GENERAL OBSERVATIONS 



ON THE 



GEOLOGY OF INDIA. 



By JAMES CALDEB, Esq. 



It is singular to observe that, while England is ever ready to engage in 

 enterprises to explore the secrets of nature, even in her most inaccessible 

 retreats in other quarters of the globe, she should have shewn such 

 supineness and indifference respecting the Natural History of her eastern 

 dominions. 



In the colonial possessions of other nations, the whole field of nature 

 has been explored and described by scientific and enlightened travellers ; 

 whilst, in India, it has been almost entirely neglected, with one splendid 

 exception, in which the munificent patronage of the East India Company 

 has enabled a distinguished Member of our Society to make magnificent 

 discoveries in the vegetable kingdom. May we not hope that the same 

 patronage may be extended to other departments of Physical Science, and 

 that, as Indian Botany has found its Linnaeus, we may yet see the trea- 

 sures of the Animal and Mineral kingdoms unfolded to us by a Humboldt 

 and a Cuvier. 



B In 



