CHAPTER V. 
THE GEOLOGICAL SECTIONS 
The Geological Section which consists of four galleries— 
the Siwalik, the Meteorite, the Mineral, and the Fossil 
Gallery—contains the collections constituting the former Geo¬ 
logical Museum and comprising those belonging to the Geo¬ 
logical Survey of India, together with a certain number of 
specimens belonging to the Asiatic Society of Bengal. 
The early history of the Geological Museum is intimately 
bound up with that of the Asiatic Society. It was only 
natural that, soon after the foundation of the Society in the 
year 1784, the idea of starting a Museum for the housing of 
the various curiosities that were sent by members from all 
parts of the country should have arisen, and we accordingly 
find that in 1796 a proposal was made for hiring a suitable 
house for their reception. It was not until 1814, however, 
that the project took more definite shape, when Dr. Wallich 
offered specimens from his own rich collections in order to 
form the nucleus of a Museum, and the Society adopted his 
recommendations. In that year a resolution was passed to 
the effect that ‘ ‘ the Asiatic Society determine upon founding 
a Museum for the reception of all articles that may tend to 
illustrate Oriental manners and history, or to elucidate the 
peculiarities of art or nature in the East.” Ores of metals, 
native alloys of metals, and minerals of every description 
were specially included in the list attached to the resolution, 
and the collection rapidly increased. Dr. Wallich was ap¬ 
pointed Curator of the Geological and Zoological Section, and 
held this post for several years. 
The whole of the collections were at first housed on the 
1 Taken for the greater part from a paper read by T. H. D. La Touche, 
formerly officiating Director, Geological Survey of India, before a meeting of 
the Mining and Geological Institute of India. Trans. Min. Geo. Inst. India , 
vol. V, p. 31 (1910). 
