TRANSACTIONS OF THE SECTIONS. 149 
On the Physical Geography of the Neighbourhood of Bombay, as affecting 
the Desiyn of the Works recently erected for the Water Supply of that City. 
By H. Conyseare, C.F, F.GS. 
The water is collected in an immense reservoir, the largest in the world, about 
fourteen miles from Bombay. This reservoir is made by damming up a portion of 
the valley of the Ghoper, and the full extent of it is 1394 acres. As the rains fall 
only once in a year, it is necessary to have a store of water for a twelvemonth’s con- 
sumption, and this is now supplied. There were both engineering difficulties and 
facilities in the work undertaken, and these were described by the author. The 
700,000 inhabitants of Bombay were now well supplied with water. There were 
self-closing public conduits in the streets for the supply of the poor. In these works 
it had been necessary to guard against offending the feelings or prejudices of the 
native inhabitants ; hence in the valves and other appliances requisite in the distribu- 
tion of the water neither leather nor animal fat could be used. 
On the Effects of Commixture, Locality, Climate, and Food on the Races of 
Man. By J. Crawrourp, F.G.S. 
The writer gave a review of the commixture of various nations, its effects on the 
mental faculties of the different populations, their physical characteristics, and Jan- 
guage. He glanced at the effects of a change of climate upon any particular race. 
It did not appear, he said, that colour and the more prominent physical attributes, 
or mental capacity, had any necessary connexion with climate ; nor did he think that 
climate altered the physical form and mental faculties of a race transferred from its 
original locality to a new one. He then pointed out, at some length, that the 
varieties of climate had a great influence upon the mental powers of a people; and 
proceeded to consider, under the last head of his paper, the question of diet in rela- 
tion to the physical and mental character of a people... The physical character of a 
race, he said, did not seem to be in any respect altered by the nature of the vegetable 
diet of which it partook, provided the quantity were sufficient and the quality whole- 
some ; but when the question of the diet of a people related to mental development, 
the quality assumed an important aspect. No race of man, it might be safely asserted, 
ever acquired any respectable amount of civilization that had not some cereal for a 
portion of its food. 
Observations on the Lake District. By J. Davy, M.D. F.RS. 
In this paper the physical geography of the Lake District was chiefly treated of 
in relation to the varied beauty of its scenery, the peculiarities of its climate, and the 
character of its native population. Its beauty was referred to several circumstances, 
such as the admirable intermixture of the wild and cultivated, of lake, mountain and 
meadow ; the graceful forms of the lower hills (attributable to glacial action) con- 
trasted with the asperities of the higher, the mountain ridges and peaks; the youth- 
ful freshness of the woodlands, chiefly coppice, carefully attended to and regularly 
cut, not without admixture of ornamental planting. Its climate was described as 
most remarkable for summer coolness and winter mildness, for the large amount of 
rain (partly the cause of both) without unusual frequency of showers, and with 
moderate dryness of air, connected with absence of clay and a rapid drainage. 
The people of the district, chiefly pastoral in their occupation, of robust make, and 
of Norse origin, were made mention of as marked for good sense, and for thrift in 
their dealings, rather than for imaginative power. In concluding, attention was 
called to the influence of localities on health, and to the beneficial effects of residen- 
cies at certain heights, approaching 1000 feet above the level of the sea. In proof 
of the salubrity of the climate (apart from the ill-drained towns and villages), the 
aa hitherto of its dales from cholera was adduced, and the longevity of its 
esmen. 
On Pacific Railway Schemes, as communicated by the Earl of Malmesbury 
to the President of the Royal Geographical Society. By Consul Dononoe. 
