'Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society, from September 1850 to June 1852. Edited by the Secretary. Volume X.' [‎191] (324/458)

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RED EARTH,
A i/X
yearly all the higher portions of the island, with the exception of those
where the substance about to be described—the Red Earth-takes its
place. Betwixt the railway and Byoulla it is about twenty feet
above the level of the sea : it is found to the depth of fifteen feet from
the surface, and is nearly uniform in its appearance throughout. At
Mr Dickenson's house again, as already stated, and so along the
Mahim Hoad, and across towards Chinchpoogly, it is several feet under
the level of the sea ! yet no vccent marine deposit is discernible over
it, furnishing a presumption that a considerable amount of subsidence
has occurred since the tide was excluded by the works betwixt Maha-
luximee and Love Grove about a century ago, at which time it must, it
would seem, have been higher than at present.
RED EARTH—DECOMPOSED TRAP.
3Q t —Lcdl Muttee of the Natives, I am not aware that the two pre
ceding formations have any particular name or designation amongst
the natives. That about to be described is called Lall Muttee, or red
earth, in contradistinction apparently to the ordinary soil on the one
hand, and the moorum on the other; the term moorum being indiscri
minately applied to decomposing trap, soft sedimentary rock, or anything
which is too hard for agricultural and too soft for building purposes.
It seems unfortunate that a term of such vague significance and
general application should not, when used by men of science, have the
precise meaning to be in each particular case attached to it explained.
The red earth, so far as I know, * * is always found lying immediately
over greenstone, or some similar variety of friable trap : I have never
unless in Salsette—(post, p. 38)—met with tuffa, much less with sedi
mentary rocks under it. It is of a brightish or brownish red colour,
nearly that of brick dust. About two-thirds of the whole consists of
stony pieces, about the size and form of horse beans. These are for the
most part glazed and shining externally—internally they are black and
earthy, like softish trap. The matter in which they are imbedded
when washed out and by itself forms a fine plastic red clay, which
suits well for the purpose of the potter, being easily moulded or thrown,
. "
* The reader must be cautioned as to the weight to be attached to ray authority on this
raatter. Tied down by professional avocations to Bombay, my observation has been in a great
“f a ® ure Umited to the Island, and though it is impossible wholely to avoid generalisation, it
he remarked that l have generalised on very limited data.