Present. The Honorable C. J. Erskine, C. S., President, in the chair; The Rev. W. K. Fletcher, M.A, Vice-President; F. J. Candy, Esq., M.A.; J. P. Hughlings, Esq, B.A.; Surgeon James Welsh, F.R.C.S.; James Burgess, Esq., M.R.A.S.; Dhirujram Dulputram, Esq.; J. Mackinlay, Esq., Members; and Lieut Henry Morland, F.R.A.S., F.R.G.S., Honorary Secretary.

The Minutes of the last Meeting were read and confirmed.

Election.-Surgeon W. A. Shepherd.

Member proposed.-R. L. King, Esq.

The Honorary Secretary then read the following communication, received from Government :

"Extract of a letter from DR. LIVINGSTONE, dated Ngomano, on the Rovuma River, 16th May 1866.

We have just arrived at Ndoude's place, which is called Ngomano; confluence of the Loende and Rovuma, or Louma, as the natives call it. Dudoude, alias Ndoude Matumora, is the head of the Makonde tribe, but he has little real authority, and has just now suffered by an invasion of Mazitu or Tulus, who have cleared the country of food like a swarm of locusts.

Ndoude took refuge on an island, while the Mazitu feasted on his corn, and now that we have arrived at head quarters there is so much scarcity of provisions that we shall be obliged to decamp further inland as soon as possible.

We could not land at Rovuma, but went to a fine harbour called Kindany, about 25 miles north of it. We took up the trade route, which is about S.S.W. to Rovuma, and found the country covered with such dense jungle that we had to cut a way for the camels and buffaloes. Fortunately the Makonde were well accustomed to cutting it, and for a reasonable pay whittled through it with their tomahawks in a most adroit way. We rarely saw the country, but when by chance a glimpse was got, it appeared covered with dark green masses of foliage. It is the highlands that flank the Rovuma on both sides, and there are "wadys," in which one is completely lost in gigantic grasses. When we got about 100 miles up, the forest became more open, and we could move onwards without the use of the axe. The people were all

friendly, but they are divided into a great many little communities, each of which is nearly independent of every other. They clear considerable space for cultivation, and collect gum copal and sesamum seed for Arab traders. The sight of the camels and buffaloes was a great attraction. These animals got bitten with Tsetze the day after we left the sea coast, and several times afterwards. I had but three buffaloes and a calf; one of the buffaloes died, but whether from the bite of the fly, or from being overworked, I cannot say. Three camels died also, but the symptoms were so different from what I have before observed in horses and oxen that I am puzzled. Where gadflies and others of their kind bite them now, blood of the arterial colour flows from the spot. If the three buffaloes which are still alive continue to live it will be in spite of having been Tsetze-bitten eight times, and that severely. The mules and donkeys do not suffer. I am of opinion that Mombas would be a good place for an English settlement. The scarcity of provisions is a barrier in one way here, but in a year that will be different. The chief is anxious for trade, and that ways should be open from Ibo Kindanee and Kilwa to him. It is a meeting-place of roads as well as a confluence of waters, but I have not talked with him yet. I like Matumora or Ndoude much better the more I see of him. I shall make this head quarters for a while at least, and feel my way round Nyassa hence.

Matumora is a sensible man, and is often appealed to from his force of character: he has suffered severely from other tribes making slave raids upon him. He occupies a strong position, and has a great many people who have fled to him for protection. I have yet to try how he will like the plan of a free settlement. We send off to-morrow twenty mules for food for my men. I have made a forced march forward for this object."

At the conclusion of this communication the Honorable the President and several of the members present having offered some observations on the interesting incidents touched upon by Dr. Livingstone, the following papers announced for the evening were submitted to the Society:

Report by Dr. Colvill on the progress of Cholera during the past season on the borders of the Persian Gulf, and an account of his Land Journey from Bushire to Lingah. By Government.

Copy of a Letter from the Political Agent in Kutch, descriptive of a Collection of Ancient Coins of that Province, presented to Government by His Highness the Rao. By Government. Report by Lieut. Colonel Merewether, describing the various places lately visited by him between Aden and Suez. By Government. Copy of a Sketch Map received from the Political Resident at Aden, of the Country passed over by the Troops during the recent operations against the Foodlee Tribe, together with a copy of the Descriptive Remarks which accompanied it. By Govern

ment.

