Geological papers on western India, including Cutch, Sinde and the south-east coast of Arabia : to which is appended a summary of the geology of India generally

Front matter

GEOLOGICAL PAPERS ON WESTERN INDIA,

INCLUDING

CUTCH, SINDE,

Preface

of what appears in other parts of the volume, abstracts have been made ; and of the few which have not been printed at all, whatever they contain worth remembering is embodied in the papers which have been printed in extenso. So that with the exception of this matter, altogether only amounting to a few pages, the book comprises all that has been written on the subject, and therefore all that the Geologist of Western India can at present obtain, to lead to future discovery.

It must not be thought, however, that this compilation embraces an introduction to geology ; this the reader must have already acquired before he can even understand its contents ; nor must the Economist expect to find all that information here which he desires, for such detail would be incompatible with the object of the work; but both will find in it reason based on a geological knowledge of the structure of the earth in India, or, in other words, scientific Indian Geology ; a light which, though dim at present, will brighten as it is used, and at length lead to that development of mineral resources which the mere Economist would grope for in the dark, without finding, to the end of time.

All the papers reprinted in extenso are unaltered from their original form, with the exception of those by the Rev. Messrs. Hislop and Hunter, and those by the Editor. The former of which have received several valuable alterations and additions from the Rev. Mr. Hislop ; and the latter have not only been re-cast in many parts, but have undergone as much alteration, addition, and correction throughout as the Editor had time to give them while they have been rapidly passing through the press.

To the Editor’s “ Summary of the Geology of India,” which was included in the Government list, and has therefore been printed at the end of the volume, the Editor has only been able to add “ Foot-notes” suggestive of the future alterations that should be made in it ; being unable to devote that time to a re-arrangement of the whole which such alterations would necessitate.

Further, that the compilation might be made as useful as possible, not only the maps and plates belonging to most of the papers have been lithographed to accompany them in the form of a separate Atlas, but the Editor has also added an Alphabetical Index for reference to their contents generally.

PREFACE.

V

In the spelling of the names of places the Editor fears that with those who are unaccustomed to the interchange of vowels and permutation of consonants so common in India, an adjustment of the different renderings will be found impracticable ; and he cannot help expressing his regret that any other system of orthography should have ever been introduced for this purpose than that which the mass of educated Englishmen (not Literati ) would adopt, — that is, spelling the name in English according to its pronunciation in the original tongue. If this had been the case, the greater part of the names of places in this volume would have been alike, instead of different in almost every paper, which, though a matter of little importance to those who have been some years in India, will, he fears, if this paragraph be not read, lead not only to confusion, but a want of confidence in the reprint of these papers, among geologists who are residing in other parts of the world.

Lastly, the Editor would, by way of assurance, observe that in reading this compilation for the purpose of making the Alphabetical Index, he has found the typographical errors so few and of such little importance, that a list of them seems hardly necessary ; but as there are some, and doubtless other defects which he does not at present see, he trusts that the criticisms of the reader will be influenced by remembering, that the compilation has been made, partly written, and partly illustrated m the midst of the performance of harassing and incongruous duties, which not unfrequently, have nearly compelled the Editor to relinquish it altogether.

Bombay , 2nd March 1857.

C.

Contents

On the Fossils of the Eastern Portion of the Great Basaltic District of India. By John G. Malcolmson, Esq., F.G.S.

Extracts from Dr. Voysey’s Private Journal, when attached to the Trigonometrical Survey in Southern and Central India Notes, chiefly Geological, across the Peninsula from Masulipatam to Goa ; comprising Remarks on the Origin of the Regur and Laterite ; occurrence of Manganese Veins in the latter ; and on certain traces of Aqueous Denudation on the Surface of Southern India. By Captain Newbold, F.R.S., Assistant Commissioner, Kurnool

On some Petrified Shells, found in the Gawilgerh Range of Hills, in April 1823 By the late H. W. Voysey, Esq., Assistant Surgeon H. M.’s 67th Foot On the Geology of a Portion of Dulchun, East Indies. By Lieutenant Colonel W. H. Sykes, F.R.S., F.G.S., F.L.S