1854.] Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. 745 



the Alphine dialects of the Punjab, we see the connexion between Diony- 

 sus with his snakes in baskets and the god Sabazias ; we see also how the 

 Greek ~2a$afai> was formed as it evidently meant to call out ' Shabash,' so 

 also 2ey3os &c. &c. as the priests of Baal called out " O Baal ! hear us !" That 

 snake-worship was formerly dominant in India, we all know, but no one has 

 yet attempted to trace it. This I am now doing, but, before writing, I wish 

 to read all that has been written upon snake-worship by European authors, 

 not one of those that I have yet read, has even the faintest idea of its true 

 origin. My illustrations on this subject are most complete, and they most 

 unexpectedly point out the object of Stonehenge and the other stone cir- 

 cles of Britain." 



The Librarian and the Curator of the Museum of Economic Geo- 

 logy submitted their usual monthly reports. 



Report of the Curator Museum of Economic Geology, November, 1854. 



I usually delay reporting upon contributions till I have examined them, 

 but illness and the number of contributions, with many miscellaneous 

 duties and calls, and some very long and intricate researches which I have 

 been following out, have thrown me so much in arrears that I must un- 

 willingly break through my custom and mention only many contributions 

 which I could wish to have examined before doing so. 



Geology and Mineralogy. — We have received a box of 45 specimens, 

 mostly rocks, from the Coromandel Coast, by a Madras ship ; but I have no 

 notice from the donor, nor do I recognise the haad-writing. 1 have cata- 

 logued the localities but have not yet examined them. 



We have also received from Mr. Blyth a bottle of Petroleum from 

 Mooltan, also from an unknown donor. 



Mr. Oldham's valuable contribution was exhibited at the October 

 meeting, and it is described in the following letter by him. 



From the Superintendent of the Geological Survey to the Secretary, 

 Asiatic Society of Bengal. 



Dated \Zth September, 1854. 



Sir, — I have the honor to forward herewith, for the Museum of Eco- 

 nomic Geology some boxes of specimens both Geological and Palseonto- 

 logical, which will, I hope, be found valuable additions to its collections. 



They consist principally of a fine collection of fossil plants from the 

 Hajmahal hills. 



Some rock specimens from ditto ditto. 



Ditto ditto from Khasi Hills. 



5 e 2 



