'Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society, from September 1850 to June 1852. Edited by the Secretary. Volume X.' [‎150] (283/458)

VOLCANOES OF INDIA.
can.* In the Concan there are no fewer than twelve hot spring ^
twixt Dasgaum and South Rajpore, and they are supposed to foll 0w
the line of the great Ghaut chain southward to Ceylon : the majority
occurs near the great lines of dislocation. There are two hot spring
in Candeish, and several in Kattiawar, and Lower Scinde, as we shall
presently see, abounds with them.
Lake Loonar, in the Sichal Hills, is the only instance of a volcanic
outburst observable in this immense Plutonic region.f It is a nearly
circular or oval depression in a country composed entirely of tabu-
lar and nodular basalt : it is 500 feet in depth and three or four
miles in circumference. In the bottom of the hollow is v a lake five feet
deep, the waters of which are impregnated with muriate and sulphate
of soda, and sulphate of lime ; sub-carbonate of soda prevails in the
neighbourhood. In 1851 it was examined by Dr. Bradley, who met
with abundance of scorise in the neighbourhood, and was able to
trace a vast stream of lava to the east and westward. The great in
tervals betwixt the points of volcanic activity in this part of India,
emi when connected by hot springs, prevents them from being asso-
ciated as groups anywhere betwixt Arracan and Cutch.
On the 27th May, 1816, a hill on the Nerbudda, called Dumoh Phai,
or smoking mountain, about 500 feet high above the plain, gave out
alai ming moans, to the terror of the neighbourhood, and then an enor
mous outburst in it occurred. The appearance this presented when ex
amined shortly afterwards by Col. Skene and Lieut Briggs was such as
might have been produced by the explosion of a mine, making a rent in
mensions, and through crevices in which flames continually issue, the outlines of this vol
canic tract are distinctly defined ; and the action appears to be strictly local, the soil is com
pletely burnt, and in some spots I believe, petrified, (vitrified?)—The igneous action has
continued now for upwards of two centuries, as the existence of this remarkable spot is
certified by Abul Fazil, the learned minister of the Emperor Akber* Mr/Moorcroft in his
travels, (Vol. ii. p. 277) mentions a hill withen three days’ journey of the city of Cashmere,
from which loud explosions are heard at intervals, accompanied by the escape of gaseous
matter, with force sufficient to tear off the doors and windous of buildin;>s situated upon 10
There was nothing on the hill resembling a crater, but the inhabitants on tin 2 sp ( t asserted a
distinct recollection of the explosions.”—Bl. As. Trans, vol. xii, part ii. for S84d, p* lOfin
* For the above particulars, 1 am indebted to Dr. Falconer. They were given verbally*
and are quoted from memory, so that they are rather indefinite ; but as Dr Falconer s owi
account of the phenomenon may be expected erelong, it will be in my power to correct an
enlarge the above notice.
* Second Report on Geology of Hyderabad.
f Malcolmson, London Geological Transactions, 1839. It was first described by Lieu t
Alexander, in the Madras Lite ray Transactions, subsequently by Mr. Oriebar in the do
Geographical Transactions.
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