12 
The following letter * to H. v. Haidinger from Stoliczka contains some account of 
his life and principal occupations in Calcutta at this period — 
“Our geological results are now being slowly digested; all the Assistants are returned 
“ home from the field and are at work upon their last investigations. The mercantile offices 
“ are often closed on account of the great heat ; notwithstanding this, an active life rules in 
“ the Geological Survey Office, hammering and chiselling, mechanical and chemical analysis, 
“ noting and examining, writing and drawing. So it goes on from morning to evening ; our 
“ worthy chief, seated in our midst, presides over all. 
“ We have had now for many days terribly hot weather, daily in the shade 100° F. (30° R.), 
“ often much higher ; sometimes there comes a * north-wester,’ like manna fallen from 
“ heaven, and makes the air tolerably cool. This north-west wind during the hot portion of 
“ the year is remarkable. A thick cloud appears in the north-west, and a strong wind begins 
“ to blow from the south-east, turns towards the east, towards the north, and brings rain 
“ from the north-west, and often from the west. The last days of the hot season are usually 
“ especially sultry ; however, this year we had frequent storms towards the end. The last 
“ storm was on the 5tli, and many clouds collected together on the northern horizon. On 
“ the 6th it remained unchangeable. On the 7th, at 3 o’clock in the morning, it began 
“ to rain like a torrent, though, curiously, altogether without thunder. During this one day 
“ rather more than 5 inches of rain fell, and since it we have seen neither sun nor stars. It 
“ rains incessantly, often very lightly, but one can nevertheless perceive the fine dust ; both 
“ yesterday and to-day, for about two hours after 12 o’clock, I saw many pavement stones 
“ dry. It is to be hoped that the weather will on many days be broken, but at intervals 
“ it rains every day. In the ordinary course of things the rainy season comes in about 
“ the middle of June, this is therefore somewhat in advance, but it was acceptable as 
“ the heat was unbearable. It is now prematurely cool, the temperature being ouly about 
“ 80° F. (21i° R.). 
“ In the past month of May Oldham was elected President of the Asiatic Society by a large 
“ majority ; Blanford resigned the general secretaryship ; in short, a place on the council 
“ became vacant, and they did me the honour to elect me to the same. Already they had 
“ appointed me Natural History Secretary, and in part I found myself also in the office of 
“ general secretary. A mass of work is connected therewith, but in my proper official time 
“ I officiate in part as Curator of the Indian Museum for Dr. Anderson, who has gone with 
“ the Yunan expedition, the other half is devoted to my work as paleontologist to the Survey. 
“ It is certain that it is as much as a man cau do in this hot climate, but one has the conso- 
“ lation that the Government provides for the sustenance of its servants. 
“ Lately the Government in England appointed a special mining geologist. He has already 
“ arrived, and will, during next winter, examine many of the most important coal fields. 
“ My summer journey must be given up under the pressure of other work ; however, 
“ it is possible that I may go to the Andaman Islands for one or two months, as soon as 
“ Dr. Anderson returns. 
■ “ My Gasteropoda are quite ready ; but, alas, the ship has not arrived which brings the 
“ paper, and the index cannot, on that account, be printed. This causes a delay of about 
“ two months. I shall now occupy myself with the arrangement of a deep-sea collection, 
* “ Arbeiten an dem Geological Survey in Calcutta ’’ (from a letter to Hofrath Eitter v. Haidinger), dated Calcutta, 
Uth June, 1868. — Ver. der K.K. Geol. Reiclis., Wein, 1868, p. 244. 
