212 
Analyses of Books. 
petual snow, even on the border of tbe Torrid Zone. u On the north we have the 
stupendous chain of the Himmalaya, extending from the confines ot China to Cash- 
niir, and the basin of the Onus. That vast accumulation of sublime peaks, the 
pinnacles of our globe, is so extensive, that a plane resting on elevations of 
21000 feet, may be stretched in one direction, as far as the Hindu Cob for upwards of 
1000 miles, above which rise loftier summits, increasing in height to nearly tiOf 0 feet 
more. Primitive (primary) rocks alone have been found to compose all that has 
yet been explored of the elevated portion of that chain. Towards the base we find 
sandstone, composing the southern steps of the chain, and forming the north-eastern 
barrier of the valley of the Jumna and Ganges, by- which and the diluvial plains of upper 
Hindustan, this great zone is separated from tbe mountain ranges of the peninsula. 
The opposite or southern boundary of this valley is of the same rock. Advanc- 
ing^ to the south we come to three inferior mountain ranges, on which the peninsu- 
lar table land of India may he said to rest, or more properly to which it owes its 
peculiar form and outline. We may consider these ranges separately, as the western 
or Malabar, the eastern or Coromandel, and the central or Vindhya.” 
“ The principal in elevation, and most remarkable in continuity of extent, is the 
western range, which commences in Cande- it and runs along the Malabar coast, 
within a short distance of the sea, in an unbroken chain to Cape Comorin ; excepting 
where it is interrupted near its southern extremity by the chasm which opens into 
the valley of Coimbetbr. The direction of this range deviates but little from north 
and south, bending a little eastward towards its southern extremity ; its elevation 
increases as it advances southward, the highest points being probably between lati- 
tudes 10° and 15°. N. where peaks of granite rise to 6000 feet and upwards. The 
northern extremity of this range is entirely covered by part of the extensive over- 
lying trap formation, to be more particularly described hereafter, extending in this 
quarter from the sea shore of the northern Concan, to a considerable distam e east- 
ward, above and beyond the ghats, as far perhaps as the river Tumhudra and 
Nagpbr." The usual features of basaltic countries are described as often obser- 
vable. “ The bills rising abruptly in perpendicular masses of a tabular form or in 
mural terraces piled on each other, like great flights of steps leading to some 
giant’s throne, are frequently separated by immense ravines : tbe whole clothed with 
luxuriant forests of teak and other trees, forming some of the most beautiful and 
romantic scenery of India. The elevation of this part of the range seldom exceeds 
3000 feet, but to the south its height gradually increases, and granitic rocks begin 
to reappear rising above the surface between 17° and 18* N. latitude, aDd from 
thence probably continuing to form the summits of the chain with little interrup- 
tion all the way to Cape Comorin.” 
The curious formation of iron clay or lalerite is represented as forming a suc- 
cession of low hills towards the sea-coast, and evidently resting on primary rocks ; 
the latter f granite) coming to the sartace at Malwan, Calicut, and some other points. 
This laterite appears to pass over into Ceylon. 
On the eastern side the arrangement is something different “ The plains of the 
Coromandel coast form rather a hroad though unequal belt of land between the 
mountains and the sea, exhibiting the alluvial deposits of all the rivers and streams 
that descend from the southern portion of the table land. The mouutain chain that 
forms the eastern boundary of the peninsula, begins to diverge eastward where its 
continuity is interrupted by the valley of Coimbetfir. From thence it breaks into 
a succession of parallel ranges, inferior in elevation and in unbroken continuity to 
the western chain ; and in the further progress northward, after branching off into 
subordinate hills ranges, occupying a wide tract of unexplored conntrv, and afford- 
ing valleys for the passage of the great rivers that drain nearly all the' waters of the 
Peninsula into the Bay of Bengal : this eastern range may be said to terminate at 
the same latitude as that of the commencement of the western. Granitic rocks 
(principally syenite) s. em to form the basis of the whole of these eastern ranges, 
appearing at most of the accessible summits from Cape Comorin to Hvdrabad." 
On these rest the usual series of primary rocks. 
» jHfmm,! 81 !!? 8 °i f - t u e 1 e, ; nar > Krishna > and Godaveri, various subordinate rocks 
are found, of which perhaps the most remarkable is what Dr. Voysey called tbe 
diamond breccia, m the Nella Mala range of mountains. Towards Vizagapataui and 
cowred hy faterite Ck Gr 8y >“ ite “ nd S f neiS 5 ) - pr f dominat e. They are occasionally 
covered ny latentc. Giamte is again found m the province of Tuftirk Traces of 
too have been observed .here, and gold is extracted fro^ 
aaddi. Latcntt is traced through Mednipfir by Bishenpur, and Bancora to Birbkuui, 
repos, ng sometimes on sandstone, more frequently on graniS At 
