and in the neighbourhood of tidal creeks as far within the Runn as practicable; and an accurate determination of the height of a point upon each above mean tide-level. A very few of these would suffice if placed at well-selected points. I believe there is a party of the Topographical Survey at present engaged in Kattyawar who could without loss of time see that this was done. And the bench marks left by the Officers of the Great Trigonometrical Survey, while running their levels from Kurrachee, will always prove carefully determined and excellent points for comparison, wherever available. But these evidences of a change in relative level of land and sea, derived from facts observed in the Runn of Cutch, are only a very small portion of similar facts which have been noticed elsewhere round the coasts of India. These occur almost every where, and along the entire coast, and for the most part they point to a rise in the land. This universality of the facts, however, reduces the questions now stated with reference to the Runn to form a very minor part of a very large and highly important inquiry. For the settlement of this, the establishment of a chain of points and fixed marks round the coasts of India, and the accurate determination of their height above mean sea level, would be necessary, and would be of the highest value to science. All buildings with good solid foundations which lie close to the sea shore would furnish means of fixing such marks. The several forts which protect the harbours round the coast, all the light-houses, harbour piers, &c., all these would afford capital points for the fixing of such marks. I have spoken of the necessity of an accurate determination of the level of these points. It is an easy matter to determine with accuracy the difference of level of two fixed points, not far distant from each other. But in the present case it is necessary in the first place to fix one of those points before the relative level of the other can be ascertained. The exact line of mean sea-level must be determined. This can only be done by a series of observations steadily and systematically pursued daily for more than a month at intervals, or for a year if practicable. There is no real difficulty in the case; it only requires ordinary care, but this care continued for such a time as to eliminate the disturbing effects of local or temporary causes. Once determined, these observations need not be repeated again for several years, say ten, when the exact relative level of the fixed mark, as compared with the mean tide level, should be again determined. It will be sufficient to prove the necessity for great care and accuracy to state that in every case in which such a secular change of level has been established, the change has not amounted to more than a few inches, or a foot or two, in a hundred years. I would urge upon the Government of Bombay the establishment of such marks and the conduct of such careful observations at favourable points along the coast. A very long line of coast well exposed, with points admirably adapted for such observations, and the advantage of a noble harbour, ought to induce it to take the lead in such researches in India. p 10 bg RESOLUTION. Two quite different subjects, and the consequences of two quite distinct agencies, are included in the article of the Bombay Saturday Review and the letter of the Bombay Geographical Society. 2. The silting up of the northern and eastern parts of the Gulf of Cambay, caused by the large quantity of alluvial matter brought down by three large rivers, especially in the S. W. monsoon, when the waters of the Gulf are ponded back by southerly gales, and again the erosion of the eastern coast of Kattyawar, and deepening of the channels there caused by this large body of water having to escape by the western shore of the Gulf, have both been going on in historic periods. The effects of these agencies are evident,-the causes are not doubted. 3. But the elevation or subsidence of the Runn is a much more recondite subject; the facts must be established more accurately than they as yet have and the causes are not easily explained. been; 4. With regard to the Gulf of Cambay, the Government will be glad to adopt the suggestions of the Bombay Geographical Society, and have the surveys of the Coast and the soundings taken in such detail as the Society may approve. 5. But as to the more interesting question presented with the Runn, it does not appear to the Governor in Council that watching the line of coast now, or learning its past history, will give the requisite information as to the raising or depression of the land; for encroachments of the sea at one place and siltings up and recessions at others may arise, as is shown by Dr. Oldham in the case of the Gulf of Cambay, from many other causes. 6. The soundings recommended by the Geographical Society cannot be taken with the accuracy required for these observations, and must depend on the state of the tide varying both diurnally and periodically, and influenced by winds and seasons. 