34 Geographical Collections. 



Egyptian Geography. — Mr. "Wilkinson, who for many years has carried on 

 his scientific researches in Egypt, has completed an elaborate map of the Feioom^ 

 and thus supplied what has hitherto remained a desideratum in the delineation of 

 Egypt. The map has been printed from stone, at Cairo, for private circulation 

 aniong his friends. We hope that this valuable addition to eastern geography, 

 as well as the curious information this gentleman has collected, respecting the 

 mythology and history of the ancient Egyptians, may ultimately be given to the 

 public. Mr. Wilkinson printed some fasciculi of the work at Malta in 1828 ; 

 but it is to be lamented that Egypt does not afford the requisites for letter-press 

 printing, as it now does for lithography, for which advantage travellers are in- 

 debted to the exertions of Messrs. Burton, and some other enterprising English- 

 men, who have long made Egypt their abode. — Athenceum, 



Excursions into Central Africa by Egypt. — The African Institution sent a 

 young officer into Egypt in the early part of this year, with a commission to 

 follow the southern bank of the Bahr-el-Abiad, as far as Bornou. French tra- 

 vellers are also gone on the same route. " Happy results, then," says the Bui" 

 letin de la Societe de Geographie, " may be hoped for from travels undertaken 

 with such noble emulation." 



Acclimation of Exotic Plants in the Caucasus. — M. Morenas has been sent 

 to Georgia, to attempt to acclimate different plants of southern countries, in the 

 provinces situated beyond the Caucasus, and to improve those which already grow 

 there. — Revue des deux Mondes. 



Discovery of Farsan Island. — At the entrance of the gulf of Akabu, and near 

 Gisan, Professor Ehrenberg discovered an island, called Farsan, which is three 

 days' journey in circumference, and contains three villages, and several harbours 

 for small vessels. — Report on Travels^ ^c. 



Population of Columbia. — The secretary of state for the interior, has presented 

 to the Congress a statement of the population of the Columbian republic. On 

 submitting it to the National Assembly, he remarked that, " according to this 

 document, the number of the inhabitants of Columbia amounted to 2,379,888 ; 

 but that the intendants of departments had intimated that this number was too 

 low, on account of many of the inhabitants having refused to register themselves, 

 through a fear that the object of the census was to levy contributions, or to raise 

 recruits." Owing to this circumstance, the number may be estimated at 

 2,800,000 souls, not including the independent or savage Indians, 203,835 in 

 number. Hence it results that the entire population of Columbia may be stated 

 at 3,000,000 individuals Bull, de la Soc. de Geog. xiii. 291. 



Exact Measure of a Degree ^Ten thousand rubles (upwards of L. 1500 a- 



year !) have been granted by the Emperor of Russia, for the continuation of the 

 investigations undertaken to obtain the exact measvn:e of the degree. This work, 

 which it is said will last for ten years, is confided ^to the charge of M. Struve of 

 Dorpat. Two stafF-officers, natives of Finland, Messrs. Rosenius and Aberg, 

 are already gone to their country for the purpose of discovering the mathematical 

 points of union between Hochland and Tornea. M. Struve has projected a 

 journey abroad, in furtherance of this great undertaking. — Ibid, p. 306. 



Scientific Expedition to the northern parts of the Atlantic—In the early part 

 of this year, M. Mertens announced to the Imperial Academy of St. Petersburgh, 

 that an expedition under the command of Capt. Litke, composed of two frigates 

 Mid a corvette, was about to depart, by order of the Emperor, to the northern part 

 of the Atlantic Ocean. Iceland was to be an object of the scientific investigations 



