1879.] S. B. Fairbank— Ravages of Rats in the Dalchan. 203 
rains as in the other parts of the year, and are not killed in their burrows 
by the rain as are the Metad and Kok rats. 
The black-winged Kite (Elanus ccerulcns) feeds on the rats and is 
now, for the first time in the author’s experience of 33 years, abundant in 
that part of the Dakhan. 
The paper will be published in the Journal, Part II. 
The Seceetaey read the following letter from Babu Prannatli Pandit 
relative to the above paper : 
“ I am sorry that indisposition prevents me from attending to-night, 
but in connection with the Rev. Mr. Fairbank’s paper, it might be of some 
interest to the meeting to know that the plague of rats was not unknown 
in Ancient India. 
“ Eamandalci in his Nitisdra, a work composed anterior to the fourth 
century before the Christian era, has the following s'loka : 
TfHJS WTP || 
“ Excessive rain, drought, Rats, locusts, parrots, and neighbouring 
Kings (as invaders), these six are styled ‘ Itis ’ (calamities).” 
“ I have not the work of Eamandalci just now at hand, and am there¬ 
fore unable to give the exact reference, but the s'loka in question is quoted 
by Mallinatha in his commentary on Raghuvamsa I, G3.” 
2. Exploration of the Great Sanpo River of Tibet during 1877, in con¬ 
nection with the operations of the Survey of India.—By Ahajor-Genl. 
J. T. Walkeb, c. e., e. e., e. e. s. 
(With map. Plate VIII.) 
The course of this, river has been explored by a new explorer N-m-g, 
for a distance of about 200 miles below the town of Cbetang, the lowest 
point previously fixed. N-m-g was employed under the immediate instruc¬ 
tions of Lieut. Harman, e. e., who has been writing out his journals and 
reducing and mapping his observations ; but Lieut. Harman has had his 
time so fully engrossed by his regular duties in connection with surveys 
which he is carrying on in and around Darjeeling, that he has been unable 
as yet to send in the full report of the explorations. The following is 
therefore to be regarded merely as a provisional account of them. 
N-m-g was deputed to Clietang, the position of which had been deter¬ 
mined by Pandit Nain Sing in 1875. His instructions were to explore the 
course of the Sanpo river downwards for as great a distance as he possibly 
