IN SOUTHERN INDIA. 



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Some ten years ago the history of the different survey 

 departments in India was written by a very able man who 

 had travelled in many countries and could well judge of the 

 work to be expected from the surveyors, A passage from his 

 work, referring to the Geological Survey of India, may not 

 inappropriately be quoted. The author, Clement Markham, 

 of Cinchona fame, wrote as follows: 



" There is a vast field still spread before the Geological 

 Survey of India, a great work yet to be achieved, though much 

 certainly has already been done. They must be animated by 

 a noble devotion to the cause of science these Indian geolo- 

 gists, for theirs is neither a safe nor an easy task. Out of the 

 two dozen or so that have entered the Survey since it 

 commenced, 34 per cent, have been struck down by death 

 or incapacitating disease. The rest work on zealously and 

 bravely, reflecting honor on English administration, by the 

 results of their labors, extending the sum of human know- 

 ledge, and doing much practically useful work. In spite of 

 all difficulties of climate, inaccessibility of districts and 

 slowness of means of travel, they have examined an area four 

 times as large as Great Britain.' ' 



The mortality among the geologists has decreased somewhat 

 since the above was written, as experience has been gained 

 as to the different seasons at which malaria prevails in 

 different regions, and the men have been, more frequently, 

 allowed to do their recess work in cool sanitaria ; but the 

 general amount of exposure, with all its attendant risks, 

 remains just as before. The greatest incentive to the geolo- 

 gists to continue to work hard would be a great increase in the 

 number of amateur geologists who would take a really lively 

 interest in the progress of the science in the country, and 

 endeavour to add to and improve upon what has already 

 been done. Apart from those engaged in mining specu- 

 lations, the author does not know a single person in South 



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