152 Proceedings. [No. 7, new series. 



This was the most promising of any specimen, and appeared to 

 be admirably suited for ornamental work requiring a high polish. 



In conclusion, I may mention that since Mr. Blanford's visit to 

 this neighbourhood, a continuation of this limestone band has been 

 observed by my friend Mr. Ross, some miles to the West of Paul- 

 ghaut, in a railway cutting. 



I am, Sir, 



Your obedient servant, 

 (Signed) W. R. Cornish, 



Civil Surgeon. 



Mr. Elliot observed that he had received a letter from Dr. Cleg- 

 horn within the last few days in which the justice of Mr. Cornish's 

 claim in behalf of himself and Mr. Ross to the first discovery of the 

 limestone was fully admitted, Dr. C. having merely sent the speci- 

 mens of the rock pointed out to him by Mr. Ross to Mr. Blanford 

 with a view of attracting his attention to the subject. 



Mr. Elliot brought a paper on the Syrian and Jewish copper 

 plates of Malabar referring to the previous discussions on these do- 

 cuments in a former Volume of the Journal, and which had been 

 forwarded to him by Mr Collett, from Kokel Kelloo Nair, Moon- 

 siff of Calicut. This paper takes a view differing in many respects 

 from the interpretation of former writers on the subject and assigns 

 to the Plates a date considerably earlier than they have hitherto 

 supposed to be entitled to, founded on certain astronomical data 

 contained in the documents themselves. 



The paper is very remarkable as the production of an intelligent 

 and well informed native gentlemen who has had few advantages 

 for acquiring an English education, and who has entered on the 

 subject in the spirit of European criticism. It was referred to the 

 Committee of Papers. 



A Vocabulary of the Kotars of the Neilgherry Hills was also 

 read, it is the production of the Revd. F. Metz, whose Toda Vo- 

 cabulary has already appeared in the pages of the Journal. 



The Committee acknowledge with thanks the receipt of the fol- 

 lowing books. 



