436 Asiatic Society. [May, 



10th ultimo, together with specimens of a fragrant wood and other articles found in 



the mountains of Darjeeling, and to request the opinion of the Society as to whether 



the articles are a valuable product. 



I have the honor to be, Sir, 



Your most obedient humble servant, 



Fort William, 12th June, 1839. H. T. PRINSEP, 



Secy, to the Govt, of India. 



To H. T. Prinsep, Esq., Secretary to the Government of India, 8$c. #c. 8$c. 



Sir, — I have the honor to forward for the consideration of the Government, and 

 presentation to the Asiatic Society, should it be deemed fit, a specimen of a fragrant 

 wood found in these mountains, the leaves of the tree of the same, a gummy substance 

 found in the Morung, and a mineral I discovered between Pemkabarry and Idwisean- 

 gurry ; in the hope that they may be found useful. 



The tree from which these specimens were taken was about nine inches in diameter, 

 and twenty-five or thirty feet high. The bark and the wood appear to be equally 

 fragrant, and the odour to be developed by the application of a gentle heat ; along 

 with the wood are a few detached pieces of bark. 



The leaves of the above tree are called Tej-Putta, or Tez-Path, or some such name, 

 as I am told ; and are used in curry as a mussala. If so, the tree is probably well 

 known to others, though new to me ; but I doubt if the fragrant quality of the wood 

 is known. 



The gum is common in the Morung, and may be collected in large quantities if 

 thought worth the trouble. 



The mineral is in a considerable quantity by the road side. I have not the means of 

 analysis, but it appears tome to possess some of the qualities of plumbago. I had 

 neither means nor time to search for purer specimens, but if my conjecture is correct, 

 this mineral promises to be useful for machinery, and some of the purposes of inferior 

 black lead. I have said that it appears to be a sort of plumbago, and I may point out 

 how near some of it looks allied to micaceous schist, from whence, again, the transi- 

 tion is easy to some of the forms of gneiss. I have, &c. 



Darjeeling, IQth May, 1839. (Signed,) J. T. PEARSON, 



Asst. Surgeon. 

 (True copy,) H. T. PRINSEP, 



Secy, to the Govt, of India. 



Read extracts from a letter from M. Alphonze Bazin, Baron du Chanay, &c, 

 with reference to a project of an Electro-Hydraulic Telegraph for effecting correspon- 

 dence between Calcutta, London, and the rest of the world. An analysis of the 

 memoir was given, specifying construction and expenses. The illustrative drawings and 

 plans were also exhibited. 



Proposed by Dr. O'Shaughnessy, seconded by the Lord Bishop of Calcutta, 

 and carried unanimously— That a Sub-Committee of the Society be appointed to exa- 

 mine and report on the project to the next Meeting, to be held in the first week 

 of August. 



M. Alp. Bazin communicated through the Secretary to the Meeting, that his politi- 

 cal engagements, and the unsettled state of European affairs, rendered it absolutely ne- 

 cessary that his plans should be examined and reported on without delay, and he named 

 the 12th July as the longest period he could wait the decision of the Society. 



