TRANSACTIONS OF THE SECTIONS. 113 



provement of the sanitary state of the adjoining districts. The experience of Mr. 

 J3ateman in Minorca seems to prove that malaria may be removed by the drainage 

 of lagoons, and the surrounding population raised thereby from their present state 

 of apathy and stagnation. 



On Walvisch Bay and the Ports of South- West Africa. 

 B)j Thomas Baines, F.E.G.S. 

 The importance of Walvisch Bay is due to its being the best harbour on this part 

 of the Afiican coast, and to the existence of mines of copper in the neighbouring 

 interior. It lies in lat. 22° 27' S., and comprises the estuary of the Kiusip river, 

 where there is well-sheltered anchorage for vessels of almost any size. So arid 

 and sandy is the climate, that the river contains water only during a few weeks of 

 the rainy season, and fresh water for consumption is obtained bj' rolling casks from 

 Sand Fountain, four miles distant. The country in the vicinity is peopled by 

 Namaqua Hottentots and Damaras. The value of British imports one year 

 amounted to £2oO,(X)0, and the author advocated the establishment of a com- 

 missioner in the port, authorized to hoist the British flag, regulate the commerce 

 of the place, and settle questions that arise between the traders and the nati^'es. 

 The country abounds with cattle, which might become objects of a large export 

 trade. The copper found is a rich heavy ore, greenish or dark pm-ple ; but some- 

 times bolts of pure native copper are met with. 6285 tons of copper were shipped 

 during the month of May 1867. 



Exploration of Beloochistan and Western Scinde, with a vieiv to eaxcimninff the 

 Subterranean Supjyly of Water. By J. W. Baenes. 

 The author commenced his operations at a place about eight miles north-east of 

 Kuri'achee, where, after some weeks' laboiu", he succeeded in piercing the first 

 water-bearing strata, when the water rushed up and overflowed the smface, con- 

 tiniung, without intermission, to the present time. Water was obtained at other 

 places in the arid country, and springs were visited which are from 00 to 300 feet 

 above the valleys. With this evidence of subterranean water, we are boimd to 

 inquire where is the source. Originally, of course, it is derived from rain or snow. 

 The desert country of Scinde is often spoken of as destitute of rain. The rainfall 

 averages, indeed, only 4 inches per annum ; but if we glance at a map of Asia, we 

 observe, between the eastern borders of Persia and the western boundary of the 

 Scinde and Punjab valleys, a tract of country 8-30,000 square miles in extent, with 

 a mountainous and humid area, from 3000 to 12,000 feet above the sea-level, from 

 which a considerable subterraneous supply of water must be derived. Granting an 

 average annual rainfall of 3-7o inches over this area, and as we know that in every 

 coxmtry a portion of the rainfall, estimated from one-third to one-twelfth, perco- 

 lates and is absorbed by the permeable strata, there is room for a strong inference 

 that a vast body of water is available over the whole of the region, between the 

 thirtieth parallel of latitude and the Indian Ocean. It is recorded by navigators 

 that large springs of fresh water burst up through the sea in the neighbourhood of 

 Cape Ormuz. The formation of this part is, undoubtedly, tertiary ; and the stra- 

 tification of the hiUs, where not horizontal, generally inclines either to the east- 

 ward or southward. 



A Boat-journey across the North end of Formosa from Tam-suy to Kelung, 



By Dr. Collingwood, M.A., F.L.S. 

 This paper gave an account of the towns of Hoo-wei (or Tam-suy) on the 

 north-west coast of Formosa, and a treaty-port ; of Bangka, an interior town, the 

 capital of that part of the island ; and of Kelung, another treaty-port, upon the 

 north-east coast. The journey was made by way of the Tam-suy river, passino- 

 the towns of Kan-tow, Pah-chie-nali, Sik-kow, Chuy-teng-cha, to Kelung; and 

 the author described the chief features of the fauna and flora noticed on the way. 

 He also entered particularly into the characteristics of the native population, their 

 occupation, characters, and general economy. 



1867. 8 



