248 
THE RUINS OF CHOMPAWUT. 
cimens I have seen of Aberdeen granite : the 
quartz is crystalline, but the felspar is dull 
and earthy. The latter appearance may be 
the elfect of exposure to the weather, as I 
cannot depend on the perfection of the spe- 
cimens examined ; and from the great hard- 
ness of the rock, I was unable to detach 
fresher pieces. Its specific gravity is 2.71375.” 
Gneiss is next noticed, reposing on granite 
in strata which conform to each other, the 
transition between the two rocks being 
effected by imperceptible degrees. Alluding 
to the newer granite, Dr. McClelland says 
that the quantity becomes less crystalline 
and smaller in quantity in proportion to the 
other ingredients ; and, disappearing, leaves 
chiefly felspar and mica, with a very small 
portion of amorphous quartz. The rock then 
becomes less compact, in which state it is 
found at the base ; it thence extends in a 
north-westerly direction and forms the 
principal portion of the most elevated 
district in Kemaon, where denuded masses 
of granite, or more compact and du- 
rable gneiss, and green-stone are seen in 
remarkable order. At Dole, on the road be- 
tween Lohooghat and Almorah, unconnected 
masses are heaped together in the form of 
a cone. Mountain masses of globular shape 
are accumulated on the verge of frightful 
precipices, so nicely balanced that the least 
force would serve to precipitate them into 
a dreadful abyss. Our author alludes 
to the ruins of Chompawut, the ancient 
capital of Kemaon, which was erected on 
gneiss at the northern side of Choura Pany, 
and says, it was totally destroyed by the 
decomposition of the eminence on which 
it stood. Our author is of opinion, that 
these stupendous rocks originally formed 
the nuclei in gneiss ; and, from a peculiar 
tendency to decay, mouldered into friable 
earth, and was removed by the torrents, leav- 
ing masses exposed upon the surface. Dr. 
McClelland would thus account for the ruin 
of Chompawut, and the sinking and decay 
of mountains. We leave it to our readers 
to judge as to the correctness of these con- 
clusions, and whether gneiss and other 
parts of the rock would have undergone 
such great changes as to destroy these cities 
by the imperceptible decay of the rocks on 
which they were erected. 
‘ ‘The strata of gneiss run in the direction of 
N. W. and dip 80^ to N. E. ; they vary in 
thickness fi’om five to eight feet, and con- 
tain foreign beds of granite, green-stone, 
iron mica, and micaceous iron ore ; also co- 
temporaneous veins of quartz and felspar. 
Specific gravity of fresh specimens, 2-635. 
The mountains which are formed of this 
rock are usually rugged, and covered with 
dense forests of oak. 
. (A) FERRUGINOUS SLATE. 
The rock to which this name is given oc- 
curs in subordinate beds in each of the fore- 
going rocks. 
At Choura Pany, it is found in granite, 
in beds of a hundred feet thick. At Dole, 
about forty miles north-west of Choura Pany, 
a similar rock occurs, resting on gneiss. Its 
colour is blackish grey, with lighter and 
darker stripes on the surface of the cross 
fracture. 
It occurs massive. External lustre glim- 
mering ; lustre of the principal fracture, 
shining, and of the cross Aacture, earthy, or 
glimmering. Fracture, slaty, with a single 
cleavage. Fragments, tabular. It is semi- 
hard, inclining to soft. It soils. Specific 
gravity, 2*384. 
PHYSICAL CHARACTER. 
It has no effect on the magnet, either be- 
fore or after exposure to the blow-pipe. 
CHEMICAL CHARACTERS. 
On exposure to the blue flame of the blow- 
pipe, it slowly assumes a reddish yellow 
surface. It gives to borax a greyish green 
colour, inclining to greyish-white on the 
edges. 
This rock might be named a mica-slate, 
containing a small portion of micaceous iron 
ore, finely disseminated with very fine gra- 
nular quartz, common mica, and fine earthy 
felspar. 
3.— HORNBLENDE-SLATE. 
It has been shewn, that the two rocks, 
(gneiss and granite,) already described, form 
the principal mountain ridge, in nearly, but 
not quite, vertical strata : for a dip of 80® is 
invariably observed, bending to the north- 
east. This fact, together with others which 
are yet to be observed, renders it nearly cer- 
tain, that a great basin or trough, of con- 
siderable depth, is formed by the substratum, 
orfundamentalrock;descending from the centre 
of the high mountainchain,and ascending again 
to form the basis of the principal mountain 
chain. This basin, it would appear, is filled 
up partly by a number of successive layers, 
of newer and newer rocks, and these layers 
or strata are not uniformly spread over every 
portion of the cavity of the basin ; but they 
are accumulated in particular places, and 
thus form subordinate troughs, or valleys ; 
wdiich have again been transformed by suc- 
ceeding deposites of newer rocks. 
Hornblende-slate appears to have been 
deposited chiefly in the bottom of this basin ; 