7. The mean level of the sea (in the scientific acceptation of that phrase) is the only reliable datum to which observations for changes in land level should be referred, and the only basis on which any good opinion could in future times be formed as to elevation or depression. 8. There should, therefore, be a course of accurate tidal observations taken through two lunations at a point on the south coast of Kattyawar, and also at e point as far into the Runn as possible to which tide has free access. 9. These should be referred to bench-marks made in permanent masonry pillars close to high water mark, and those marks should be connected to the nearest principal stations of the Great Trigonometrical Survey by careful levelling. 10. They will thus be connected with all the stations throughout the Runn and Kattyawar and with one another; and in future years if a change occur in the level of the Runn stations, this will be checked not only by the mean level of the sea, but by the southern tidal bench mark, which would not probably be subjected to any change. 11. Captain Haig, R.E., should be asked whether observations for mean sea level have been taken in this neighbourhood sufficient for the above objects; if not, what expense would be incurred to make them, and whether he would be good enough to undertake the duty. 12. On this being carried out, an accurate register should be prepared of the exact height of these tidal bench marks above mean level, and of the heights of the Great Trigonometrical station marks compared with them. 13. Copies of these should be kept by the Geographical Society and in the Secretariat, Bombay, as well as by the Geological Department and Surveyor General's Office, Calcutta, so that they may be compared with observations made in future years. 14. The Political Agents should be requested to order that these marks be preserved with scrupulous care. Ordered that copies of the above be forwarded to The HONORARY SECRETARY to the BOMBAY GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY (by letter), The SUPERINTENDENT GREAT TRIGONOMETRICAL SURVEY, Captain C. T. HAIG, R.E., First Assistant ditto. The SUPERINTENDENT GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF INDIA, The SURVEYOR GENERAL, CALCUTTA, The COMMISSIONER IN SIND, The REVENUE COMMISSIONER, N. D., Lieut.-Col. J. T. FRANCIS, Survey and Settlement Commissioner, The POLITICAL AGENT, KUTCH, The POLITICAL DEPARTMENT of the SECRETARIAT, The EDUCATIONAL DEPARTMENT of the SECRETARIAT, The MARINE DEPARTMENT of the SECRETARIAT, The SUPERINTENDENT, GUZERAT REVENUE SURVEY. (Signed) H. E. JACOMB, For Chief Secretary to Government." 5. And the following from the Right Honourable Sir H. B. E. Frere, G.C.S.I., K.C.B. ::- "To Lieut. HENRY MORLAND, Honorary Secretary to the Bombay Geographical Society. SIR,-I had the pleasure before leaving Bombay to receive your letter of the 22nd February to the address of my Private Secretary, forwarding to me an extract of the proceedings of the Geographical Society at their Meeting held on the 21st February. In begging you to express my thanks for the honour done me by the Resolution, I shall be obliged if you will assure the Society what great pleasure it will always afford me should I be able to further the Society's objects in any way in which the Society may command my services while in England. Lieut. Morland then announced for the information of the Society that a Deputation, consisting of himself and Captain Robinson, VicePresident, waited on His Excellency the Right Honourable Seymour Fitzgerald, on the 28th March last, to solicit the honour of his becoming the Patron of the Society, and that His Excellency was pleased to accept the office. The business of the Monthly Meeting having been closed, that of the Annual Meeting was entered on, and the following gentlemen were declared, from the Voting Lists scrutinized by the Committee, to be the Office-bearers for the ensuing Session of 1867-68 : 2. J. P. Hughlings, Esq., B.A. 3. The Honourable Munguldass Nuthoobhoy. 6. Ráo Saheb Vishvanath N. Mandlik. 10. Venayékráo Jugonnathjee Sunkersett, Esq. 11. James Taylor, Esq. 12. J. Connon, Esq., M.A. 4. His Excellency Rear-Admiral Geo. St. Vincent King, C.B., R.N. 5. Dadabhai Naoroji, Esq. 6. Colonel A. B. Kemball, C.B., F.R.G.S. 7. Colonel H. J. Barr. 8. His Excellency General Sir W. R. Mansfield, K.C.B. Auditors. J. Burgess, Esq., F.R.G.S., M.R.A.S., and Major J. T. Annesley, were appointed Joint Auditors of the Society's Cash Accounts for the past year. Captain Morland then proceeded to submit to the Society the following brief Summary of the proceedings of the past Session: ANNUAL REPORT. During the last Session the Society met four times, and the following were the papers read before them :— 1. Mr. Rassam's Mission to the Emperor Theodorus of Abyssinia ; account of events from 28th January to 22nd March 1866. Contributed by Government. 2. 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. 3. 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. 4. Report by Lieut. Colonel Merewether, describing the various places lately visited by him between Aden and Suez. By Government. 5. Copy of a Sketch Map received from the Political Resident at Aden, of the country passed over by the Troops during the recent |