8 
Records of the Geological Survey of India. 
[vol. VII. 
identified with the cretaceous coal of Siju and Maohilurkar in the same region. It appears 
to lie in an interior basin, the existence of which was not suspected. Until within the last 
five years these hills were as completely, on a small scale, a terra incognita as Central Asia, 
all approach being forbidden on account of the savage propensities of the inhabitants. 
It remains to notice a new feature in the constitution of the Survey. It was said above 
that the last vacancy that occurred in the staff, by the transfer of Mr. J. Willson to the 
Educational Department, has not been filled up, the Government having decided to devote 
the pay of that appointment to the attempt to train native geologists. The scheme has in 
a way grown out of, though it cau scarcely be said to be a development of, endeavours made 
by Dr. Oldham from time to time to establish teaching in certain branches of science in 
connection with the Geological Survey, that some general knowledge of these subjects might be 
diffused, and no doubt with the ulterior view that if this teaching boro fruit, the Survey might 
benefit by obtaining competent workers. Dr. Oldham’s proposal would have involved some ex¬ 
pense, in tlio shape of remuneration to the teachers. The present scheme avoids this objection, 
but is not free from others. It begins by Curtailing the effective staff of the Survey; for 
years to come, moreover, these attached students must be a direct incumbrance ; and there is 
small guarantee that they cau ever be otherwise—that they will ever be fit for independent 
work. The superficial discrimination of stones that used to pass muster as geology, and does 
so still with the majority, is really of no kind of value in the present state of knowledge. 
Geological observations to be of any use or interest must include much that is not obvious 
to the naked eye. And in any country like India, where the means of locomotion are so 
cumbrous, a surveyor who cannot describe and discuss his observations, or who cannot he 
trusted to observe correctly, is comparatively useless, as it takes nearly tho whole time of a 
competent man to check and direct bis work. It is not here assumed either that natives 
cannot be taught geology, or that it requires a high order of intelligence to attain moderate 
proficiency as a geologist. It does, however, essentially require a modernized intelligence; 
the work being even in its lowest steps the rational interpretation of nature—the most element¬ 
ary positions of tho science being not statements of obvious fact, but inductive conclusions 
through a postulated causation. It is this that makes geology so singularly inappropriate 
for the initiation of the primitive cast of mind. Geology is pre-eminently a science having 
no corresponding art or practice in tho proper meaning of the words, in which work can be 
done according to prescribable rules. Every geological act involves a deliberate judgment. 
The industrial undertakings occasionally based upon such judgments, involve only mechanical 
shill of a rough order, requiring no recognition of geological principles. These remarks 
may seem somewhat fine-drawn; but I think it right to represent. this experiment for once 
under its essential conditions. The natives of India having as yet shown such little apti¬ 
tude for acquiring physical knowledge in any of its branches, there seems small encourage¬ 
ment to force them directly into the application of one of the most complex developments 
ot that knowledge. There are to he four native apprentices; one joined in March last, and 
three are about to join. They are all students of the Lahore College, no applicants having 
come for ward from the North-Western Provinces. Their qualifications consist of a moderate 
knowledge of English and of elementary mathematics. It was at first prescribed that they 
should bo immediately put into geological harness. But sanction has now been given to 
their attending one or more courses of physical science lectures at tho Presidency College. 
The fact of their being already appointed to the Survey, though only as probationers, is not 
perhaps tho most likely way to stimulate their studies. At the worst we may look forward 
to utilizing them as fossil-collectors. 
Publications. The quarterly Recoeds of the Geological Suevey of Inbia have 
been published regularly, containing numerous papers, both of general interest and of practi¬ 
cal bearing. The first number, besides the annual report, contains a sketch of the geology 
