so intimately mixed, without using some method of mechanical analysis, similar to that proposed by M. Cordier.

150. In the ascent from the village of Chelinga to the Goruldum Pass, no rock in situ is visible, but fragments of granite occur, of various sizes, strewed over a small flat at the commencement of the ascent. The source of these is not obvious. On the summit of the Pass quartz rock and chloritic schist, passing into micaceous schist are found in strata, the dip of which is a little obscure, but which seemed to be N. 60° W. Of the quartz rock, it is doubtful, whether it be not a transported block, but the schist is evidently in its place. On leaving the Pass in the descent to the village of Koolem, an earthy decomposing granite in amorphous patches is met with, of the same character as that noticed above Baree, in the valley of the Mundaknee, (Art. 100.) This rock is a very remarkable one, and requires a little detailed description. The proportion of felspar compared to that of the other ingredients is very great, and it appears to be singularly subject to decomposition, so much so, that the rock may be dug like a bed of clay or vegetable mould; the quartz and felspar, on a first appearance, form one uniform mass, in which, however, they are to be distinguished by colour, the quartz being greyish white and the felspar yellowish, and by their state of disintegration. The mica is of a dirty brownish green colour, and is disposed rather irregularly, as well as scantily. The laminæ are never parallel, a character by which it has been proposed to distinguish granite from gneiss, and which if it hold universally, will form an useful distinction, as being easily recognised.

151. On descending into the valley described in Art. 149, no rock is visible for a considerable distance, the soil being of great depth, and frequently overspread with forests. In the beds of streams however, may be observed occasionally the edges of strata, both hornblende schist and gneiss, and there are several patches of the decomposing granite also. In the ascent from Hath to Retorah villages, gneiss may be observed, at first of a very regular character, bluish grey, and strongly resembling the most legitimate gneiss of the Himmalaya. The gneiss appears gradually to pass into micaceous schist, which at Retorah is white, fine granular, and almost might be called slaty quartz rock. On the summit of the Hackena Pass, which leads into the valley of the Cossillah, it is of a dark greenish brown colour, very micaceous, and very

tender. The dip of the rock at Retorah was irregular, and the gneiss in the neighbourhood equally so, the strata having many undulations, but the rock observed in the bottom of the valley had a dip N. W.

152. Descending from this Pass quartz rock of an arenaceous composition is found. It contains beds of chloritic schist. Beyond this, near Mala, argillaceous schist becomes established, of great variety of aspect, of a purplish, greenish and light grey colour, straight, fissile, with rhombhoidal cleavages, and of a soft consistence, comprising every variety almost of the brightest colours. It contains beds of limestone, which are often highly argillaceous. Farther down in the valley of the Cossillah, micaceous schist is met with, and then an extensive patch of gneiss, which stretches across the valley, and is probably connected with other masses shortly to be noticed. Afterwards the micaceous schist again re-establishes itself, and continues to Almorah. Here for the present we shall break off this description, and return to the route from Sacen, in which gneiss was traced as far as Naneik, and to the bed of the Ramgunga below the village, (Art. 106.)

153. The route proceeds by Ratik, gneiss accompanying us the whole way; some fragments of a very peculiar rock were found, composed wholly of a substance which might be called intermediate in character between rhombohedral and prismatic talc mica. It was of a dark brownish green colour, and the folia of the mineral were placed in every direction, having the appearance of a confused aggregation. The same rock occurs rather abundantly in the ascent to the Soor Doora Pass, but always in fragments, while the rock in situ continues to be gneiss as far as the village of Soor. Beds of hornblende schist, and of micaceous schist occur in the descent to the bed of the Sirjoo river; the gneiss being, however, the containing rock, and continuing to some distance beyond the village of Soope.

154. Here the rock begins to change, the gneiss appearing to pass into a fine grained mixture of talc and quartz, which may also perhaps contain felspar. This is succeeded by quartz rock, which again becomes talcose, and incloses small beds of talcose schist. It passes into chloritic schist also, the quartz becoming at first green. The latter rock contains veins of quartz, and on one a particular concretion of so remarkable a shape and appearance, as to have the strongest resemblance to a rib-bone. In endeavouring to detach it, the resemblance was des

L

troyed by fracture. On the Pass of Chowr Bunaik, the talcose rock is fairly established, being occasionally schistose, occasionally amorphous or massive. It is of a white colour and beautiful nacreous lustre. Descending thence, various mixtures of this mineral, (prismatic tale mica,) with quartz, are found sometimes inclining to a green colour, and apparently allied to chloritic schist, sometimes to a blue, and passing into argillaceous schist. Alternating beds of the green schist and quartz rock were observed, very regular and well-defined.

155. In the neighbourhood of the village of Kurrimee, the rock is a mixture of white granular dolomite and talc. The latter is sometimes found in beautiful nacreous scales, disposed in nests or nodules, at other times intimately mixed with the particles of the dolomite. In the latter case, the rock is extremely friable, and resembles very strongly the dolomite of the Alps. This rock is succeeded by a schist of an argillaceous character, very soft and tender, and of a dark blackish grey colour. The schist is occasionally green in the ascent to Tobne Binag, where the view of the mountains discloses several beds of talcose schist of a whitish colour; descending to the village Bugur in the bottom of the glen, limestone is the rock. It is often very impure, being highly charged with argillaceous or siliceous matter. It is regularly stratified, dipping N. 48° E. at an angle of 60'. The strata are sometimes curved.

