80 
Records of the Geological Survey of India. 
[vol. rv* 
The Central Provinces present many localities peculiarly likely to throw light, if carefully 
studied, on this intensely interesting question—the antiquity of man. But such inquiries 
can only he satisfactorily carried out by those who are long resident in the immediate 
vicinity, and can therefore watch the constant changes which occur, and take immediate 
advantage of any opportunity which may present itself. 
Saline sands and clays. 
Beneath the recent conglomerates and ossiferous gi'avels of a large portion of western 
Chanda is a well-marked deposit of brownish-yellow 
sand or clayey sandstone. This is seen over many 
miles of the country wherever the streams cut through the upper beds to any depth. It is 
not at all improbable that it may prove to be of different geological age, and quite distinct 
from the beds resting on it. No good sections have yet been seen, It is specially noticed here 
inasmuch as it contains a certain amount of salt, which is thrown out as au efflorescence 
where this loose sandstone is exposed to the weather, and produces miry places always wet 
and soft, and often difficult to cross. In connection with this deposit we may recall the 
occurrence of beds very low down in the alluvium, or below it, all containing a considerable 
quantity of common salt, in the Berar alluvial plain not far to the west of Chanda. Into 
this salt-hearing stratum wells are sunk for the extraction of brine, from which much salt is 
obtained. I am not aware of any brine-wells in the Chanda district, but this deposit 
contains a considerable amount of common salt, although much mixed with impurities, chiefly 
sulphate of magnesia (Epsom salts).* It is not impossible that the presence of common 
salt in sensible quantities may indicate that the clays containing it have had a marine origin, 
and are thus quite distinct from the beds which rest upon them. 
To treat of the more recent alluvial deposits of the country would involve rather more 
of agricultural than geological questions, and I would 
leave such to others more competent to enter upon 
them. 
Surface soils. 
The black soil or regar, or as it is not uncommonly called the ‘ cotton soil,’ forms one of 
the most marked varieties in these provinces. It is 
the common soil of the Deccan, MAIw&, Narbada 
valley, &e. It varies greatly in colour, in consistence, and, with these, in fertility, hut 
throughout is marked by the constant character of being a highly argillaceous, somewhat 
calcareous clay, being very adhesive when wetted, and from its very absorbent nature ex¬ 
panding and contracting to a very remarkable extent, under the successive influence ol 
moisture and dryness. It therefore becomes fissured in every direction by huge cracks in 
the hot weather. It also retains a good deal of moistuve, and requires therefore less irri¬ 
gation than more sandy ground. The colour of this soil, often a deep and well-marked 
black, with every variation from this to a brownish-black, would appear to he solely due to 
an admixture of vegetable (organic) matter in a soil originally very clayey. Thus deposits 
of precisely the same character as this regar are being formed now at the bottom of every 
jhtt in the country, and throughout the very area where the regar is best marked, it is not 
by any means an uncommon thing to find the slopes of the small hills or undulations formed 
* Two specimens of salt ronghiy prepared from this sandy clay by lixiviation and evaporation were assayed at 
the Geological Survey Office, and yielded— 
Chloride of sodium ... ... ••• ••• -• 82 - 89 87'58 
Sulphate of magnesia ... ... ... ... ••• 1602 1186 
Clay atid organic matter ... ... ... ••• 160 1‘40 
The first of these was obtained from what is called the white chopan soil; the second was from the dark 
chopan soil. 
