Annual Report, 18G7. 
The smaller and comparatively valueless field near Eetcoora. lias subsequently engaged 
Mr. H ughes’ attention, and it will be quite completed before the present season is over. 
Last year I noticed the serious interruption to the continuity of our work in Manbhoom 
caused by the maps not being ready for issue. To prevent a similar stoppage during the 
present season, I obtained, at considerable expense, tracings of all Ihe maps required to com 
plete the area, and join on to the Topographical Survey work to the south. Since the early 
part of the year, therefore, Mr. V. Bali has been engaged in the Manbhoom country, steadily 
carrying his geological lines southwards : while Mr. Ormsby has been carrying tbe boundaries 
in the adjoining country to the south and to the west, and near Ranchi. Mr. Ball appears 
to have established some interesting facts as to the connection of special groups of rocks 
with certain kinds of mineral wealth. 
Mr. Mallet has been engaged principally in the neighbourhood of Jkansi and Lullutpore, 
tracing out the geological boundaries in the country included in the northern portion ol 
Sheet 70 of the Indian Atlas. Mr. Hackett similarly has been steadily carrying his geologi¬ 
cal lines southwards from the Gwalior country, using as the basis of his researches the 
admirable maps of the Gwalior and Central India Topographical Survey. 
Mr. Wilson is similarly engaged in a detailed examination of the Saugor district, and 
of the country lying-between that and Jubbnlpore. This had been very cursorily visited 
before, but when no maps existed: now we have the excellent maps recently issued of these 
districts. 
Mr. Blanford’s labors during the few months at the beginning of the year have been 
briefly noticed in last year’s report. Subsequently to that, lie progressed steadily to the 
south, and carried his lines of boundary down to the Chanda coal, where he examined the 
field, and ascertained the probable extent of the coal-bearing rocks in that neighbourhood, 
which is not great. A preliminary report on the coals of this field was submitted shortly 
after. It is probable that a large proportion of the rocks near Chanda belong to the same 
series as those in the immediate neighbourhood of Nagpur, which in my last report 1 stated 
had been recognized as possibly belonging to a different series. This inference has not been 
altogether borne out by subsequent and closer investigation, although the necessity for sepa¬ 
rating the rocks into a distinct group of the Damuda series has been fully established. The 
full details have still to be worked out. 
Mr. Blanford has since then been deputed to accompany tbe Abyssinian Expedition as 
Naturalist and Geologist, and has joined tbe forces from Bombay. This is a duty for which 
he is singularly well qualified, and I feel perfectly confident the results will amply justify the 
wisdom of the selection. 
Bombay. —Mr. Fedden has been absent on leave for seven months of tbe year. On his 
return, he has been deputed to join Mr. Wynne in Cutcli. Mr. Wynne has been placed in 
charge of the Bombay party, in consequence of Mr. W. Blanford’s absence in Abyssinia, and 
aided by Mr. Fedden, he has taken up the detailed examination of Cutcli. 
Mmins.—The labours of the Madras party have been curtailed by tbe absence, as 
already alluded to, of Mr. Foote. In my last report I expressed a hope that the close of the season 
would see tbe examination of tbe Kuddapah rocks carried up to tbe limit of Sheet 7G of tbe 
Indian Atlas. This was accomplished in one place; but illness in camp and inclemency of 
tbe season prevented tbe whole breadth being examined so far north. A general reconnois- 
sance to the north of the Kistna'kas shown that these sub-metamorphic rocks stop out, for a 
distance at least, a few miles north of the Kistna, the gneissose rocks appearing from beneath 
them, all across from the vicinity of Juggiapett round by Warupully to Kumool. Of the 
portion that now remains to be mapped in, a large area is marked on the maps as an inacces¬ 
sible tract unsurveyed. Across this there are only one or two footpaths at considerable inter¬ 
vals. And seeing the nature of the ground and the great intricacy of the geological lines, I 
greatly fear that with only two assistants at work it will be impossible to get over all this 
area this season. It Ls certain, however, that a general knowledge of its structure will be 
obtained. 
Of the Madras work two further quarter sheets, Sheet 78. NE. and SE., have been sent 
to the engraver months since. 
Buemah. —I have already in my last report detailed the progress of the work in Burmah 
for the few months at the commencement of the year. Mr, Theobald left, on furlough, in 