156. This limestone continues in the ascent to the high Pass of Cheeoonga Binag, the whole of which ridge is composed of it. With occasional patches of schist of an argillaceous character, it still accompanies us by the village of Ingthana to Bynsaree, in the route down the glen in which those villages are situated. The strata are sometimes fissured and cracked in every direction, and in some cases so fragmentary, that large masses have fallen out, thus giving rise to extensive caves. From Bynsaree, the route passes up a lateral glen to Soomchala, crossing an elevated ridge. On this ridge and the immediate ascent to it, argillaceous schist is found of a reddish brown colour, earthy composition, and splitting readily into rhombohedral fragments. This rock is sufficiently exposed also in the descent to Soomchala, where it is remarkable for its many changes of colour, within a small space; as also for the rhombohedral cleavages passing into the straight schistose.

157. As far as Darimket, the route lies in a succession of glens, in which no trace can be found of the rock in situ at that village. It ascends, and immediately a talco-micaceous schist is met which continues to the foot of the descent into the valley on the other side. This latter is one of the many branches which fall into the great one of the Gaomootee, described, Art. 65, and as such, partakes of the open and level nature of the latter. At the foot of the descent fragments of hornblende rock occur in great abundance, and a little further, the rock in situ is found to be an earthy gneiss, extremely soft and crumbly. This rock continues to disclose itself in different parts of the river bed as far as Byznoth; and at the foot of the ascent to Retora a grey gneiss of very perfect character is seen dipping N. E. In the ascent to Retora, this route coincides with that described Art. 65.

158. We have now to take up our account of the gneiss at the village of Dampa, Art. 105 where it is described as of a remarkably regular type, and disclosing itself in extensive masses distinctly stratified. From Dampa to Munsaree, this rock continues, and near the latter place and above it, are enormous blocks of this rock scattered about in the wildest confusion. Thence ascending to the Betoolee Dhoorah Pass, the same rock is occasionally found, and occasionally beds of hornblende schist. At Munsaree there occurs a bed of a very beautiful rock, being a mixture of white granular limestone and talc, (prismatic talc mica,) the latter is occasionally diffuse. Amongst this the carbonate of lime occasionally occupies distinct layers, passing into the argillaceous schist. This rock furnishes excellent roof slate, being very fissile. In the bed of the Gurjeea river below Munsaree, the rock is an earthy brown, tender, micaceous schist in descending the bed of the Gurjeea, as succeeding to the gneiss.

159. Descending from this Pass, quartz rock occurs in extensive masses distinctly stratified, dipping N. 15° E. Other fissures at right angles, at distances of five feet, are extremely distinct, the whole mass being thus divided into rhombohedral or cuboidal masses. This quartz rock is seen sometimes plain, sometimes green from the addition of chlorite, and sometimes blue, probably from an admixture of argillaceous schist. On the Kalee Moonnee Pass and the descent to Girgaon, the rocks are rather of an anomalous nature, and comprise beds of very various and varying composition. Talc slate, yellow, white and blue

carburetted clay slate, blue ditto, talcose quartz rock, and talcose limestone are the most marked types, and they succeed each other in the most sudden and unexpected manner. In general, however, the formation may be said to have a talcose character, that mineral forming more or less of the composition of each rock, but I think that it is surmounted, or at least surrounded, by the same gneiss which accompanied us from Munsaree, and which appears in all the larger masses and the more elevated ridges. In the bed of the nullah below the village, rounded blocks of this rock are seen of an enormous size, which confirm the above idea. Beyond this point, it is not found till we approach Almorah, and the masses in that neighbourhood being connected with the granite beds there, will be better described when we come to the details of the latter.

160. The preceding comprises all my observations of the localities of gneiss within these mountains, with some trifling exceptions hereafter to be noticed. It will now be necessary to proceed to the next formation in the order of succession. It is of a schistose structure, but very variable in mineral character, comprising micaceous chlorite, talcose, and even argillaceous schist. My observations are not yet sufficiently multiplied to determine, whether all those schists form one member in the succession of rocks, or whether the three first are to be considered as most intimately related, and the argillaceous band as the distinct term in the geological series. Some anomalous appearances, which are inimical to the latter view, may perhaps be explained by the intrusion of the granite masses in the middle of argillaceous strata, but it would be premature at present to decide either way. We may for the more convenience of description, consider them all as members of the same formation, as each in its turn is conterminous with the gneiss.

161. Beginning with the most western route, we may take up the description where the micaceous schist in succession to gneiss was again exchanged for chlorite schist. Near Laké, the latter rock may be seen, though from its transitions it ought perhaps rather be called a magnesian clay slate, (talco-argillaceous schist.) It has a N. E. dip. It extends to the foot of the descent into the bed of the Salung river. There may be seen an impure limestone associated with a clay slate, the two rocks being found not only in alternate layers, but also occasionally intimately mixed in the same layer. The fragments in