1871. ] Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. 287 
equally important will be the examination of the sea bottom for 
the study of geology and physical geography. 
An undertaking of this range is beyond the means of any private 
individual, but its importance is so great that the Council believe 
it to be well worth the consideration of His Excellency the Viceroy 
and Governor-General in Council, and the enlightened Government 
of a powerful State like the Indian empire. 
The Council of the Society are, therefore, confident that His Ex- 
cellency in Council will approve generally of the proposal, put for- 
ward in the accompanying Memorandum, and trust that he will 
give the undertaking the same generous support which has been 
afforded to similar expeditions in England and other countries. 
They would hope that steps might at once be taken in commu- 
nication with the Admiral commanding the Indian stations, and 
that this project may be brought under the consideration of the 
Lord Commissioners of her Majesty’s Admiralty at home, so that 
certain special preparations which will be required may be made 
without delay. Owing to the peculiar nature of the climate in 
these latitudes such researches can be favourably carried on only 
during one-half of the year, and the importance of completing 
preliminary arrangements at an early period becomes, therefore, 
more obvious. 
Memorandum on Deep Sea Dredging Operations proposed to be under- 
taken in Indian Waters. 
The Sub-Committee appointed to consider the desirability of un- 
dertaking Deep Sea Dredging in Indian waters, beg to submit the 
following Memorandum on this subject :— . 
The vast importance of Deep Sea Dredging for the ntady of 
Zoology, Geology, Physics and Hydrography has been placed be- 
yond all doubt by the results of the explorations which have been 
lately carried on, and are still being prosecuted, under the auspices 
of the Governments of England, Sweden and Norway, and in 
America. In England, the importance of such researches was re- 
commended to the consideration of the Royal Society of London 
chiefly for the following reasons :— 
