734 EEPOET— 1886. 



temperature, tlie absence of ptysical disturbances, such as hurricanes, earthquakes, 

 volcanoes, and the like ; the fertility of its soil, and the prodigious quantity of 

 natural wealth with which it abounds, including extremely rich birds'-nests, canes, 

 beeswax, india-rubber, beche de mer, pearls and pearl shells, fish, gold, &c., will 

 support a very large population ; and he even thinks that possibly in the future 

 Europeans might work themselves on some of the higher slopes in the interior. 



There is an absence of ferocious wild animals, though, from the list given, 

 commencing with elephants, rhinoceroses, buffaloes, deer, &c., there would seem to 

 be plenty of large game for the sportsman's rifle. To the European capitalist 

 attraction is held out in the way of valuable timber, which exists in such quantity, 

 and the facilities for bringing which to a shipping port are so great, that it is ex- 

 pected Sandakan will in time take rank as one of the largest timber-exporting places 

 in the East ; and after the wood has been cleared off, the ground will be available 

 for planting tobacco, pepper, INlanila hemp, Gambler sago, sugar-cane, and many 

 other things. The lists of fruits and vegetables that thrive in the country are long 

 ones, but the latter are described as more or less unsatisfactory. Reptiles, with the 

 exception of crocodiles and a large species of chicken-eating lizard, are not common. 

 The natives are courteous and pleasant, but lazy, and any real labour is usually 

 undertaken by Chinese, of whom there are unlimited supplies to be had either in 

 Hong Kong or Singapore. 



7. The River Systems of South India} 

 Bij General F. H. Rundall, G.S.I., E.E. 



The paper commences with an account of the physical features of the peninsula, 

 describing its several mountain ranges and plateaux, its general meteorological 

 phenomena, and the effect which its peculiar configuration has on the quantity of 

 rainfall and its distribution. 



It next proceeds to enumerate the principal river-basins which serve to carry 

 off' that rainfall, distinguishing them iu their respective types, indicatmo- their re- 

 lative positions, specifying their respective tributaries, and detailing particulars as 

 to their areas, length of course, prevailing geological formation, and special charac- 

 teristics. 



After explaining that the four great delta rivers occupy about five-sixths 

 of the eastern drainage area the paper enters on a detailed description of those 

 rivers throughout their respective courses, the phenomena attending their floods, 

 the measures adopted for keeping them under control iu the lower or deltaic por- 

 tions, the character of the estuaries, the formation of the delta, and the great systems 

 of irrigation and navigation which have been constructed therein. 



The paper concludes with a notice of the value of water in India generally, and 

 in South India particularly, both for irrigation and navigation purposes, and 

 enumerates the measures which have been adopted by the Indian Government for 

 the promotion of such works, giving an outline of what has already been accom- 

 plished, and of what still remains to be done. 



8. On the Afghan Frontier. By Charles Edward D. Black. 



9. On PreshevalsM's Travels in Tilet. By E. Delmar Morgan. 

 10. North China and Corea. By J. D. Rees. 



The author gave an account of his journey from Taku to Peking, and, after 

 noting briefly the most prominent sights and characteristics of the'^capital, de- 

 scribed the route thence to the tombs of the Ming Emperors, and the Great Wall 

 and down the Peiho to Tientsin. ' 



> Printed in extenso in the Proceedings of the Royal Geographieal Society, Nov. 1886. 



