1S60.] Memorandum on the Survey of Kashmir. 29 



first employed on the topograph)', but they were soon called away by 

 the demands of their own department ; consequently a fresh set bad 

 to be trained, involving delay and expense, which would have been 

 avoided, if the same assistants could have been employed throughout. 



"Lieut. Basevi of the Engineers made a very careful reconnoissance 

 of many of the passes on the Pir Punjal, determined their heights, 

 and drew up an able report of their capabilities ; he also sketched a 

 portion of the ground near the ridge, and subsequently reported on 

 the river Vedusta or Jhelum. Lieutenant Basevi is a most energetic 

 talented and able officer and did excellent service, as also did Mr. 

 Bell, who is an able Surveyor. 



" Captains P. Lumsden, Allgood, and Johnson, took up their work 

 con amore, quickly acquired the requisite knowledge of the system, 

 and their zeal in this arduous and harassing work deserves high 

 praise. They completed three thousand and two hundred square 

 miles on the half inch scale, and the Surveyor General having person- 

 ally examined their plans, speaks in the highest terms of the same. 



" Captain Godwin Austen exhibited special talent for the delineation 

 of ground, and Lieut. Melville's work was very good. Both of these 

 officers proved themselves indefatigable mountaineers and have alto- 

 gether exhibited so much zeal as to be deserving of high commend- 

 ation. Lieut. Murray also did good service, and proved himself a 

 useful Surveyor. 



" The success attending this season's work, the admirable manner in 

 which Captain Austen and Lieuts. Melville and Murray acquitted 

 themselves, induced the Surveyor General to apply to Government for 

 five additional qualified officers, to which sanction was accorded by 

 Government, but he has not been yet able to find any suitable persons. 

 A great deal of floating talent does exist in the arm}', and qualified 

 young officers are frequently to be met with, but the military oper- 

 ations consequent on the mutiny have absorbed most of the valuable 

 officers and rendered selection difficult. 



" Lieut. Elliot Brownlow of Engineers, an officer of the highest 

 promise and beloved by all his contemporaries, volunteered for service 

 and joined at Delbi, in eight days from Kashmir, though too late for 

 the assault ; he then proceeded to Agra and Lucknow with the Engi- 

 neer's Brigade, and was most lamentably killed at Lucknow after the 



