F. GEOGRAPHY. 193 



The collection of picture-writings (etchings on the rocks) 

 lias been much enlarged ; and the seven ancient towns, called 

 by the Spaniards the province of Tusayan, have been revisit- 

 ed for ethnological purposes. 



The professor has also continued his studies of the Ute In- 

 dians. He has discovered among them an extensive system 

 of mythology and a great number of rude songs, and brought 

 with him a large collection of articles illustrating the state 

 of the arts among the people who inhabit the valley of the 

 Colorado, composed of stone implements, pottery, basket-ware, 

 clothing, implements for hunting and entrapping animals, 

 musical instruments, ornaments of feathers, bones, teeth, and 

 claws, and various miscellaneous articles. 



Professor Thompson remains in the field for the purpose 

 of extending the explorations north, toward the Wasatch 

 Mountains. 



The passage of the Grand Caiion in boats was again suc- 

 cessfully accomplished this year, but made perilous at one 

 time by a sudden rising of the river during the night. The 

 river came up fifteen feet, and covered a pile of rocks on 

 which the boats had been landed, and the party was compelled 

 to raise them with lines, and hang them against the wall un- 

 til daylight came. 



REPORT OF THE CIRCUMNAVIGATING COMMITTEE OF THE 



ROYAL SOCIETY. 



The Circumnavigation Committee of the Royal Society, ap- 

 pointed to prepare instructions for the use of the expedition 

 of the Challenger, has presented a report, which has been 

 transmitted to the Admiralty. The communication is made 

 in considerable detail, and will serve as an excellent basis for 

 operations of a similar character on the part of the United 

 States. After rehearsing the route as planned by the Admi- 

 ralty, and which we have already given to our readers, the 

 report takes up successively the subjects of physical observa- 

 tions, chemical observations, botanical and zoological obser- 

 vations, and miscellaneous operations. 



Under the head of Physical Observations, the points indi- 

 cated as worthy of special attention are, first, the surface tem- 

 peratures of the sea, as also of the air ; these to be taken 

 regularly every two hours during the day and night. Second, 



I 



