Ixxxvi REPORT — 1901. 



and he fully shares in the hope that the advancement of science, which 

 has been so great a glory of Her INIajesty's reign, may be continued 

 throughout His own. 



I am, 8ir, your obedient Servant, 



Chas. T. Ritchie. 



The President of the British Association for the Advancement 

 of Science, Burlington House, W. 



The Council have heard with much regret of the death of Dr. Andrew 

 Stewart, one of th":^ Vice-Presidents-elect for the Glasgow meeting, and 

 the founder of the Adam Smith Chair in the University. 



The following reply from the India Office regarding the suggestion 

 made by the Council, that opportunity should be taken to collect Ethno- 

 graphical information by means of the Indian Census of 1901, has been 

 received : — 



India Office, Whitehall, London, S.W., 

 December 1900. 



Sir, — With reference to your letter of December 1899 and my reply No. E. and S. 

 3539, of the 16th Januar}^ 1900, I am directed to inform you that the Secretary of 

 State for India in Council has now received the remarks of the Government of 

 India on the suggestion of the British Association for the Advancement of Science, 

 that opportunity should be taken to collect ethnographical information by means of 

 the Indian Census of 1001. 



2. The Government of India entirely agree with the Secretary of State's recogni- 

 tion of the importance of the investii^ations which the Association suggested, but 

 find themselves constrained to say that it is impossible (except to the limited extent 

 indicated in paragraph 4 of this letter) to make these investigations by means of, or 

 in connection with, the Census. They consider that the addition to the Census 

 Schedule of Columns relating to even a small number of ethnographic facts would 

 expand it to unwieldy dimensions ; the enumerating agency is wholly unfitted to 

 conduct such an inquiry, and the facts recorded by it would he worthless ; and they 

 apprehend that there would be grave risk, not only that the accuracy of the entries 

 in the essential columns would be impaired b}' the additional burden imposed on 

 the enumerators, but also that the unusual nature of the questions asked would give 

 rise to rumours and excite apprehensions which would seriously interfere with the 

 ordinary operations of the Census. 



3. The Government of India also deem it impracticable to carry out the sug- 

 gestion that photographers should be placed at the disposal of the Census officers, 

 as this, besides being very expensive, would hinder the officers' proper duties, and 

 would delay the submission of the reports, which it is desired to complete as soon 

 as possible. 



4. With the view, however, of taking action, as far as may be practicable, in the 

 direction of collecting ethnographical information, the Census Commissioner has 

 instructed the Census Superintendents to endeavour, in the districts which they visit, 

 to obtain, from the mosD trustworthy sources, particulars under uniform headings 

 regarding the history, structure, traditions, and religious and social usages of the 

 various tribes and castes. The Commissioner considers that nothing beyond this 

 can be undertaken in connection with the Census operations, and the Government of 

 India accept his opinion ; but they have considered the question how far it is pos- 

 sible and advisable apart from the Census to encourage and assist ethnographic in- 

 vestigations in India, and have submitted a scheme by which it is hoped that in the 

 course of a few years a fairly complete account of the ethnography of the larger 

 provinces may be obtained. 



This scheme has received Lord George Hamilton's approval. 



I am. Sir, your obedient Servant, 



(Signed) A. Goni/ET. 



Sir Michael Foster, K.C.B., F.E.S., Burlington House, Piccadilly, W. 



