1871.] Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. 125 
known inhabited tract on the globe. To expect, therefore, that one 
directing head could so expand his powers of observation, however 
profound his knowledge of the general laws of Meteorology might 
be, as to grasp and interpret the masses of Meteorological facts 
which would pour in upon him from all the Provinces and Presi- 
dencies of India, is to expect a manifest impossibility. Our first 
and greatest necessity, I conceive to be the correct registration of 
barometric and wind phenomena, The form of barometer which 
pleases me most is Gay Lussac’s syphon, read by two Verniers. Some 
object to the bother of reading two Verniers, but to this I always 
say—there is not so much trouble in reading two Verniers as there is 
in making all the troublesome corrections for capillarity, tempera- 
ture, reduction to sea level &c, &c.* The anemograph which I 
have in use gives a pencil tracing of the direction of the wind 
for 24 hours. I enclose one for your inspection. It only gives 
the direction you will perceive. The force can be obtained as 
required by a separate instrument—such as Robinson’s anemo- 
meter. I can generally form an idea whether the wind has been 
blowing high or gently, or even whether it has not been an abso- 
lute calm (we do not often have an absolute calm in the Punjab) 
by the straightness or otherwise of the tracing.’ 
‘I have noted with great pleasure the evident interest which 
you take in the progress of Meteorological Science. We can no 
more foretell what the patient pursuit of this Science may disclose, 
than could the past generation have anticipated the wonderful and 
glorious revelations of geology, microscopy and electricity.’ 
I am, yours faithfully, 
A. Nem. 
Profr. of Anatomy and Surgery, Lahore Medical School, 
Meteorological Reporter for the Punjab. 
Tue Hon’stE Mr. PxHEar, 
President of the Asiatic Society of Bengal. 
If the Meteorological Reporter of the Punjab really entertains the 
persuasion, as he seems here to intimate that he does, that by taking 
the two readings of asyphon barometer, he gets observations, which 
* As in Fortin’s barometers, 
