PREFACE. 



This work was suggested by Mr. Clements R. Markhani's 

 " Memoir on the Indian Surveys,''" in which the geographical and 

 other kindred operations carried out in India from the date of 

 the British occupation were reviewed in a most picturesque and 

 masterly maimer. In 1878 a second edition of Mr. Markhani's 

 work was published, in which the narrative was brought up to 

 1875, and in some cases for a year or so later. For the last fifteen 

 years I have been accumulating notes in moments of leisure, 

 with a view to the publication of a volume which might serve as a 

 continuation to that by Mr. Markham, and tie kind support 

 given to the project by the Secretary of State for India and the 

 Viceroy has now enabled me to present the work in a more or 

 less complete shape. From unavoidable circumstances the arrange- 

 ment of matter is not identical with that adopted by Mr. Markham, 

 but I believe I have conformed to it sufficiently to make reference 

 easy, and wherever the source of information is not specially 

 mentioned, it may be assumed that it will be found in the official 

 Annual Report for the particular year. 



I have to express my sincere acknowledgments to those friends 

 who have been good enough to read through the proofs and favour 

 me with numerous suggestions, of which I have gladly availed 

 myself. To General J. T. Walker, R.E., C.B., F.R.S., &c, 

 formerly Surveyor- General of India, I am indebted for his careful 

 revision of the Trigonometrical, Geodetic, and other chapters. 

 Colonel H. R. Thuillier, R.E., the present Surveyor-General of India, 



