ON THE PROGRESS OF SCIENCE. Xlll 



dition is undertaken entirely at the cost of the Viceroy of Egypt, and 

 the members will receive, in addition to their rations, the sum of 10 

 to 14 per month during the time employed on it, which is computed 

 at two years. Count de Lauture and Capt. Burton will advance in 

 friendly rivalry from opposite quarters towards the sources of the Nile, 

 and perhaps meet on a common ground to solve the most attractive of 

 geographical problems. 



A successful attempt has been made during the past year to ascend 

 Mount Ararat (a feat but once before successfully accomplished), by a 

 party of English officers and tourists. The height of this mountain is 

 17,323 feet above the sea-level, and 14,300 feet above the plain adjoin- 

 ing. Major Stuart, of the British army, one of the party, says : 



" The whole surface of Mount Ararat bears evidence of having been 

 subject to violent volcanic action, being seamed and scored with deep 

 ravines. The rocky ridges that protrude from the snow are either 

 basalt or tufa ; and near the summit we found some bits of pumice on 

 a spot which still emits a strong sulphurous smell. The summit itself 

 is nearly level, of a triangular shape, the base being about 200 yards in 

 length, the perpendicular about 300. The highest point is at the apex 

 of the triangle, which points nearly due west ; separated from it by a 

 hollow is another point of nearly equal altitude, and the base of the 

 triangle is an elevated ridge, forming a third eminence. These three 

 points stand out in distinct relief on a clear day. The snow on the top 

 is almost as dry as powder, and in walking over it we did not sink 

 more than half-way to the knee. The impression left on my mind is, 

 that the summit is an extinct crater filled with snow. We experienced 

 no difficulty of respiration, except being sooner blown by exertion than 

 we should have been at a lower level. The cold was intense." 



During the past season Prof. Piazzi Smyth, Astronomer Royal of 

 Scotland, through assistance generously offered by Eobert Stephenson, 

 the well known engineer, visited the Peak of Teneriffe, for the purpose 

 of astronomical observation. 



The immediate object of this expedition was to determine how far 

 astronomical observation may be improved. by the elevation of telescopes 

 into the higher regions of the atmosphere. Prof. S. carried with him 

 the great equatorial telescope of the Edinburgh Observatory, and a full 

 supply of all other minor instruments of the very best character. The 

 party having reached their destination in safety, two stations were suc- 

 cessively occupied : one 8,870 feet above the sea-level, the other 10,900 

 feet. 



At both these stations, the nights were almost constantly clear, and 

 the purity of the atmosphere was abundantly proved by the bright- 

 ness and definition of the stars examined. In proof of the advantage 

 of the elevation, Prof. Smyth states that the limit of vision of the 



