1873.] President's Address. 51 



Wonderfully systematized, facts, such quaint and curious illustration derived 

 from the most unexpected sources, and yet most aptly and charmingly brought 

 to use. Nor can it he, that many will be found capable of conveying all this 

 information with such a charming simplicity of language or with such a force 

 and power of description, that fragmentary as the whole is, one is unable to 

 lay down the book when once commenced. But much would undoubtedly be 

 gained, while more information than can be obtained elsewhere would be 

 made accessible to all. 



In connection with this subject, I am myself aware that for many years 

 our able Secretary Mr. Blochmann has been bringing together from every 

 source opened up to him in the course of his extended study, a complete 

 index to all geographical names mentioned in these oriental works. This 

 ' Index Geographicus,' will be — if it ever see the light as we hope, and trust it 

 will, — a glorious mine of knowledge charged with ore of the richest quality, 

 and of the brightest and purest kind, and will really throw more light upon the 

 changes, historical and political, dynastic and geographical, which have passed 

 over this land, than any single collection that I can think of. Col. Yule has 

 I rejoice to say undertaken to prepare for publication, and has far advanced in 

 the work, a Manual of the Geography of India, which I have no doubt will 

 contribute very largely to our acquaintance with the subject. He has indeed 

 during the past year, given us a foretaste of the pleasure we are certain to 

 derive from his labours, by a most masterly essay, introductory to the new edi- 

 tion of the travels of Captain Wood to the souree of the Oxus. I would gladly 

 dwell on this subject for a little. The district calls up every fanciful picture 

 of Eden which may have joyed our childhood, and here we find all primeval 

 tradition combining with all modern theory and knowledge, pointing out the 

 cradle of our race, and the site of the Adamic Paradise, while its past history 

 is interwoven with that of all the great Asiatic conquerors, and its coming 

 history ' looms on the horizon rife with all the possibilities suggested by its 

 position on the rapidly narrowing border-land between two great empires, 

 one of them our own. ' 



But the wide range of the subject, and the value of Col. Yule's exhaus- 

 tive interpretation of all available evidence bearing on it, would take up 

 far more time than can now be spared. I would, however, commend this 

 essay ' On the geography and history of the regions in the upper waters of 

 the Oxus,' to every one who takes an interest in the early history of the 

 country and of the many changes which have passed over it. 



In connection with these publications of the Society and others, we may 

 perhaps take a glance at some other publications bearing on the Archaeolo- 

 gy of India. The Journal of the Society for the past year will be found rich 

 in such information. We have descriptions of the antiquities of Barantpur, 

 Bindrabun, Gokul, Benares, Jaunpvir, Bengal and parts of Orissa. And 



