460 The Geological Survey of India. [Oct., 



Considering the great exposure to which all field-geologists 

 working in the open country are unavoidably subjected, and the 

 necessity for their visiting, and often remaining in, the most mala- 

 rious and unhealthy parts, it is not surprising to learn that the 

 whole staff are seldom at work at one time. The illness of one or 

 more, and the necessity for leave of absence, is generally recorded in 

 the Annual Keports. But it is grievous to learn the loss by death 

 of five or six officers since the Survey has been in operation, whilst 

 several have been forced to resign from ill-health. 



These causes have occasioned much loss of time. It is seldom 

 possible, Dr. Oldham remarks, to meet with persons qualified to 

 supply the vacancies immediately. There is, moreover, absolute 

 necessity for a considerable amount of training, occupying gene- 

 rally a year, before any newly-appointed Assistant can become 

 really useful, and able to carry on alone the mapping of a district. 



The pecuniary temptations furnished to individuals to join the 

 Survey are not very great, the maximum ratio of pay being 500 

 and 600 rupees per month, but this is only obtainable after eight 

 or ten years' service. The salary, as on the British Survey, is very 

 fair to commence with, but equally discouraging in prospect. 



The latest report of Dr. Oldham, dated the 3rd January, 1870, 

 is accompanied as usual by an index-niap, showing the area surveyed, 

 and published to the end of 1869, and that in progress. A reduced 

 copy of this map accompanies our notice. 



The Atlas of India, which includes Burmah and the Malay 

 Peninsula, comprises about 180 sheets, portions of about 64 of 

 which have been mapped, while others have been visited and re- 

 ported upon. 



A very large area has not yet been surveyed topographically, 

 so that the direction of the detailed mapping by the Geological 

 Survey has some restrictions. The size of the sheets is 3 feet 

 41 inches by 2 feet 3 J inches, and each contains an area of about 

 17,824 square miles. 



The principal part of the work has been carried on in Central 

 India. The faultiness of the existing maps of the country was found 

 a serious drawback to successful progress, but so far as possible they 

 were corrected, and every effort was made to render them of the 

 utmost service. It was soon found, however, that the character of 

 the geological work must be suited to the available maps of the 

 district, and with very imperfect maps to attempt great detail 

 would be useless. For all practical purposes, the boundaries of 

 the geological formations could generally be fixed with sufficient 

 accuracy. 



But few sheets have been entirely surveyed. This, however, 

 would be accounted for by the necessity, previously stated, of ex- 

 amining many different and distant parts for the purpose of arriving 



