2 
[VOL. IV. 
Records of the Geological Survey of India, 
aid oi really trained and qualified assistants, who, either from a desire to see the geology 
of countries they could not otherwise hope to be able to visit, or from other causes, will 
venture to face the difficulties, hardships, and perils of a geologist’s life in this country. 
Such a description may appear to some highly coloured, and that geologists have no more 
reason than others to be anxious on the score of health. I have, however, often had occasion 
to point out some of the causes of this—that geologists are compelled not only to visit for 
au hour or two, hut often to remain camped for days in the very wildest, most inaccessible, 
and most inhospitable parts of the country. These are precisely the places most likely to 
afford them sections, and thus to give a clue to the structure of the district; but they are 
also the most dangerous. The serious losses which the survey has experienced since its 
commencement amply prove the truth of this. But perhaps the most convincing proof, that 
we are not alone in this view, will he to quote the deliberate opinion of Assurance Offices, 
who have had the whole facts carefully enquired into by their medical officers, and who 
acknowledging that there is no objection on any other ground to accept insurances on the 
lives of officers of the survey offered to them, yet decline to do so, stating that “ no premium 
whatever would cover the risk.” 
And, further, when new assistants have been obtained, a considerable time elapses before 
they acquire a knowledge of the languages of the country and an acquaintance with the 
peculiar arrangements necessary for tent-life and marching in this country, so that they 
must necessarily he for some time placed along with others, and cannot work independently. 
Mr. IT. B. Modlicott, Deputy Superintendent, devoted the early part of last year to the 
careful and detailed examination of the country near Mopani, the site of the Narbadda 
Coal and Iron Company's collieries. When this area was originally visited and mapped 
out (in 185G-57) there were no maps whatever on which to record the observations of the 
survey. A general compass-sketch was very successfully carried out by Mr. J. G. Medlicott, 
then engaged there, and on this, on the scale of four miles equal one inch, the structure of 
the country geologically was represented and published (Mem., Geol. Surv., India, Yol. II). 
No one could he more fully aware, of the imperfections of this sketch than those who con¬ 
structed it; and we, therefore, looked forward anxiously to the completion of the detailed 
and careful maps of the regular survey. The operations of the revenue survey under 
Colonel J. E. Gastrell had been extended to that part of the country, and at the close of 
1869 we were enabled, by his kindness, to obtain maps of part of the district, even in 
anticipation of their publication. These were just sufficient to enable us to take up the re¬ 
examination of the field, which the progress of railway communication, the, opening out of the 
line in the Narbadda valley, and the general increase in the demand for fuel, rendered so imme¬ 
diately important. This re-examination Mr. Medlicott personally commenced, and the results, 
so far as the Mopani field is concerned, have already been published (Records, Geol. Surv 
oi India, Yol. Ill, August 1S70). It is intended to carry on the careful examination of all 
the country which affords the least prospect of yielding coal or other valuable minerals in 
that neighbourhood as the detailed topographical maps become available. 
At the commencement of the present working season, Mr. Medlicott took up the revi¬ 
sion of the geological maps of the Jhansi, Lullutpur, and Saugor districts, prepared by 
Mr. Willson and others, with a view to their publication. Completing this, Mr. Medlicott 
will return to the Narbadda valley. 
Mr. W. L. Willson has been engaged during the whole of the year, and still is engaged 
in completing the examination of the country just referred to, and extending northwards to 
the Jumna, by Calpi. 
Mr. Racket has been examining the Jabalpur country, with the advantage of the 
recently completed detailed maps to record his observations, and I hope the present season will 
see this district completed. 
