1867.] Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. 69 



objectionable. When partially separated from saline matter, its 

 general properties more resembled those of animal excrementitious 

 matter, while those of the dry season water more resembled urinous 

 secretions. The rainy season water also seemed to contain much more 

 living germs. 



" As to the question of taking water from Cossipore, it may be said 

 that it would scarcely be advisable to do so, as there can be no doubt 

 of the influence of the tide rendering the water impure : whether a 

 point nearer than Pultah would be suitable, could only be determined 

 by observations during the hot season. Bat there is a point of greater 

 importance to consider, namely the state of the river water during the 

 rains, especially during the early part of the season. The water then 

 contained the sewerage of thousands of square miles of country, and 

 was much more putrid and offensive than even the flood tide water of 

 the hot season ; and besides contained a large quantity of mud in a 

 very fine state of division, very difficult to get rid of either by sub- 

 sidence or filtration ; and this water cannot be avoided by taking it 

 from Pultah. The greater impurity of river waters during floods is a 

 fact well recognized in England, and here we have all the floods 

 of the year concentrated into one great flood. The Engineer to the 

 Municipality had taken into account the unusual quantity of mud 

 in the water at this season, and had made arrangements intended to 

 obviate the difficulty : but there is great reason to fear that these 

 measures will be very inadequate for the purpose, and that the large 

 covered reservoirs will, during the early months of the rains, supply 

 water of a very offensive character, and perhaps taint it for a con- 

 siderable time afterwards. There is no evidence in the Engineer's 

 Report that the extent of the difficulty has been appreciated or even 

 properly understood, or that the efficiency of the means to remedy it 

 has been satisfactorily ascertained." 



Library. 

 The following additions were made to the Library since the meeting 

 held in March : — 



* # * The names of Donors in Capitals. 

 Presentations. 

 Jahrbuch der Kaiserlich Koniglichen Geologischen Reichsanstalt. 

 — Vol. XV, XVI. — The K. K. Geol. Reichsanstalt. 



