The Sun.
London, England, 1866-11-13 00:00:00

Royal Geographical Society.

The session of this society commenced yesterday even-
ing in Burlington House, Sir Roderick Murchison; the
president, being in the chair. The list of candidates for
admission as Fellows of the society was very numerous,
exceeding upwards of 30.
The PRESIDENT, according to custom, opened the session
by reading an address on the progress of geographical dis-
covery, and on its futuro prospects. As regarded African
discovery, it could not be expected that there would be
any communications in the ensuing session so important as
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problem whether there was a
large lake to the south of the Albert Nyanza—the ultimate
source of the Nile—would be solved by Dr. Livingstone and
other travellers. He thought that the direction in which
the most important discoveries promised to be made were
Central India and South America. After alluding to the
hitherto unsuccessful result of the expedition of Dr.
Leichardt and his party in Australia, the President men-
tioned the appointment of a committee of the British Asso-
ciation for the purpose of urging the Government to un-
dertake an exploration of the North Pole, and with so
powerful a recommendation of the object he hoped that
the new Government world be disposed to make that con-
cession to science. He concluded his address by alluding
to the completion of the memorials to Captain Franklin
and Capt. Spoke, the former of which would bo exposed to
view on Thursday next.

A paper by Mr. Johnson, giving an account of an explo-
ration in Central India, was then read by Sir 11. Rawlin-
son, who made some introductory remarks, explaining the
position, politically and commercially, in which the district
traversed by Mr. Johnson is placed. He was commissioned
by the Indian Government to endeavour to survey the
country from Leh to Ilchi, the capital of Khotan, lying be-'
between the 34th and 37th degrees of north latitude and
78th and 79th degrees of east longitude. That part of Cen-
tral India, Sir Henry said, had been visited by very few
Europeans, and by none during the last 100 years; and Mr.
Johnson's exploration of it was of especial value, as it
pointed out a new means of communication between our
Indian empire and those countries in Central Asia which
had thrown off the Chinese dominion and were anxious to
trade with India. Hitherto the communication had been
obstructed, and almostrenderedimpracticable, by the exac-
tions of the Maharajah of Cashmere; but in the route
pursued by Mr. Johnson the Government was
friendly, and, after passing a gap in the moun-
tains, an extensive elevated table land, passable by
carriages, is opened out, by which communication with
Khotan could easily be accomplished. The mean elevation
of the table land is 15,000 feet above the level of the sea,
and it is surrounded by mountains, some of which reach
the height of 21,000 feet. Mr. Johnson stated that though
the governor of Ilchi was very friendly, he strongly ob-
jected to his taking astronomical observations, which he
was obliged to do by stealth, and in , that manner he suc-
ceeded in obtaining the principal positions for completing
the geometrical survey of the country. It was with soma
difficulty that he got permission to depart ; indeed the go-
vernor wanted to detain him, and ho was offered high posi-
tions in the government g he would remain. One part of

tho army of Khotan was commanded by a native officer, a
sepoy in the British service before the Indian mutiny, and

;hero was some suspicion that he was Nana Sahib. The

low country to tho north-east of Ilchi was represented by
Mr. Johnson to be very productive, cotton being grown
these in abundance, which is sent to Russia. The precious
metals are also said to be found in large quantities, and

there is every prospect of carrying on an extensive trade,
through Khotan, with the Mahometan provinces of China
that have been recently severed from the Chinese empire.
In the discussion of the paper Lord S trangford pointed
out the importance of that part of Central Asia which had
been explored by Mr. Johnson, while Mr. Crawfurd denied
that the produce would be available for English commerce.
Sir Henry Rawlinson, on the other hand, contended that
the products of the country were very valuable, and that
the people would be anxious to trade with us for tea,
opium, and other articles of commerce. Sir Henry, in
conclusion, made same remarks on the supposed danger to
our Indian empire by attacks from Russia through Central
Asia, which ho contended was impossible from the nature
of the country. In that opinion Sir Roderick Murchison
coincided.
The meeting then adjourned to the 26th inst., when a
communication from Dr. LiVillgStol2o will be read, also a
communication from Natal.