46 
Obituary — David Forbes. 
companied Mi*. Brooke Evans to explore tlie mineral resources and 
aftenvards to superintend extensive mining and metallurgical works 
at Espedal in Norway, a post wliicli ke keld for about 12 years. 
Düring this period he travelled much, and lost no opportunity of in- 
creasing bis störe of scientific knowledge, as bis writings testify. 
David Forbes was a man of resolute and determined courage. and 
wlien in Norway, in 1848, and a revolutionary movement threatened 
tbe country, he armed 400 of bis men to aid tbe Government. For 
this Service tbe King sent for Forbes, and tbanked bim personally, 
and ever afterwards remained bis friend. 
Düring this time be became a partner in tbe well-known firm of 
Evans and Askin, Nickel-smelters, Birmingham, and it was in con- 
nexion witb tbem that be visited Chile, Peru and Bolivia, in 
searcb of Nickel and Cobalt. His investigations into the mineral 
resources of these countries extended over six years. Düring tbe 
years 1857-60, he made a special geological exploration of certain 
districts in South America, tbe result of wbich, entitled “ On 
tbe Geology of Bolivia and Southern Peru,” was communicated to 
the Geological Society in 1860. 
Tbe paper is full of interesting details, and althougb many points 
may appear to bave been neglected, this is not tbe result of over- 
sigbt, but, as the autbor truly observes, is “ due to tbe great difficul- 
ties and frequently severe privations encountered in exploring a 
country in many parts entirely uninbabited, or to a great extent in 
a savage condition, and, furtker, by having been limited botb as to 
time and pecuniary resources, and bampered by other occupations 
and by the political state of tbe country.” 
A second communication was to bave embodied the Geology and 
Mineralogy of the neigkbouring Bepublic of Chile and tbe Argentine 
Provinces, wbich would have strengthened bis previous conclusions, 
especially as several of tbe geological formations not well developed 
or studied in tbe districts described in bis first paper, were seen by 
Forbes much better and more characteristically exkibited further 
south. From South America be made an expedition to tbe South Sea 
Islands, and speut some time in studying their volcanic formations 
and minerals. 
Düring four years be traversed Chile in all directions from con- 
siderably south of Santiago nortkwards, up to tbe frontiers of Bolivia 
in tbe Desert of Atacama. 
He inspected all tbe principal and some of the lesser mining 
districts along tbe ränge of tbe Cordilleras ; from these be collected 
a valuable and extensive series of minerals, including about 190 
species, of wbich be published a list (much more copious tban that 
given in tbe second editiou of Domeyko’s Mineralogy), together witb 
a Classification, according to tbe mode of their geological occurrence, 
in bis paper “ On tbe Mineralogy of Chile” (see Phil. Mag., 1865). 
It was witb tbe same view that during bis long residence in 
Norway Forbes studied tbe Mineralogy of tbe several districts in 
that country, viz with especial referenee to tbe circumstances under 
wbich eacb mineral occurred and tbe causes wbich led to its ap- 
