46 Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. [Feb. 



arisen from the increased facilities afforded by the division of .the 

 subjects treated of, to all who are more especially interested in 

 one branch of enquiry rather than another. 



Similar favorable reports of the sale of our Journal reach us from 

 our agents at home, though we have not as yet received detailed 

 statements of the separate applications. 



I would also ask attention to the fact that during the last few 

 years, much more has been given to the members than hitherto, 

 while to the public the cost has been considerably reduced. 



"Whatever doubts therefore I have had as to the practicability 

 of effectively maintaining this division of our Journal, have been 

 entirely dispelled by the experience of last year, and I believe this 

 division to be not only convenient (which was obvious) but also 

 both practicable and profitable. 



I would also ask your attention to the greatly increased interest 

 and value of the papers published in your Journal, and to the im- 

 provement in the illustrations. That the contributions have excited 

 much attention from the highest authorities on the subjects treated 

 of is shewn by the criticisms on them, which have appeared in the 

 Scientific Journals of Europe. The Society is indebted for one of the 

 most attractive illustrations in the Journal of last year, to Mr. 

 "W. T. Blanford, who has contributed the very admirably executed 

 coloured plate of a new species, Trochalopteron Fairbanhii, described 

 by himself. Indeed it has only been by similar contributions of time 

 and labour, that under the pressure of limited resources, we have 

 been able to produce so valuable a volume of the Journal during 

 tho year. 



It had been my wish to have taken a brief retrospect of the 

 labour of the Society during the year, but my absence for some 

 months will preclude the possibility of this. There is one 

 subject which has been prominently brought forward, on which I 

 would say a few words. We have had more than one communica- 

 tion on the early history of the Sundarbans; and have been 

 strenuously urged to initiate a regular examination of this wild and 

 now uninhabitable jungle district, with a view to determine the 

 existence, and investigate tho ruins of cities said to occur, or 



