 1 athei think how 
