PREFACE. 



The Report on the Cachar Earthquake of 1869 has after all 

 returned to its birthplace for publication. This is most for- 

 tunate, for it will thereby obtain a wider circulation in this 

 country than if brought out independently in Europe, as was 

 the intention of the late Dr. Oldham when he took the mate- 

 rials home with him on retiring from the direction of the 

 Geological Survey of India. Failing health and other causes 

 prevented his carrying his wishes into execution. Under 

 these circumstances it is singularly fortunate and appropriate 

 that the duty of completing the work should devolve upon 

 his son, who got possession of the papers, and who has since 

 joined the service which Dr. Oldham had so successfully 

 controlled for many years. 



Only the descriptive part, the first two and a half chap- 

 ters, belongs to the original manuscript ; the weightier matter 

 of discussing the observations is entirely the work of Mr. 

 R. D. Oldham, and he has done it in a very efficient manner. 

 In a country where earthquake phenomena are of frequent 

 occurrence, it is most important to have one good local 

 example put through the ordeal of scientific examination. 

 I trust that Mr. Oldham's labours will lead to observations 

 of a more satisfactory nature than those he has handled with 

 so much skill in the following pages. 



H. B. MEDLICOTT, 



Superintendent, Geological Survey of India. 



