1836.] Report of the Euphrates Expedition. &1o 



ra Punji and Nunklow, and within a period of seven weeks. Both these orders 

 have hitherto been almost totally neglected by Indian Botanists ; and the 

 greater part of the few that have been described seem to have been sent from 

 Nipdl by the Honorable Mr. Gardiner. Heace, owing to the impossibility of 

 obtaining advice, and as my situation obviously precludes me at present from 

 consulting the requisite authorities, I have determined on sending the MSS. and 

 drawings to England, accompanied with a complete series of both collections. 

 By the adoption of this plan the stability of my very numerous new species will 

 easily be determined*." 



X. — A General Statement of the lahors and proceedings of the Expedition to the 

 Euphrates, under the command of Colonel Chesney, Royal Artillery, F. R. S. 



The object of the present communication is not to anticipate the interest 

 which must be felt, and especially by the members of the Geographical Society, 

 as well as other public bodies, not only in the progress of the Expedition to 

 the Euphrates, but also in the results obtained to science and general know- 

 ledge ; for, to render these of any real value, they must be accompanied by the 

 details of the means by which they were acquired. It is rather, therefore, with 

 a view to the exhibition of how those means have been hitherto applied, and 

 how the capabilities of the Expedition have been directed, that the present 

 statement is made ; not, however, omitting those details which a brief notice of 

 this kind will admit, when touching upon the labour, the progress, and the pre- 

 sent condition of the enterprise itself. 



The voyage to Malta from Liverpool occupied a period of twenty-nine days, a 

 great part of which time was taken up in working out the details, and consolidating 

 the original plans of our commander. Among the scientific labours, indepen- 

 dently of questions of general navigation and drilling the men, were the rating 

 of the chronometers, observations in meteorology, the temperature of the sea, 

 and researches in natural history. 



At Malta, some time was devoted to the determination of the intensity of 

 magnetic forces, and the amount of the dip of the needle. The cylinders 

 used for the former experiments consisted of two pair that had been tried by 

 Captain Sabine in Limerick, and another obtained through the kindness of 

 Professor Lloyd, T. C. D. and tried at Dublin previous to departure. The 

 whole set being subsequently experimented upon in London by Lieut. Murphy, 

 R. E. and also at Liverpool. 



An exploratory tour was also made in the interior of the islands, Malta and 

 Gaza, with the view of recognizing in a general way their geological structure 

 and natural productions. Some fossil shells of interest were obtained, also the 

 plants of the season (March), and some species belonging to the classes Tunicata, 

 Acaleppa, Malacodermce and Polypi. 



During the stay at Malta, Colonel Chesney was much occupied with the 

 general objects of the Expedition, more particularly about the construction 

 of flat boats. The George Canning had been separated from the Aldan Steamer 

 her consort, by rude weather, off Cork, and it was found impossible to remedy 

 this loss at the Mediterranean station ; but the Admiral, Sir Josias Rowley, 

 allowed the Columbine sloop to accompany the Expedition to the mouth of the 

 Orontes ; and there was certainly every reason to rejoice in this arrangement ; for 

 not only was the George Canning taken in tow by the brig at all times when 

 the weather permitted, but Commander Henderson and his officers secured 

 the gratitude of every member of the Expedition, by the most efficient and 

 zealous services in landing the stores. 



The difficulties and opposition to the landing of the stores are already known 

 from the various reports that have reached England. Success was only obtained 

 here in the first instauce by the bold step of an immediate landing without a 

 reference to the authorities of the country, and by exposing and remonstrating 



* We hope soon to receive from the Tea Committee some account of Dr. 

 Griffith's previous labors. We hear that the several reports of Dr. Wallich, 

 Dr. Griffith, and Dr. McClelland have been some time sent in. — Ed. 

 4 s 2 



