6 
Reco. ds of the Geological Survey of India. 
[vol. VII. 
are remarkably like those in the Subathu region, upper secondary formations have been identi¬ 
fied in sequence with nummulitic deposits, and of which no trace has as yet been found in 
the sections described to the east. The presence of such a close sequence of formations 
would in itself go far to negative here the interpretation that has been given of the features 
in the Simla region, and thus support Mr. Wynne in rejecting it for tire ground he describes. 
But it is quite possible that both may be right. If widely different modes of action did not 
occasionally produce similarity of result, the art of observing would be much simpler than 
it is. These existing discrepancies of fact and of opinion can only be adjusted by the exami¬ 
nation of the long stretch of intervening mountains between the Jhilum and the liavi. 
Ou the south-east side of India, Mr. Theobald completed the survey of Pegu. This 
work was commenced in the close of 1860 under Mr. Blanford, assisted by Mr. Fedden. 
In 1862 Mr. Theobald took Mr. Blanford's place; and since 1S64 he has been alone at the 
work, and for eighteen months absent on furlough. On the north the limit of this work is a 
very broken one; all the formations have a north and south strike, and are thus absolutely 
cut off along the frontier. On the east the boundary is very regular and natural. At a 
little to the east of the Salwin in Martaban, along a very steady line, the tertiary formations 
rest against crystalline matamorphic rocks. The ground to the east of this has not been 
surveyed topographically. No one who has not made the attempt can form a conception of 
the difficulty of observing the rocks in a wild tropical region. Bank vegetation produces deep 
soil; and where the rocks themselves are not very hard, as is the case with much ot these 
tertiary formations, one may march for days through a hill country without getting a fair 
section of rock in place. There thus remains a great deal to clear up in the geology of 
Pegu; but the description now published will form an admirable guide to further investiga¬ 
tions. Fossils, too, seem to be very scarce. Enough only have been discovered to establish 
the presence of triassio, cretaceous, and nummulitic strata forming the Arakan Yomah, 
beneath the general mass of younger tertiary deposits on the east, forming the Pegu Yomah. 
The south-eastern districts of this province form a totally distinct geological field from that 
now completed by Mr. Theobald, as marked by the eastern boundary of this area. They are 
entirely formed of crystalline and sub-metamorpliic rocks, in which there is much promise 
of metalliferous deposits. On this account the mining engineer appointed as mining 
geologist to the Survey has been deputed to examine those regions. Mr. Fryar reports 
directly to the Chief Commissioner of British Burniali. 
Mr. Ball’s work for the season has not yet been noticed: till the middle of February he 
was engaged in accompanying Mr. Bauermau to some of the coal and iron-fields of Bengal 
and the Narbada valley. It was quite out of the question that Mr. Ball could then take up his 
work in the distant wilds of Sirguja; so ho occupied the time most usefully in completing 
the arrangement of our collections for the Vienna Exhibition. 
Even if Mr. Bauerman’s deputation to India had not so directly touched upon the 
work of the Geological Survey, it would call for notice here. He is the latest, and no doubt 
the most competent, of a series of experts sent out from England to report on the prac¬ 
ticability oi iron manufacture in India on European methods. His preliminary report con¬ 
taining the general result of his observations has been published; but the question seems 
to stand pretty much as before. Mr. Bauerman has simply restated the case in a more 
intelligible form than some of his predecessors, but no more so than it has all along been 
expressed by the Geological Survey—that, under existing circumstances, the Eaniganj coal¬ 
field is the most promising place for a trial, tho principal, defect there being the flux; aud 
the Survey has been called upon to furnish further data. The only good to be expected 
from Mr. Bauerman’s visit is, to establish the opinion that actual trial must be the next 
stage of the enquiry. As an accomplished metallurgist he may also suggest what recent 
