44) 
GEOGRAPHICAL COLLECTIONS. 
Geography of Rajasthan, or Rajpootana ; from the “* Annals and Antiquities 
of Rajasthan, or the Central and Western Rajpoot States of India.” By 
Lizut.-Co.. James Top. Vol. I. Smith, Hider, & Co. London, 1829, 
-—{ Concluded from p. 364. ) 
*¢ LET-us now quit our alpine station on the Aravulli, and make a tour of the 
Péi-ar, or plateau of Central India, not the less important feature of this inte. 
esting region. It possesses a most decided character, and is distinct from the 
Vindhya to the north, and the Aravulli to the west, being of secondary formae 
tion, or trap of the most regular horizontal stratification. * 
Commencing the tour at Mandelgurh, let us proceed south, skirting Cheetore, 
(both are insulated rocks detached from the plateau,) thence by Jawud, Dantelli, 
Raimpoora, + Bhampoora, the Mokundurra Pass, to Gagrown, (where the Cali 
Sind forces an entrance through its table barrier to Hklaira, ||) and Mergwas, 
(where the Parbutti, taking advantage of the diminished elevation, passes from 
Malwa to Harouti,) and by Raghoogurh, Shahabad, Gazeegurh, Guswanee, to 
Jadoowati, when the plateau terminated in the Chumbul east, which from the 
Same point of outset, Mandelgurh, soon losing much of its table form, it stretches 
away in bold ranges, occasionally tabular, as in the Boondi fortress, by Dable« 
ma, Indurgurh, § and Lakheri,§ to Rint’humbor and Kerowli, terminating at 
Dholpoor Bari. 
The elevation and inequalities of this plateau are best seen by crossing it from 
west to east, from the plain to the level of Khumbul, where, with the exception of 
the short flat between Kotah and Polliferry, this noble stream is seen rushing 
through the rocky barrier. 
At Rint’humbor the plateau breaks into lofty ranges, their white summits 
sparkling in the sun, cragged but not peaked, and preserving the characteristic 
formation, though disunited from the mass. Here, then, are seven distinct 
ranges, (Latparra,) through all of which the Bunas has to force a passage to unite 
with the Chumbul beyond Rint’humbor; and the whole way from Kirowli to the 
river is an irregular table land, on the edge of whose summit are the fortresses of 
Ootgeer, Mundrel, and that more celebrated of T’hoon. But east of the eastern 
side there is still another step of descent, which may be said to originate near the 
fountain of the Sinde at Latote, and passing by Chanderi, Kuncadhana, Nirwar, 
and Gwalior, terminates at Deogurh, in the plains of Golind. The descent from 
this second step is into Boondelkhund and the valley of the Betwa. 
Distinguished as is this elevated region in the suriace of Central India, its 
summit is but little higher than the general elevation of the crest of the Vindhya, 
and upon a level with the valley of the Oodipoor, and base of the Aravulli. The 
skirt or descent, therefore, from these ranges, from the skirts of the plateau, is great 
and abrupt, of which the most intelligible and simple proof appears in the course of 
these streams. Few portions of the globe attest more powerfully the power exe 
erted by the action of water, to subdue every obstacle, than a view of the rock. 
bound channels of these streams in their adamantine barrier. Four streams, one 
of which, the Chumbul, would rank with the Rhone, have here forced their way, 
laying bare the stratification from the water’s level to the summit, from three to 
six hundred feet in perpendicular height, the rock appearing as if chiselled by 
* The structure of trap rocks in Europe is seamed, and not stratified. Ep, 
+ Near this the Chumbul first breaks into the Pat-ar, 
+ Here the Newar breaks the chain. 
| Here is the celebrated pass through the mountains. 
Both celebrated passes where the ranges are very complicated. 
VOL. I. 3K 
