XXXll PROCEEDINGS OF THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



his last efforts, or that of the illustration of Hindostan, as put forth 

 in maps exhibited before the Royal Asiatic Society. Defining on 

 one of these, each of the ten water-basins of the peninsula, and 

 noting all their affluents, and the number of square miles drained by 

 each, he read a valuable memoir to the Asiatic Society. Another 

 work, and that to which I now particularly advert, is a grand original 

 physical and geological Map of all India, about 7 feet long and 5f feet 

 wide, which he has prepared himself, directing the insertion of every 

 stream and hill, and sedulously consulting every authority for the 

 geological attributes of each district between the plateaux N. of the 

 Himalaya and Cape Comorin. On this Map the spectator sees the 

 delineation of coal-tracts, the larger portion of which are unques- 

 tionably of tertiary age, and not like the old coal of Europe and 

 America ; the range of the diamond-deposits ; the vast territories 

 occupied by granitic and eruptive rocks ; the demarcation of masses 

 of secondary age, in which the cretaceous deposits of the age of our 

 chalk play so subordinate a part, whilst the nummulitic formation, 

 or oldest tertiary, has so grand a development, particularly in the 

 north ; the Silurian and other palaeozoic rocks also being only known 

 in the north-western extremity of the Punjaub and in the Himalaya 

 mountains. 



" Such a labour of love as this on the part of such a man seems to 

 me to call not only for the special acknowledgments of all geogra- 

 phers and geologists, but also for the approbation of the Board of 

 Control and Directors of the East India Company, who would do 

 real service by publishing this great map, and thus render the name 

 of Greenough as well known in our Eastern Empire as it is in 

 Europe." 



It is, perhaps, hardly possible to estimate the difficulties with which 

 Mr. Greenough had to contend in preparing this map. It was com- 

 menced in 1843. Information came in but slowly, and had mostly 

 to be sought for in the archives of the India House. Frequently when 

 obtained its application was next to impossible from the nature and 

 imperfection of the maps, or it was valueless from the ignorance of the 

 observer. In 1849 Mr. Greenough almost despaired of carrying out 

 his object, and felt tempted to give up the work which had cost him 

 so much labour. He was, however, urged to persevere by the accom- 

 plished lady who had assisted him in his work, and who took the 

 greatest interest in its completion*. Fresh information at length 

 poured in, chiefly through the assistance of Col. Sykes, and in 1854 

 the work was completed. 



After the publication of this map, with an energy almost unparal- 

 leled^ Mr. Greenough, at the age of 7Q, started for Italy and the 

 East with the view of making further researches, and of connecting 

 his Eastern labours with the geology of Europe. But the complica- 



* His niece, Miss Colthurst (now Mrs. Greer), had lived for many years in his 

 house during the latter part of his life, and rendered him important services. In 

 testimony of his regard and affection for her, Mr. Greenough bequeathed to her 

 care all his MSS., and I am indebted to her for much of the information con- 

 tained in this memoir. 



