30 SCIENTIFIC MISSION 
of our northern frontier. The party is provided with barometers, 
thermometers, sextants, altitude and azimuth circles, magnetical 
instruments, and whatever is necessary for the extension of geo- 
graphical knowledge.” 
Such we believe to be the amount of the information, hitherto, 
laid before the British Public, relating to a Mission which, we 
trust, from the talents and acquirements of the officers conducting 
it, will be productive of the most important results to science. 
Botany is there fully represented by our excellent friend Dr. 
Thomas Thomson, who bids fair to hold as distinguished a rank 
in that department of Natural History, as his father does m 
Chemistry: we know not if a higher compliment can be paid to 
him, and sure we are that it is merited. His correspondence 
with us since he commenced his botanical career in India is full 
of interest, but becomes tenfold more so when on the eve of 
setting out on the Mission in question. His previous letters had 
alluded to the journey; but that, dated Simla, July 5th, 1847, 
speaks of it with confidence; and he details the route, so far as 
it was considered right to make it known to the Officers, and 
as far as the Officers were justified in communicating it to their 
friends. | 
“ Simla, 5th July, 1847- 
*] have now to give an account of myself since my letter 
of the 5th of July. I wrote to you in the middle of the month, 
vid Calcutta, when Captain Cunningham, of the Engineers, had 
been appointed head of the expedition. We are now waiting for 
.. Lieut. Strachey, who is expécted daily ; and I hope we shall have 
started by the 15th day of the month. The only additional par- 
ticulars which I can give you regarding our movements are, that 
our direction will be up the Sutlej, through Kanawur to Shipkee, 
the first village of the Chinese territories. Thence we shall pro- 
ceed i in an easterly direction to Garoo, or Gartepe, on the Indus, 
where we expect to meet a party of Chinese Commissioners, with 
.. whom we shall proceed in a north-westerly direction to the Chu- 
. moreleel Lake, which in my map is laid down about 32° 45’ N.Lat, —— 
and 78° 15’ E. Long. ee of the from. cu 
