OCR Rendition - approximate

308 stature. They request also to be informed of the existence of any skulls in local museums or private collections, that would assist in the identification of the above types. Negatives have been taken of very pure examples of the Cymric race in North Wales, and several photographs have been purchased. The expenditure has amounted to 41. The Committee ask to be reappointed, and that the grant voted last year be renewed. .Relport of the Conr7n,ittee, eons st r+.f/ of Mr. JAMI,:s (h.AisnnEK ( Jt Secretary the Rev. (`anonTmsrRAM, aol the Rev. 1~ . l vwHI NcE, f i Sit,)- of Ia 't..sterwz Palestine. for pro~notcn qth e b~ct~ 1. The Committee of the Palestine Exploration Fund have been endeavouring during thin last year to obtain from the Sultan the firman granting permission for the prosecution of the Survey of Eastern Palestine. 2. Their efforts, aided by the personal influence of Lord Dutlbrin, have hitherto proved ineffectual. They have therefore decided on taking up another branch of their original prospectus, and will proceed at once with the Geological Survey of Palestine. :1. A great deal of geological work has been done in the country by individual travellers, but up to the present tune there has been no expedition specially organised for the purpose of effecting a complete geological survey. 4. The valley of the Jordan and the basin of the Dead Sea have been examined by Mr. Lartet, whose work on the subject appeared in the year 1864; and by Dr. Fraas, whose report was published in 1867. Papers of Palestine by English travellers have also ,a,pcrs on the geology appeared in the quarterly journal of the Geological Society, and elsewhere, by Messrs. Duncan, Carter, Holland, Bauernran, Iluddleston, and Milne. The Rev. Canon Tristram and Captain Conder have also furnished a large quantity of notes and information on the subject. S. The Committee of the Exploration Society have been fortunate in securing the services of Professor Hull, LL.D., F.R.S., P.G.S., Director of the Geological Survey of Ireland, for this important work. 110 proposes to start about the middle of October, accompanied by his son, Dr. E. G. Hull, as medical adviser, and to proceed to examine the country from the south, namely, the Wady Arabah, which runs northward from Arabah to the southern shores of the Dead Sea. Here a base is found in the granites of the Sinai Peninsula. It will also be desirable to penetrate into Moab, along the border of which country the Nubian Sandstone comes to the surface ; and most important data, bearing on the geological problems, may here be expected. After examining the Wady Arabah and the border of Noah the party will proceed, by the routewhich will appear to Professor [lull most convenient, to make the geological reconnaissance of Western Palestine. ON THE TEAUtt1.? G OF SCJEAC: IN LILLMLNTAIiY SCHOOLS. 30') 6. The expedition will be strengthened by the presence and experience of Captain K itchener, R.E., formerly one of the officers of the survey of Western Palestine. Perhaps Lieut. Mantell, will also be able to join the party. During the geological operations, the engineers will be instructed to clear up certain points of interest which lie about that part of the country. Thus, they will examine the eastern end of the Till Desert, and the passes loading up to the plateau, so as to determine the best route for a large body of people travelling northwards from Sinai : they wilt explore the topographical features of the Arabah cast and west, and the southern edge of the Negeb so as to ascertain the passes from the Till plateau to the first terrace : they will examine the sites of Ezion-geber, Elath, Kadesh, and the way of the spies; look for the road or roads by which communication was kept up between Jerusalem and Ezion-geber, the posts on the old Roman road ; and throw light, if possible, on the question whether the Israelites dill not o over to Arabia Propel' instead of remaining, as is generally supposed, in the Till Desert. It, is expected that the expedition will accomplish its objects in about four months. The cost of the whole, including publication of results, is estimated under 2,0001. Report of the Committee, cortsisti.ng of Aft.. JAMES HEYwOOD, Mr. WILLIAM S1AEN, Mr. STEPHEN BOURNE, Mr. ROBERT WILKINSON, the Rev. W. I)F:[,ANY, Prof' "ssor N. STORY AlASK LYNE, Dr. SILVANUS 1'. TIIOMPSoN, Aliss LYnIA E. BECI