Copy of a Letter from the Political Agent in Turkish Arabia, and of an interesting Memoir (therewith submitted) on part of Mesopotamia, situated between Sheriat-el-Beyta and The Ibrahim, prepared by Lieut. Bewsher. By Government. Report on the Physical Description of the Country traversed by Lieutenent Colonel Lewis Pelly, between Bunder Abbass and and Cape Jusk, in 1864. By Government,

The best thanks of the Society having been voted to His Excellency the Governor in Council for the most acceptable and interesting communications, the meeting adjourned.

SESSION 1866-67.

THIRD MEETING.-February 21st, 1867.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the Bombay Geographical Society was held in their Rooms, Town Hall, on Thursday, the 21st February 1867, at 4 P.M.

Present:-The Honourable C. J. Erskine, C.S., President, in the Chair; The Rev. W. K. Fletcher, M.A., Vice-President; J. Burgess, Esq., F.R.G.S., M.R.A.S.; Homjee Cursetjee Dady, Esq.; Dhirajram Dalpatram, Esq.; Professor F. J. Candy, M.A.; J. E. C. Price, Esq.; Burjorjee Sorabjee Ashburner, Esq.; Culliandass Mohundass, Esq.; Bhugwandass Poorshotumdass Esq.; K. R. Kama, Esq., Members; and Lieut. Henry Morland, F.R.A.S., F.R.G.S., Honorary Secretary.

The Minutes of the last Meeting were read and confirmed.

Election.-R. L. King, Esq.

Member proposed.-D. E. Gostling, Esq.

Donations.-The following donations were laid before the Society, for which it was requested their best thanks should be conveyed to the donors:

1. Bulletin of the Geographical Society of Paris for November and December 1866. By the Society.

2. Journal of the Geographical Society of Geneva, Vol. V., Nos. 1, 2, and 3. By His Excellency the Honourable Sir H. B. E. Frere, G.C.S.I., K.C.B.

3. Bombay High Court Reports, Vol. II., Part 3. By Government. 4. Selections from the Records of the Bombay Government, containing Correspondence on the subject of Lighting up the Entrance of the Harbour of Bombay. By Government.

5. Report on the External Commerce of the Presidency of Bombay for the year 1865-66. By Government.

Letters read. The following letters were then read :—

1. From Dr. Thomas Oldham, Superintendent of the Geological Survey of India, forwarding a donation for the acceptance of the Society. 2. From Lieut. T. F. Dowden, Under Secretary to Government, Public Works Department, forwarding donations for the Society. 3. From Lieut. Col. F. Conybeare, requesting refund of the sum of Rs. 15 paid by the late Surgeon James Welsh on account of his subscription to the Society for the year 1867-68 in advance; and the following was received from Government, which with the reply is given below in extenso :—

"No. 1693 of 1866.

GENERAL DEPARTMENT.

Bombay Castle, 27th August 1866.

To the SECRETARY to the GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY, Bombay.

SIR,-I am directed by his Excellency the Governor in Council to forward to you, for the information of the Bombay Geographical So

dated

No. 1692, 27th August 1866.

ciety, the accompanying copy of a Resolution of Government, calling the attention of the local officers in Katty war, and the countries bordering on the Runn of Cutch and the Gulf of Cambay, to an article which appeared in the Bombay Saturday Review, published on the 18th instant, on the subject of geological action on the south coast of Kattiawar and in the Runn, and to request that the Society will favour Government with a note of the principal facts to which the attention of observers should be directed, and of the manner in which observations should be taken.

I have the honour to be, &c.,

J. KING,

Acting under Secretary to Government.

No. 1692 OF 1866.

GENERAL DEPARTMENT.

Bombay Castle, 27th August 1866.

RESOLUTION OF GOVERNMENT.

The attention of the Commissioner in Sind, the Political Agents in Cutch, Pahlunpoor, and Kattiawar, of the Collectors of Ahmedabad and Kaira, and of the Public Works Officers in all the districts named, should be drawn to the accompanying extract from an article in the Bombay Saturday Review, of August 18th, 1866, on the geological action on the south coast of Kattiawar and in the Runn, with a request that they will, at their convenience, make inquiry from all quarters, where useful and reliable information is likely to be obtained, as to the fact, and take measures for a careful observation of facts bearing on the elevation or depression of land on the coasts of Cutch and Kattiawar for the future, and from time to time inform Government of the result.

3. Any reports of interest on these subjects may be sent to the Geographical Society, which may be asked to favour Government with a note of the principal facts to which the attention of observers should be directed, and of the manner in which observations should be taken.