164 
On the Diluvium of the Himmalaya. 
CMav 
th e Accumulation of Diluvium or Gravel in the Vallies which 
border the Great Himmalaya System of Formations. By Contain 
J. D. Herbert, D.S.G. 
Along the plainward boundary of the great Mountain System of the Himmalaya, 
which it is known extends from Cabul to Assam, there are disposed, at intervals, a 
series of rallies, being, with the exception of those of Cashmir and Nepal, the only 
values connected with that great tract of mountains. They are always bounded 
towards the south-west by low sandstone hills ; — low I mean in comparison with 
their northern wall, which are generally of the grey wacke formation, with lime- 
stone associated. . Ikeir surface is either level or moderately undulating, and the 
iocs, is seldom visible except in the hills that bound them. As examples of these 
valhes, I may mention those of Makowdl or Rdpar, Pinjdr, Kydrda, D&ira, Path, 
all between the Setlej and the GAgrah ; and again that of Chetafin, which lies to 
i 6 °f These are all that the writer has seen, but they continue, 
) 3t ^ ess >. a J° n S ^e whole line at intervals. They are from 20 to 50 miles in length, 
and or variable breadth, the widest being about 20. A peculiarity of their structure 
consists in their having two outlets for their drainage, one at each end ; their highest 
level being, somewhere between, though not always exactly, in the middle. These 
livers i are generally remarkable for the quantity of rounded stones they contain in 
their beds, which sometimes extend even fifteen miles from the mouth of the vallev. 
1 hese rounded stones comprise every variety of rock that is to be found in the in- 
terior ot the lulls— some of them being of such peculiarity of character as to be 
traceable, with the greatest certainty, to a distance upward of 25 miles. They are 
peitectly rounded, though varying in shape from lenticular through every variety of 
spheroidal to perfect spherical. Their size is most commonly about 3 to 6 or 7 
incdies in diameter, but they are found both larger and smaller than this. 
-these boulders, as they have been called, are also found along the foot of the sand- 
stone range that bounds these vallies, and in the beds of the torrents which intersect 
them, whether on the plain or valley side. They sometimes form small tables or 
Hat -topped lulls, separate from the sandstone range, and they appear to be spread 
out at the toot ot this sandstone range to a certain distance. The thickness of 
some of these deposits is very great. On the road to Bhamafin, a well was at- 
tempted to be sunk at Tandah ; but though the depth of 150 feet was attained, 
A, ey ri-i- n °\ pe " e ln a ? d throu £ b the deposite, or coine upon any spring of water. 
ALUiilcia about 60 fee t was cut through, with a similar want of success. These 
tacts show the great thickness of these beds. 
The soil in the vallies is of various character, but generally it may be described 
antW° r thouih sS ly ' 0 n ;i i ¥? 8 '- t : ) any depth ’ & ravel is met wirti more abund- 
antij , though sometimes a reddish brick earth is found instead. The gravel con- 
limestone S Z™ 0r ‘"n 10unde< ?> cbiefl y of quartz, of argillaceous 8 quartz, of 
limestone both common and magnesian, and of conglomerate. Angular fragments 
of clay 5k te are also found. All these latter rocks are in the hills whiclXnad 
greallemhT*! T ^ t0 T'r u The de P osite - be its nature, is of 
totVHnn Mr ° bvious , from , tbe following account of it, for which lam indebted 
The Bnrtfcul^nM?"’ W '° S - ank * Wel1 in the M,ra M "’ to tbe depth of 220 feet, 
and im h nnvl operation appear to have been carefully noted by Mr. Shore, 
i am happy to place them on record in the pages of the Gleanings. 
omf^^f ata ° bSerVed “ 5illkin « a ' Vdl 5baf t. “bout 
li mile south 
Feet. 
5 
4 
9 
2 
3 
8 
3f 
H 
Total. 
2 
22 
2 
16 
5 
.9 
18 
20 
23 
31 
31* 
36 
38 
60 
62 
78 
Description. 
Fine black mould, with a few stones. 
Reddish earth, mixed with gravel. 
DUto* Sand and gravel; lar 8 e st ones, with reddish clay. 
Stiff reddish clay. 
Stiff yellow clay. 
a ! d .S, rav ; el > mixed With a little red clay, 
stiff reddish clay. J 
Sand and gravel. 
Stiff red clay. 
( J h Z> saad > and gravel mixed. 
Sang and gravel. 
