Page:Madras Journal of Literature and Science, series 1, volume 6 (1837).djvu/366

344 XII.—.

I.—On a portion of Dukhun, Bast Indies.—By Lieutenant-Colonel, F. R. S. F. G. S. F. L. S.

My personal observation of Dukhun (Deccan) and Konkon (Concan) is not confined to the boundaries laid down in the following geological memoir; but as the rock and mineral specimens remaining at present in my possession are from Dukhun only, I have not thought it proper to extend my details beyond the limits I here prescribe to myself, although I might venture to do so from notes taken at different periods, without exposing my accuracy to question. I will, however, in closing this paper, offer a few observations on the trap and other formations of India; the amazing extent of the former not appearing to have been appreciated hitherto in European geological works.

Boundaries.—My tract is bounded on the west by the range of mountains usually denominated by Europeans the "Ghats," from a misinterpretation of the term ghat, which simply means a pass, the proper name of this range being the "Syhadree;" on the north by the Mool river, as far as Rahooreh; on the east by a direct line from Rahooreh to the city of Ahmednuggur, and subsequently on the north-east by the Seena river until its junction with the Beema river below Mundroop; on the south-east by a line from Mundroop to the celebrated city of Beejapoor; on the south by a line from Beejapoor, to the town of Meeraj; and from this place the boundary in the south-west is the Kristna and Quina rivers, to the hill fort of Wastota, situated in the ghats. The western boundary line extends, as the crow flies, about 144 miles; the northern 72 miles; eastern and north-eastern 159 miles; south-eastern 41 miles; southern 80 miles; and south-western 88 miles. Agreeably to observations made by myself and the officers of the revenue survey in Dukhun, the tract lies between the parallels of north latitude 16° 45′ and 19° 27′, and east longitude 73° 30′ and 75° 53′, and, roughly calculated, may be said to comprise an area of about 26,000 square miles.