228 TEAXSACTIOXS AND PROCEEDINGS OF THE [Sess. lxiii. 



districts traversed. — " Notes to assist in a further know- 

 ledge of the Products of Western Afghanistan and of 

 North-eastern Persia" (read 13th March 1890). A most 

 elaborate and useful reference catalogue for all interested 

 in the medicinal or economic products of these districts 

 (Transactions, vol. xviii. part i.). — " Some Practical Hints 

 relative to the Material required for a Botanical Expedition " 

 (read 8th May 1890). 



I had the privilege of considerable intercourse with Dr. 

 Aitchison in the later years of his life. He was a man of 

 fine presence, and most genial and kindly disposition. He 

 seemed to preserve all the buoyancy and enthusiasm, of youth, 

 and was ever eager to encourage younger men who were 

 inclined to follow him in his favourite pursuits. His tact 

 and medical skill gained for him the confidence and goodwill 

 of native tribes, and this greatly facilitated his labours in 

 gathering information and material. He was not, and never 

 claimed to be, a great scientific botanist. Indeed, he himself 

 described only one of all the plants he ever collected. But 

 by his enthusiasm and patience, and energy and powers of 

 observation, he. rendered immense service, especially in 

 the department of economic botany, and he provided 

 material, which he submitted to the skilled judgment of 

 specialists. His extensive collections in North-west India, 

 amounting to upwards of 20,000 specimens, embracing 

 1000 species, of which 75 were new to science, and one 

 new genus, were made in a country almost at war with us, 

 and where every man of the country valued the taking 

 the life of a European and infidel as one of the means 

 for securing his eternal welfare. The collecting was 

 done under a continued state of suspense as to the safety 

 of J Jr. Aitchison's whole party, who daily, and frequently 

 all night, were miles from any British guards, being 

 protected by a few .soldiers, or depending on tlie trust- 

 worthiness of the natives. This state of things made the 

 collecting and storing of specimens a most arduous and 

 laborious jjroceeding, great distances having often to be 

 travelled with little result. Colonel Colquhoun in his 

 book, "With the Kuram Field Force," says: "Dr. 

 Aitcliison's fame and skill as a medical man enabled him 

 to visit all the outlying ]jarts of the Kuiam and llarriab 



