144 PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 



elected Fellows : — Neil Abnott, M.D., the Rev. William CurEton, M.A. t 

 Charles Lock Eastlake, Esq., R.A. 



A paper was read, entitled " Fourth Letter on Voltaic Combination," addressed 

 to Professor Faraday, by Professor Daniell. 



ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY. 



Her Majesty's government have just granted to this Society the sum of £500, 

 for defraying the expenses of repeating the celebrated and interesting experiment 

 of the late Mr. Cavendish, for determining the mean density of the earth, and 

 for considering the practicability of which a Committee was appointed about two 

 years since. The apparatus is at present in the course of erection at Mr. Baily's 

 house, and, as soon as it is completed, the experiments will be commenced. 



ROYAL GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY. 



A very full meeting of members was held on the 22nd of January, for the 

 purpose of hearing the report of Captain Alexander, of his late expedition in 

 the interior of Central Africa, directed towards the north-west coast and the 

 Damhara country. This expedition, originating with the Society by whom the 

 expenses were paid, with the assistance of Q grant from government, was delayed 

 some time till the termination of the Caffre war; but in September, 1836, Capt. 

 Alexander started on his journey, from which he returned home to the Cape on 

 the 20th of September, 1837. During this period he traversed an extent of 

 4,000 miles, of which 2,000 were by walking, 1,000 by Horses, and 1,000 on 

 the backs of oxen. With the exception of four or five German missionaries, the 

 whole country was new to Europeans for a distance of 1,000 miles. The paper 

 was replete with interesting details. The tribes visited were the Namacquas, 

 Bushmen, and the two great nations of the Plain and Hill Damharas, all of whom 

 showed a friendly spirit to the members of the expedition, and exhibited a wish 

 for further intercourse with Europeans. The two latter are negroes, partaking of 

 all their marked characters, and beyond them resides a nation of red men, whom, 

 however, it was found impossible to visit, on account of a war which was raging 

 between the Damharas. From a female belonging to the Hill Damharas he 

 purchased, for two cotton handkerchiefs and two strings of beads, a little boy, 

 about seven years of age, who was in a half- starved condition, and employed in 

 hunting Lizards for food. The appearance of this singular juvenile native in the 

 room, along with a great variety of their domestic and warlike implements, 

 excited considerable curiosity and attention. At different periods the expedition 

 suffered much for want of water, of which they were at one period destitute for 

 nearly three days, with the thermometer upwards of 100 degrees in the shade, 

 and losing several of their oxen, Sheeps, and Dogs ; and at one time they were so 



