part 2.] Wilkinson : Geological Structure of Southern Konkan. 
47 
attain a very slight elevation about this part of the country, and outlying trap is found 
capping them to the south of the valley forming low comparatively flat-topped hills, varied 
by higher spurs to the cast of Kolsooli. This trap also becomes concealed under the laterite, 
south of Ivunkooli (Usya Mut), the edges of the bed (for it seems as if only one bed extended 
far) being seen in the scarped sides of the laterite hills not far from their summits. Still 
further south-west and extending almost to Malwun, outliers of trap are found overlying the 
metamorphics and under the laterite. 
South of the trap hills and spurs which are found in the northern part of the Sawunt 
Waree state, the metamorphio rocks attain a greater elevation, forming lofty spurs in the 
neighbourhood of the ghats. The earlier trap flows abutted against these hills, but it was 
only the higher beds which could have concealed their summits, and as you go south out¬ 
lying patches are still found capping the great metamorphie ridges, even as far westward 
as the town of Sawunt Waree, on the hills which surround that place. 
In the ghats the older rocks attain a greater and greater height, and are only covered 
by two or three beds of a very inconsiderable thickness. 
There is a curious example of outlying patches of the highest beds of the ghats in 
the shape of small slab-like masses of tap rock left on the most elevated parts of the spurs. 
These from their almost inaccessible position were long ago chosen as sites on which hill 
forts were constructed. They are generally separated from the ghats by a deep gorge. As 
examples of these forts in the Sawunt Waree state may be instanced those of Rangna, 
Monohur, Hummutgur, Pargurh, Suda, &c. 
The Sawunt Waree state is composed for the most part of metamorphie rocks, but there 
is at the northern part, as I have mentioned, a considerable quantity of trap, and on the west 
the narrow band of laterite. These with the ghats on the east form physical features 
which serve as a sort of natural boundary to the country. The great metamorphie spurs 
which run out west from under the mural termination of the Deccan trap at the ghats, 
extend to varying distances, and either end abruptly or break into clusters of lower 'hills. 
The intervening country is low and covered with thicker soil than is usually the case in the 
Konkan : this renders the Sawunt Waree state more open to cultivation than the barren 
laterite plateau to the west and north. 
The soil is obtained from the disintegration of the metamorphie rocks, and is light 
coloured and clayey, though fine sandy soil occurs as frequently, being derived from the 
quartzite and altered sandstone so abundant in the district. 
Along the alluvial banks of the rivers, rice is extensively cultivated during all the fine 
season, a system of irrigation being established by means of Persian wheels and other con¬ 
trivances. By these water is constantly raised from the beds of the rivers, and distributed 
by channels to the different plots of rice ground in the neighbourhood, these fields having 
been previously prepared. They consist of rich alluvial mud traversed by numerous little 
channels for the water, crossing each other at right angles. When the country cultivated 
is inclined at any angle, an arrangement of step-like embankments is constructed, each sur¬ 
rounded by a little mud parapet, a few inches high. The water after thoroughly saturating 
oue field is allowed to escape into the next below, through an orifice cut in the parapet. 
This system of irrigation is very generally made use of throughout the Konkan. 
