1848.] 



the late Dr. A. T. Christie. 



157 



hills further south* hold out to English enterprize ; since the Government 

 have already by their many liberal and enlightened nieasures for their im- 

 provement, shown themselves perfectly confident of the immense advan- 

 tages that must hereafter be derived from them. 



After having remained several w-^eeks on the Neilgherries, I came to 

 Madras by 'way of Trichinopoly and the coast, in expectation of finding 

 some secondary formations near the former place. In this, however, I 

 ■was disappointed, and found that part of the country to possess but lit- 

 tle of geological interest. On the coast I was more fortunate, having 

 discovered several curious deposits containing fossils, which are calcu- 

 lated to throw some light on the geological epochs of the Indian for- 

 mations." 



In addition to the matter set forth in the foregoing extract, Dr. 

 Christie made considerable collections in zoology ; including some 

 interesting specimens of fresh water fish, crustacea and insects. 

 Four cases of these, containing several hundred birds, a few mam- 

 malia, a small collection of fresh water fish from the rivers of Malabar 

 and Wynaad, and some crustacea and reptiles, were forwarded to the 

 Court of Directors by the Madras Government in October, 1832 ; as 

 also a specimen of the porcelain clay above mentioned. Dr. Christie 

 further projected an extensive series of meteorological observations 

 to be made at the principal stations throughout this Presidency, in 

 concert with similar observations to be carried on simultaneously in 

 Bombay, Bengal, and Egypt. At his recommendation the Govern- 

 ment of Fort St. George wrote home for 25 sets of meteorological 

 instruments, and a codef of directions for conducting the observations, 

 was drawn up b}^ him, which was adopted and printed both by the 

 Governments of Madras and Bombay. 



It was the expressed wish of Dr. C. that he might be permitted to 

 devote part of his time to a more minute survey of the Neilgherry 

 Hills, so as to enable him to exhibit an accurate exposition of every 

 thing connected with their physical geography ; such as the height of 

 their principal summits ; the general height, form, and direction of 

 their valleys ; the climate of their different parts; the character and 

 composition of their soils : the nature of their springs and streams, 

 their vegetation and geology. 



He also made preparations for the establishment of a small expe- 

 rimental farm, with a view to the improvement of coffee, tea, the 



* The Pylney and Vurraghen-y Moimtains which have probably an elevation of from 5,0C0 to 7,000 feet 

 above tlie sea- 

 t Reprinted in Vol. 2, page 11, of tliis Journal. 



