1868.] Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. 31 



to those gentlemen who have done so much for ethnology, and who, 

 amid the labours of their official duties, have yet found time to compile 

 these valuable papers. 



As to the scheme itself, I may say that it has been generally 

 approved of. All see the difficulties, but all equally recognize its value 

 if carried out in a liberal and scientific spirit. My friend, Professor 

 Huxley, gave it his approval, and regretted that he should not have 

 the opportunity of being here to see it carried out. 



For my own part I cannot see that the difficulties to be overcome 

 are greater than those which had to be dealt with in the Great Ex- 

 hibitions in England and France, or even on a minor scale in this 

 country. The success of these proves that where the will exists, the 

 way is not impracticable. It is merely a question of money and 

 scientific enterprise. In the former we may be wanting, but I trust 

 .not in the latter, and I am glad to think that the experiment, on a 

 small scale, has already been made in the Central Provinces, by the 

 i spirited and energetic ruler of that part of India. 



I am, however, quite aware that the present is not the time to hope 

 for much pecuniary support or aid from Government. Famine and flood, 

 war and pestilence have prior claims to science on the coffers of the 

 I state and the liberality of the public ; in the mean time we must go on 

 collecting all the information we can get, feeling thankful for what we 

 have already received, and looking hopefully for more. 



It is with great pleasure that I refer to the sanction of Government 

 , accorded to the appointment of scientific observers with the expeditions 

 ' about to penetrate into Abyssinia and Younan. On learning that an ex- 

 pedition was to enter Abyssinia for the purpose of releasing the British 

 subjects kept in duresse by King Theodorus, I addressed the Secretary 

 in the Home Department, in the name of the Society, requesting him to 

 move Government to sanction the appointment of scientific observers to 

 i accompany the expedition, pointing out briefly the interest with which 

 . science looked on this opportunity of adding to our knowledge of the 

 Fauna, Flora, Mineralogy and Geology of these countries. The opportuni- 

 ty was also taken of asking for the appointment of some one to accompany 

 the expedition then projected to the Nicobar Islands. Almost by return 

 of post, we received the gratifying intelligence that the Viceroy had 

 approved of the suggestion, and had nominated Mr. W. Blanford to 



