S2 Dr Hamilton on the Diamond Mine of Fauna. 
though the upper part of the hill occupied by the fort, consistiS- 
of the usual freestone, the lower part, on the south side at least, 
towards the market-place called Katra, consists of a very fine 
perfect granite, with large concretions of red felspar. Accord- 
ing to a manner of reasoning usual with several mineralogists, 
we should call this granite incumbent on the sandstone, the lat- 
ter occupying the higher and central part of the ridge. I will 
venture to say, that in the world there is not a more perfect 
granite, nor one which has less the appearance of stratification ; 
and it must be observed, that in many parts between the Sand- 
stone range and the Ganges and Yamuna, there are scattered 
small detached peaks of the rocks usually called Primitive, as at 
the hill near Banda, already described. Beyond these peaks 
there is no rock whatever, until we come to the Himaiya moun- 
tains. 
From Singhapur, adjacent to Ajaygar, I proceeded in an 
easterly direction, through a narrow valley, for about four miles, 
to Vizramgunj, at the bottom of the main sandstone range of 
hills. Here, as the name implies, had been a neat resting-place, 
with a reservoir of water, and various accommodations for tra- 
vellers. From the style of the buildings, they would appear to 
have been erected by the Muhammedans, and are said to have 
been destroyed out of mere wantonness by the last Marhatta 
officer stationed at the place. From this resting place, I ascend- 
ed the hill by a very bad road, but practicable for loaded cattle 
or palanquins, and conducted with total disregard to art, as it 
leads straight up the steepest ascents. The total height is very 
considerable, perhaps five or six hundred feet perpendicular. In 
the middle of the way has been another place of refreshment, 
built in the same style with that below, and probably also a 
Muhammedan work.. The hills here abound in Sagwan (Tec- 
tona grandis), and in a species of Diospyrus producing Abnus 
(Ebeiius). The former, so far as I can learn, never reaches to 
a size fit for use ; the latter is nowhere larger or better. The 
tree is by the natives called Tenged ; it is only the black heart 
that is called Abnus, — a Persian term, from which our Ebony is 
derived ; and I am well informed that, in the Sangskritta, there 
is no term for this wood, }X)lished timber, it would seem, havin^^ 
