328 NLAR open and fertile. Towards the west it is carefully cultivated. But higher up the valley, the land, though exceedingly rich, lies utterly desolate; and instead of the thriving villages which occupied it during the Muhammadan period, now only a few Kurkús carry on a rude tillage here and there in a deadly climate. This part of Nimár has an average elevation above the sea of 850 feet. The irregular and broken range which divides the two valleys of the Narbadá and the Tápti, has a width of about 15 miles. It is the only part of the great hilly backbone of the Central Provinces marked in maps as the Satpura chain, which is really known by that name to the people. On its highest point, about 850 feet above the plain, and 2200 feet above sea-level, stands the fortress of AsiRGARH, commanding a pass through the hills which has for centuries been the chief highway between Upper India and the Deccan. The Hattís, another branch of the same great range, with a height above sea level of from 2000 to 3000 feet, form the southern boundary of the District. On their other face they rise steeply from the plains of Berar; but the ascent froin the Tápti valley is long and gradual, including some plateaux of considerable extent, with excellent soil here and there. Geologically considered, the country consists almost entirely of trap. In far the greater portion the traps are horizontal; but in the low hills west of Asírgarh there is a strong southern dip, in places amounting to 15°. Coal is entirely wanting; but iron-ore is found in the Dhár forest near Punasa and Chándgarh. Of the extensive forests in Nimár, the only tract reserved by Government is the Punása forest, which stretches for about 120 miles along the south bank of the Narbadá, and contains very fine young teak (Tectona grandis), besides saj (Terminalia tomentosa), and anjam (Hardwickia binata) of great size. The south-eastern corner of the District, in the Tápti valley, is also covered with a promising young forest of teak and other timber, over an area of about 400 square miles; and a similar forest exists in parganá Chándgarh, north of the Narbadá. There is, besides, much land overspread by low jungle. Tigers are numerous, and are easily got at along most of the rivers in the hot season. Cattle and game being easily procurable by them, the Nimár tigers seldom become regular man-eaters. Bears, leopards, and Wolves are common in some parts, and also súmbhar and spotted deer. The Upper Tápti valley is a favourite haunt of the bison (Bos frontalis), and nilgái and wild hog abound throughout the District. Of small game, painted partridge, quail, hares, and pea-fowl are the chief. Jungle-fowl are found in the Tápti valley; and the large rivers yield excellent fish. A shooting party has only to bring tents and horses to the Lal-bágh railway station, where cart-carriage is always available for hire, and march 15 or 20 miles up the Molná valley, south-east of
