166 REPORT— 1869. 



On the EncroacJiment of the Sea on Exmouth Warren. By G. Peacock. 

 According to the autlior, the Warren, or natural barrier of the harbour at the 

 mouth of the Exe, is gradually wasting away by the action of the sea, combined 

 with causes which, he believed, might have been prevented. The " Exe Bight " 

 runs the danger of being no longer a harbour, but of becoming converted into a 

 dangerous bay of shoals. 



On the Influence of Atmospheric Pressure on the Displacement of the Ocean. 



By T. Wtatt Eeid. 



Account of Mr. Cooper's Attempt to reach India from Western China. 

 By Tkelawney W. Sattndees. 



In Februaiy 1868 Mr. T. T. Cooper ascended the Yang-tsze-Kiang, with the 

 intention of passing, if possible, through the little-known couutiy which separates 

 the western frontier of China Proper into British India. At Suchan, where the 

 river Min joins the Yang-tsze, he proceeded by the fomier river to Ching-tu, the 

 chief town of the province of Sze-chuen, and from thence proceeded, through 

 Ta-tsien and Litang, to Batang, a Chinese post on the frontiers of Sze-chuen, and 

 bordering on Thibet, a vast highland country, stretching along the whole of the 

 northern frontier of India, and subject to the imperial sway of the Chinese. From 

 Batang he expected to reach India either by way of Lassa, or by a direct route to 

 Sudiya, in the British province of Assam. Between Batang "and Assam lies a 

 mountainous country, not more than 200 miles in width, with villages at intervals. 

 The Thibetan authorities refused I\Ir. Cooper permission to proceed by way of 

 Lassa, or even to enter their comitry. The resolute traveller thereupon directed 

 his utmost eiforts to get across the short distance of 200 miles, which separated 

 him from Assam, but he found himself completely foiled by the vigilance of the 

 authorities. After waiting ten days, he was obliged to attempt theYunan route 

 for Burmah. He crossed on his way the Kin-char-Kiang, six miles south-west of 

 Batang, on the 3rd of June ; and travelling two days, came in sight of the range 

 of mountains forming the "boundary of the kingdom of Lassa." He was here 

 again stopped by a party of armed Lamas, and was obliged to turn south. In this 

 direction he travelled for about twelve miles, and struck the east foot of the snowy 

 range, forming the east bank of the Lan-tsan-Kiang. Deserted by his guides, 

 he lost his way, and reached the Thibetan village of Tsimg Tsar. He next cro.ssed 

 a pass in the snowy range, and reached the village of Tong. On the 10th of June 

 he arrived at Artenze, the first Chinese military station, on the borders of Yunan. 

 On the 12th he struck the left bank of the Lan-tsan-Kiang, and reached the vil- 

 lage of Coneah, the head man of which took it for gi-anted that the traveller had 

 come from Assam. At the Ludzu village of Wharfoopin he found the people 

 were chiefly Christians, connected with the Catholic mission of Succoo, distant 

 about eight miles, on the right bank of the Lan-tsan-Kiang. Leaving this place, in 

 two days he reached the residence of a Yertzu chief His nex-t stopping-place 

 was at the house of a Mooquor chief, who talked quite familiarly of Assam, and 

 showed the traveller his gold-mines and gold-washings on the banks of the Lan- 

 tsan-Kiang. Two days thence he arrived at the Chinese imperial city of VVussee- 

 foo, the General at which place gave him a pass to Talifoo ; but idtimately he was 

 obliged to return to "\^"esee, and thence to Permootan, in Thibet; and being again 

 foiled in an attempt to get to Lassa, he returned to Hankow via Kia-ting-foo, on 

 the Min river. Tlie author explained that Mr. Cooper in his report contributed 

 but little to our knowledge of the geography of the'new countiies he traversed. His 

 track could only be made out in a general way ; but it seems not improbable that 

 the place he calls Wusee might be the Chiisi of Lieut. Wilcox ; and if so, Mr. 

 Cooper must have reached the very threshold of British Assam without knowing 

 it, in a valley descending immediately into the Brahmaputra. His nan-ative, 

 chiefly relating to his personal adventures with the obstructive or hostile people, 

 seldom contains any graphic description of the country. Mr. Cooper's failure in 



