'Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society, from September 1850 to June 1852. Edited by the Secretary. Volume X.' [‎210] (343/458)

210
GEOLOGY OF BOMBAY.
the eastern side of Malabar hill, by penetrating through the volcanic
rocks to the sedimentary beds below. The greenstone affords abundance
of wells, though it is always uncertain where the water may be met with •
it seldom indeed makes its appearance till either a stratified rock has
been encountered, or we have reached the level of the sea. I n the
litteral concrete water is found in profusion everywhere, though it j s
apt to become brackish after blue clay lias been passed through. It j 3
probably on this ground in some measure that the sites of the Fort and
Native town were selected : here the marine or the fresh water formation
is found to prevail, and wells are to be met with in hundreds in close
contiguity to each other. It is a curious fact, that in this case the
water generally rises and falls with the tides. It is only close to the
shore where these fluctuations can be observed daily ; but at the dis
tance of half a mile from the sea they are easily discernible at sprint
tides, occurring for the most part when the springs begin to fall off.
I have not been able to discover that the quality of the water is sensi
bly affected by this, and it would seem to be occasioned by the pond
ing back of the usual discharge from the shore to the sea, There
are scarcely any wells in the island of Colaba; the only one, in truth,
which contains water permanently, is that of the Observatory compound.
This is about 30 feet in depth it extends about 10 feet below high water
mark, and it affords a permanent supply to about 300 people, yielding on
the whole about three hundred gallons per day towards the dry season.
The watei is piue and of excellent quality. The wells around dry up in
March. Several wells have been recently dug through the stratified
rock, near the Pilot s station, and Colaba Church, which are well
supplied with water. Others have, of late, been excavated through tlie
tiap near the Gun-carriage Manufactury which promise to be pro
ductive. The Esplanade, Fort, and Native Town abound in wells
which are well supplied with water. Along the line of the Sea shore
fresh water is to be found all the year round, within fifty feet of high
water mark and ten feet of the surface ; and the occupants of tents may
always supply themselves by making a hole a few feet and deep, lining
it with a couple of beer barrels. By far the finest reservoir is Baboola
Tank, near the Giant Medical College, originally a quarry and still
from time to time deepened and enlarged for the sake of the stone it
supplies. It is of 1050 feet in length, and 450 feet across, and it
siay be expecte
ini is impregnati
fiJ, water is g<
lily-live feet; am
tie
fetor being coni
K'etables and
toSiiseite.orthe
^ttonomy of CO
’“N are raised i
,,i " grain,
^ close by,