OF THE TENASSERIM PROVINCES. 
391 
great range of bills crossing tbe horizon to the S. E, of his 
position, coming from the N.W. and proceeding in about a 
S. E. direction towards the Cambodia river ; from the higher 
altitude and greater uniformity of course, he felt convinced 
that it was the continuation of the Himalaya chain of moun¬ 
tains, which, after passing the head waters of the Menam 
and Cambodia rivers, terminates on the coast of Cochin 
China. That from which the observation was made, which 
for the sake of distinction, we may call the Peninsula range, 
did not appear to belong to the same system as the former, 
and, within the scope of vision, consisted of a congeries 
of small ranges throwing out spurs in all directions and 
coming more from the westward than the other. 
As applying to a line of country hitherto so little known 
as that lying between our frontier and the border Chinese 
province of Yunam, such observations as the foregoing 
have a relative value, as they serve to correct data not clearly 
established, and afford a more perfect one for geographical 
discretion than has hitherto obtained. This subject merits 
particular attention, as, from the extensive ramifications at¬ 
tending all mountain systems, a correct knowledge of them 
cannot be attained unless by great application and intimate 
acquaintance with their localities. 
Connected with the upraised geological features of this 
Province (Amherst) are the ranges of primary sandstone hills, 
varying in height from 100 to 1,500 feet, which extend from 
the mountain limestone in a series of isolated masses, ap¬ 
proaching the Sal win at Maulmain, and thence proceeding in 
a S. E. direction for a distance of 50 miles :—this formation 
may be distinctly traced from the stunted appearance of the 
vegetation upon it, and when steep declivities occur shewing 
a bare mass of weather worn rock of a deep red color. An 
examination of several of the vallies forming the watercourses 
in the above, shewed the formation to consist of a compact 
ferruginous sandstone highly indurated, with a quartzose frac¬ 
ture ; no general line of stratification could be observed in the 
main body, but in one of the lateral fissures at a height of 
200 feet it was plainly discernable, shewing a course agreeing 
with that of the range (S. E ) and with the dip nearly vertical. 
This however cannot be generally applicable as from the 
disturbances and irregularities at the surface, a very short 
distance would doubtless shew a varying direction and angle 
of dip. Distributed along the base ot these sandstone hills 
lie huge fragments of the main formation, some of the larger 
masses having been precipitated from near the summit, in 
