GeograpMeal Collections^ 359' 



Excellency will approve of my conduct, and acquaint the head of our factory with 

 the most advantageous manner of terminating this unfortunate affair, so that my 

 mission may not be entirely without results for science. 



Geographical Society of Paris In the report for the prizes given for 1 830, 



the medal for the most important geographical discovery was announced as hav- 

 ing been given to Rene Caillie for having reached Timbuctoo, in Central Africa ; 

 and a similar gold medal was voted to the widow of the unfortunate Major Laing. 

 Among the journies and voyages which received an honourable mention, were 

 those of AI. 8egoaran de Tromelin, and of M. de Haut Cilly in the Pacific ; 

 the American expedition to New Shetland ; and more especially the voyage of 

 Captain Dumont d'Urville to Vanikoro, and round the world, which would have 

 gained a prize had it not been preceded in the discovery of the remains of La Pe- 

 rouse by Captain Dillon. Among the discoveries were ranked the great circum- 

 navigation of tlie coasts of Africa, by Captain Owen, from the Indian seas to 

 Sierra Leone; the surveys of Admiral Roussin and M. le Predour, on the coasts 

 of Western Africa ; of Captain Steenhoom on those of New Guinea ; and of Mr. 

 Beechey in the Polar Seas. General Ashley's journey to Lake Timpanogos ; M. 

 Muller's in the interior of Borneo ; M. Gerardin's in Senegal ; M. Duranton's in 

 Bambouk ; M. Fontanier's, M. Ch. Belanger's, and Bishop Heber's in Asia ; Dr. 

 Siebold's labours ; Mr. Hodgson's observations in Nepaul ; 1\I. Ruppel's and M. 

 Ehrenberg's researches in Africa, were mentioned with honour ; as were also Capt. 

 King's and 31. d'Orbigny's excursions. in Patagonia; the establishment of a co- 

 lony at Swan River; Mr. Maw's descent of the Amazon ; Mr. Hardy's travels in 

 Mexico ; and Capt. Basil Hall's in North America. 



The prize for a journey into ancient Babylonia and Chaldea had no successful 

 candidate. 



Honourable mention was made of M. Baradere's researches ; but the prize for 

 a description of the monuments of Palenqua and the peninsula of Yucatan was 

 postponed to 1832. 



The prizes offered this year are a gold medal of the value of 1000 francs (L.50.) 

 for the most important discovery in geography ; if a stranger, the candidate will 

 further receive the title of Perpetual Correspondent ; or that of M ember, if a French- 

 man. In the absence of information of this kind, a gold medal, value 500 francs, 

 will be awarded to the author of observations or communications that shall be 

 considered as most novel or useful to the progress of the science. 



A gold medal, value 500 francs, will be given to the traveller who shall have 

 first penetrated to the banks of the Misselad, taking his departure from Darfour. 

 He must further determine the source and mouth of that river ; and describe, 

 with exactness, the mountains which occur in the interval. 



. A similar prize is offered to the person who, taking his departure from the 

 banks of the Misselad, or from the town of Ouaro, the residence of the Sultan of 

 Bargcw, — shall have arrived as far as lake Tchad, — and shall have recognized 

 the principal rivers that flow in that space, and procured information on the origin, 

 course, importance, and general direction of these rivers, as the Bahr-Koulla 

 (or GouUa,) Bahr-Dago, Bahr-el-Ghazal, the presumed branches or affluents of 

 the Schary. 



The sum of 2500 francs will be given to the first traveller who shall reach the 

 place marked on the map of Africa by the name of Marawi, which is sup- 

 posed to be situated about the 32d degree of east longitude from Paris, and 

 about 10° south latitude. He must endeavour to ascertain what part of the course 

 of the river Loffih flows towards this parallel, and descends in a south-easterly 

 direction on the opposite slopes of the great transverse chain from whence origi- 

 nates the White River. He must seek for any communication that may exist 

 between the lioftih and the running or stagnant waters of the Marawi. Travel- 

 prs are exjiected to make other correlative remarks. 



