XII.—Selections.
I.—On a portion of Dukhun, Bast Indies.—By Lieutenant-Colonel W. H. Sykes, F. R. S. F. G. S. F. L. S.
My personal observation of Dukhun (Deccan) and Konkon (Concan)[1] 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[2] 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.
