PROCEEDiya^. " 317 



will be if wc ilistiuf^uish, r. <j., a northern and southern sub-region and com- 

 pare their respective floras with each other. The northern part will be 

 more Afghan, whilst the southern part, (Brit. Makran), will show a greater 

 resemblance to the Sincl flora of the Indus region. The question, therefore, 

 remains, whether Persian Baluchistan shi^dd be considered as part of the 

 connective link between the desert region of N. Africa and Arabia on the 

 one hand and Sind on the other!' Captain Hotson's collections, together 

 with what we know of the physical geography of the country, enable us to 

 form a distinct idea of the plant, geographical position of the vegetation of 

 Persian Baluchistan. The composition of the flora and its morphological 

 and anatomical characters point to the conclusion that it belongs to the 

 Xorth-Africau-Indian desert, containing at the same time in the regions of 

 higher altitude a number of types characteristic of the Mediterranean flora. 



KEPOUT OF THE HONOKAPtY TIIEASUREU ON THE ACCOUNTS 



FOR 1916. 



Mr. L. Robertson, C.S.I., I.C.S., the Honorary Treasurer said: — 



I have much pleasure in presenting the Accounts for 1916. 



At the end of 191.5, we had balance in hand of Rs. o,686, inclusive of 

 Rs. 0,000 in Fixed Deposit. 



The year closes with a balance of Rs. o,702 inclusive of a Fixed Deposit 

 of the same figure as above, Rs. .5,000. 



In addition to the above working balance, the Society owns certain in- 

 vestments. These amounted at the beginning of the year to Rs. 43,000, 

 at the end of this year this sum amounted to Rs. 47,800, an advance of 

 Rs. 4,800. Our investments included a sum of Rs. 14,000 in 3f per cent. 

 (Tovernment paper. When the Conversion Loan was issued last year, Mr. 

 Millard and I had several consultations and we decided that it was in the 

 interests of the Society to convert as much of our 3^ per cent, paper as 

 our resources would admit. Accordingly we bought Rs. -5,000 worth of the 

 New Loan and were able to convert Rs. .5,:.'00 of our 3^^ per cent, paper into 

 4 per cent, paper. Thus the invested balance now includes only Rs. 8,800 

 of 3^ per cent, paper, while we now hold Rs. 10,000 New 4 per cent. Loan. 

 This operation has, I think, added materially to the resources of the So- 

 ciety. The remainder of our invested balance consists of Rs. 14,000 of 4 

 per cent. Bombay Port Trust Unguaranteed Bonds and Rs. 1.5,000 City of 

 Bombay Improvement Trust Bonds. I have stated all these figures at the 

 face value of the paper. Of course the market value is at the present time 

 much depreciated. There appears, however, to be no reasonable probability 

 that we shall have to sell the Securities which now bring in an income of 

 Rs. 1,868 a year. 



I have said that there is no reasonable probability of <jur having to 

 sell these Securities for this reason. 



The financial prospects of such a Society as ours, depends almost entirely 

 on the number of members. Last year 1 remarked that it was necessary 

 to increase the number of members. I lind from the Accounts that the 

 income from subscriptions, entrance fees and Life Membership fees was 

 lis 21,695 against Rs. 21,163 last year, which is a slight advance. 



I see that our Secretary has collected many arrear subscriptions inclusive 

 of one outstanding since 1912. On the other hand one generous gentleman 

 has already paid ] of his subscription for 1918. 



We have received our annual grant of Rs. o,000 from the Government 

 of Bombay on which, I think, in these days of War parsimony we may con- 

 gratulate ourselves. 



