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INDIA

colour is less pronounced, this colour (which is caused by
a microscopic fungus growth) being reckoned an impurity.
The glistening white lake shores surrounding the central,
rosy-hued expanse of crystal salt, streaked here and there
with an outcrop of black slime, and backed by the roughedged
 and sombre-hued Aravalli ridges, is a striking spectacle
 ; especially when enlivened by flights of flamingoes,
whose pink and white plumage barred with black on the
wings seems a special provision of Nature for purposes of
adaptation to local surroundings.
The most important of all sources of Indian salt, however,
 is found in the north country—in the Salt ranges of
the Punjab and Kohat. Here there is no doubt about its
geological age. The rock-salt of Kohat, which is literally
piled up in mountains and is quarried as if it were stone,
is at the base of all geological sections whatsover, no older
rocks being seen. It is placed in the eocene period.
Bahadur Khel is an uninteresting halting-place near a
small fort and straggling village, on the road between
Kohat and Bannu. After passing Bahadur Khel southward
 the wayfarer at once plunges into the intricacies of
the Salt range which intervenes between it and Latammar,
the next halting-place beyond the range. Dry, barren
hills, with a very scanty and ill-grown vegétation, surround
him, but the clays and marls which overlie the salt vary
infinitely in colour from pale grey to bright orange, and
lend a weird sort of charm to scenery, which is acceninated
 by the fantastic shapes of the hills. The
principal quarries have been worked from time immemorial,
 that near Bahadur Khel having been known
twelve centuries ago. The chief outcrop lies rather to
the east of the pass, and from it the salt is detached in
slabs by pickaxe and wedge. It is roughly chipped into
squares about 12 inches by 4 thick, and in this shape
transported on camels all over the trans-Indus northern
borderland. Strings of camels carrying salt may be met
with on the eastern Afghanistan roads. It is carried
across the Safed Koh Mountains by the Zakka Khel
Afridis into the Jalalabad Valley. It is taken into Swat