RECORDS 
OF THE 
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OE INDIA. 
Part 1.] 1871. [February, 
Annual Repoet of the Geological Survey of India and of the Museum of Geology. 
Calcutta, foe the yeae 1870. 
Since the publication of the last annual report, the year now just passed has enabled 
the Geological Survey of India to make considerable progress in the careful examination 
of the country. 
Taking the several districts in succession, I shall briefly refer to the progress made 
in each. 
In the first place, it is necessary to notice the numbers with which the survey has been 
carrying on its labors, as the area which can be examined very seriously depends upon this. 
The vacancy in our staff caused by the lamented death of Mr. C. JE. Oldham in 18(39 had not 
been filled up, as no qualified person could he obtained at the time. And the absence on 
leave of Messrs. King and Mallet, neither of whom returned till just at the close of the 
year, left the Staff of the survey diminished by three of its most qualified members for the 
whole twelve-months. Early in the season also, Mr. Onnsby, who in the previous year had 
been obliged to proceed to Europe in consequence of the effects of sunstroke, hut had returned 
apparently restored, again felt the serious effects of exposure, and was obliged to leave the 
field rather earlier than usual. He was able to do some work in office, but gradually sank 
and succumbed to the effects of the attack and exposure in June last. Since March also, 
Mr. Fryar, specially sent out for the compilation of the mineralogical statistics of the country, 
has been placed under the orders of the Central Provinces Government for mining purposes, 
and has not in any way contributed to the progress of the Geological Survey. We have thus 
in reality been working during the year with only three-fourths of the full sanctioned num¬ 
bers on the staff of the survey. Mr. King was obliged to seek extension of leave from ill- 
health in England, and Mr. Mallet was authorized to proceed on special duty counting three 
months as service, in addition to his furlough. Thus, neither of these gentlemen was hack 
until quite the end of the year. Dr. IV. Waagen joined the survey, to fill the vacancy in our 
numbers caused by the death of Mr. Oldham in 1869, about the middle of December, and 
lias since then been most zealously engaged in the preparation and examination of the fine 
collection of Cephalopoda made during the last two years in Kutch. 
It lias been my duty on many occasions to point out the great delay and loss of work 
which result from such changes iu the staff. There is no source in this country from which 
properly qualified assistants can he obtained for the Geological Survey. In truth, Geology is 
nowhere taught in this country, and assistants must be sought for in Europe, where such 
sciences are cultivated. The numbers, however, from which they can be selected are small. 
Those who have proved themselves competent readily and rapidly find employment at home, 
where the terms of retiring allowances and of pay are much more favorable, under the 
circumstances, than are offered out here. And it is only possible occasionally to procure the 
