(S Life of Sir Stuinfbid Ruflles — hilroduction. 



the arrangement and mutual relations of the rocks and strata form- 

 ing the earth's surface, are scanty and indecisive. We know, 

 indeed, generally, that like other parts of the world, they consist 

 of primary, transition, and secondary tracts, mingled with im- 

 mense overlying masses of trap-rocks ; but whether laws of super- 

 position are to be observed in these tracts, similar to those which 

 obtain in the corresponding districts of Europe, and whether their 

 formation is referable to the same eras, we are altogether un- 

 informed. Thus a vast field of geological inquiry remains uncul- 

 tivated ; and we have been induced to mention in so particular a 

 manner this deficiency of natural knoM ledge, whilst enumerating 

 the accessions to it derived from our Indian possessions, with the 

 hope of exciting some attention to the subject in the vrorld of 

 science. 



Having thus delineated a few of the improvements which have 

 been made in some of the greater divisions of human knowledge, 

 arising from our Indian resources, Me might, in the next place, 

 proceed to examine how far the various departments of Natural 

 History are indebted to the same sphere of research. Taking up, in 

 succession, each of the three kingdoms of nature, we might parti- 

 cularize the advantages which the philosophical pursuit of Mine- 

 ralogy, of Botany, and of Zoology, respectively, has derived from 

 our acquaintance with the productions of the East. These, it 

 would be found, are fully commensurate with the "augmina sci- 

 entiarum," io which we have already adverted. But enough has 

 now been stated or alluded-to on the subjects we proposed to re- 

 view in this Introduction, to prepare the reader for duly esti- 

 mating the importance and fertility of the field, that was opened 

 to the cultivation of the distinguished character, whose history we 

 are about to narrate. The outline we have commenced will 

 not remain altogether incomplete, by tt-rminating it at this point; 

 for, in detailing the contributions to natural knowledge effected 

 by Sir Stamford Raffles, or in consequence of his patronage, we 

 shall have occasion to notice several discoveries of considerable 

 moment in Mineralogy and Botany ; as well as to review at some 

 length, the oriental accessions to Zoological science. 



Such, then, was the importance, and such the promise, with 



