162 Mr Galder on the Geology of India. 



deposites, with the component parts of geological formations observed in place, 

 that the former originally formed part of the latter ; and if this be the case, 

 how can their transportation towards our plains and those ot the north of 

 Germany be explained ? 



The society desires that it be pointed out, as much as possible, what are the 

 different places where these blocks have been observed, and in what manner 

 they are found dispersed, that their nature and mineralogical composition be 

 exactly described, that they be compared with the integrant parts of other 

 formations; and, finally, that the consequences be ■crupulously weighed, 

 which may with more or less probability be deduced from the whole investi- 

 gation. 



The prize to be awarded to a satisfactory answer to any of the above ques- 

 tions, is a gold medal of 150 florins; and, moreover, a gratuity of 150 florins. 

 The answers legibly written in Dutch, French, English, Latin, or German, 

 but not in German characters, must be sent free of expence, with billets in 

 the usual manner, to M. van Marum, perpetual Secretary of the Society. 



General View of the Geology of' India. By William Calder, 



Esq.* 



** C/ASTiNG our eye over the map of India,'' says Mr Calder, 

 *' we are struck with the grand and extensive mountain ranges 

 which form the principal boundaries. On the north we have 

 the stupendous chain of the Himalaya, extending from the con- 

 fines of China to Cashmeer, and the basin of the Oxus. That 

 vast accumulation of sublime peaks, the pinnacles of our globe, 

 is so extensive, that a plane, resting on elevations 21,000 feet, 

 may be stretched in one direction as far as the Hindoo Cosh, 

 for upward of 1000 miles, above which rise loftier summits, in- 

 creasing in height to nearly 6000 feet more. Primitive rocks 

 alone have been found to compose all that has yet been explored 



* At a meeting of the Physical Committee of the Asiatic Society, held on 

 the 19th March 1828, Sir Edward Ryan, president, in the chair, a General 

 View of the Geology of India, by Mr Calder, was read. The above account 

 of part of this memoir, we extract from the Calcutta Government Gazette, 

 which reports, in a very interesting and satisfactory manner, every scientific 

 discovery and observation made in India. Already many important geo- 

 gnostical observations have been made in our great eastern empire, and we 

 anticipate, from the labours of Dr TurnbuU Christie, and other young and 

 active naturalists, soon, we hope, to start for India, numerous additions to 

 our knowledge of the natural history of this, one of the most interesting 

 countries in the world— Edit. 



