jan. — mar. 1857.] Proceedings. 



279 



The report concludes with an account of the obstructions to 

 navigation in the Channel of the Godavery. 



Read also letters from Mr. Dodd in charge of Chemical Ex- 

 aminer's Department, and from Dr. Falconer, Superintendent of 

 the Botanical Garden, Calcutta, upon the mineral specimens for- 

 warded by Dr. Walker. 



The thanks of the Meeting were presented to the Contributors 

 of the above Papers. Some time has elapsed since Dr. Walker's 

 experiment, but Madras having now its Railway and Mineral 

 Viewer, and the Committee being aware of the great importance of 

 a Country like India being able to supply itself with Coal and Iron 

 in the same way as England is favored with the former, thought it 

 advisable to put on record in the Journal an experiment like Dr. 

 Walker's, and it was resolved accordingly to request the Commit- 

 tee of Papers to arrange for the publication of his Report. 



The Managing Committee of the Madras Literary Society and 

 Auxiliary of the Royal Asiatic Society, Thursday Evening, Feb. 12, 

 1857. 



The Hon'ble W. Elliot, in the Chair. 



The Secretary read a letter, from Dr. Jameson, Superintendent of 

 the Botanical Garden at Saharunpoor, to Mr. Elliot, giving an ac- 

 count of the Tea plantations in the Himalayas. 



The encouragement given to the cultivation of Tea in the last 2 

 years bids fair to render Tea a staple article of produce in the 

 N. W. Provinces. Last year the quantity turned out was 40,000 lbs. 

 this year that amount will be doubled. It is now in great demand 

 at Almorah and Deyrah, the best kinds realizing from 3 Rs. to 4 

 Rs. 8 As. per poun . and this not for small quantities, the amount 

 disposed of having been 20,000 lbs. 



A great proportion of the second class Teas was purchased by 

 natives for the purpose of bartering with the Bhotiahs in the inte- 

 rior of the Himalayas and Thibet in exchange for Borax and other 



