IN SOUTH ERA" INDIA. 



28? 



For the systematic geology of India the reader is referred to 

 the Manual of the G-eology of India — a masterly resume of all 

 that was known of the geological structure of the country up 

 to 1879. 1 The third volume 2 of this great work, treating of 

 the economic section of the subject, has also j ust appeared, and 

 as a whole, the work is one highly to be commended to every 

 lover or student of geology in India. He will find these 

 volumes a rich treasure-house of facts well marshalled and 

 ably discussed in all their bearings on the geological theories 

 that have been started in solution of difficult points, whether 

 of specially Indian or of general interest. These three noble 

 and richly-illustrated volumes may, without fear of contra- 

 diction, be pointed to as the cheapest books ever published 

 in India, or (as far as the writer is aware) anywhere else. 

 Both typographically and pictorially they reflect great credit 

 on all concerned in their publication. 



The systematic survey of the geological features of India 

 began practically with the appointment of the late Dr. T. 

 Oldham in March 1851, the previous labors of Dr. Voysey,. 

 Mr. A. H. Williams, and Dr. McClelland having been quite 

 local and desultory. Much too of Dr. Oldham's work in 

 the earlier years after his appointment was necessarily 

 desultory, as he was called upon to visit and describe 

 different and disconnected regions. It was not till after the 

 arrival of Lord Canning, who took a warm interest in the 

 geological investigation of India, that Dr. Oldham and the 

 band of young geologists he had obtained from Europe were 

 placed in a position to enter upon the systematic examination 



1 A Manual of the Geology of India by H. B. Medlicott, m.a., Superin- 

 tendent, and W. T. Blanford, a.r.s.m., f.r.s., Deputy Superintendent, 

 Geological Survey of India, Calcutta, 1879. Parts i and ii, with 2 maps and 

 21 plates, pp. lxxx and 887. Price Rs. 8. 



2 Manual of the Geology of India, part iii, Economic Geology by V~ 

 Ball, Officiating Deputy Superintendent, Geological Survey of India, Cal- 

 cutta, 1881. 6 maps and 10 plates, pp. xx and 663. Price Rs. 5. 



