1 843.] Asiatic Society. 1115 



ferent risings. For these we require plenty of specimens, (two or three boxes full,) both 

 of the rock of the beaches and of the beds of shells, oysters, &c. as found fastened upon 

 and in them, and lying loose upon the ledges, with the various heights marked as nearly 

 as can be measured or guessed. The inland beds, rocks, peaks, &c. are usually the most 

 interesting, as being the most ancient. Any imbedded shells, skeletons of fish, &c. are 

 of the greatest importance. 



Miner alogical. — Any veins in the rocks, remarkable stones, ores, &c. should be 

 collected ; five to ten specimens at least of each kind. 



It appears that a rich Copper ore has been found upon Round Island by a native 

 searching for Coal, employed by Captain Williams, who has been requested to have 

 him ready to accompany you, if possible, to point out the spot. Specimens of the rocks 

 or soil in which, and with which, the Copper ore is found should be obtained, as also 

 a good supply of the ore itself, if obtainable. Shining and glittering ores you will 

 readily pick up if met with, but as these are not usually the most valuable, a few of 

 the plain stone-like looking ones are sent herewith. All blue, green, red, or yellow 

 stained rocks, cliffs, banks, or veins should be carefully examined ; of these the red 

 and yellow are most frequently Iron, and the blue and green often Copper. Spots 

 which appear thus coloured, and nearly or quite bare amongst the surrounding vegeta- 

 tion, should be searched and dug into, and specimens of all the stones, earth, &c. taken. 

 All beds of streams, fissures of rocks and strata, and often the sand and gravel of 

 rivers afford you chances of picking up something of value in this way. 



Amongst the specimens you will receive a very small one of a very important, 

 though very worthless-looking one, which is the Asphalte of France, from which the 

 asphaltum terraces and roads are made. This you will easily recognise by its burning, 

 and by its effervescence with acids. Any earthy -looking stones resembling it should be 

 collected ; as also specimens of'Mineral Tar, if any thing of the kind is found. This is 

 not the petroleum or earth-oil, but a thick, tarry, and almost pitchy substance which has 

 not the smell of the earth-oil, but rather that of leather, but very faint. Where the 

 one of these two mineral products, the Asphalte and the Mineral Tar, is found, the 

 other is most probably present, and should be carefully looked for. 



You will receive with the present a printed Pamphlet, containing directions in detail 

 for the collecting of Geological specimens by persons unacquainted with science, in 

 which I have marked a few passages in pencil ; these with the foregoing, will, I trust, 

 enable you to add something to our knowledge. 



The Asiatic Society of Bengal, will owe you their heartiest acknowledgments, 

 should your search be so conducted as to lead to the collection of a complete set of Geo- 

 logical and Mineralogical specimen's from the site to be examined, and I am directed to 

 express the hope of the Society, that you will be facilitated in conducting your search 

 deliberately, by instructions from the Marine Department admitting of some license 

 of interpretation as to the length of time available to you for it 



I have the honor to be, Sir, 



Your faithful servant, 



H. Torrens, 

 V. P. and Sec. As. Soc. of Bengal. 



Capt. Russell's Letter to Mr. Torrens is as follows. His chart and report to Govern- 

 ment have not yet reached us. 



