ADDEESS BY THEODORE REUNERT. Ill 



jou the following extract from the '" Times " of the ITth October, in 

 which Professor (now Sir George) Darwin gave his impressions of 

 the South African visit on the homeward voyage from Beira, where 

 the Portuguese Authorities, with the grace and heartiness charac- 

 teristic of the Latin race, fittingly crowned the welcome accorded our 

 distinguished guests by all the other towns and districts of the 

 country. 



Professor Darwin says : — " When I accepted nomination to the 

 office of President of the British Association at the meeting to be 

 held in South Africa, I felt doubts as to the value of the scientific 

 work which would be brought before the several sections. The 

 scientific reputation of a sectional President exercises a great 

 influence on the character of the communications which are read 

 before him, and it seemed uncertain whether a sufficiently large 

 number of scientific men of eminence would be able to spare the 

 time needed for so long an expedition. It was therefore with 

 feelings of relief and satisfaction that in the autumn of 1904 and 

 the spring of 1905 I saw our list of presidents gradually filling up 

 with men of the highest scientific rank. When a correspondingly 

 able body of recorders and secretaries was enlisted the success of 

 the meeting was in a great measure secured. In view of the very 

 exceptional character of our meeting unusual pains were taken by 

 the sectional presidents and committees to secure the contribution 

 of important and appropriate papers. The outcome of these pre- 

 liminary steps was very encouraging, and a full list of promised 

 communications was drawn up. A good many of the papers were 

 contributed by men already resident in South Africa, and by several 

 experts sent on in advance, so that the total contribution to science, 

 especially as applicable to Africa, has proved to be of considerable 

 magnitude. For the present year the South African Association 

 for the Advancement of Science was fused with ourselves, and the 

 preliminary steps which I have explained were taken in consultation 

 with, and by the help of, the President of that Society, Mr. Theodore 

 Reunert, and of other active members. At the special request of 

 our African friends invitations were issued to some fifty foreign 

 men of science of the highest eminence ; and, although only a com- 

 paratively small number found themselves able to accept, yet the 

 reinforcement of our scientific strength was very great. It may 

 be worth mentioning that there were men from Russia, Finland, 

 Sweden, Germany, Austria, France, Japan, and the United States, 

 and although we were disappointed of a promised Australian con- 

 tingent, Canada was worthily represented. This is not the place to 

 speak in detail of the large fund, raised principally in the Colonies, 

 for assisted passages to South Africa, of the generous reduction of 

 ocean fares by the Union-Castle Line, of the free railway travel in 

 the several colonies, of the great facilities afforded by the Rhodesian 

 line, or, lastly, but not least, of the truly amazing hospitality, both 

 corporate and individual, extended to us; but enough has been 

 said to show that nothing which could be foreseen was omitted from 

 the preparations. And yet on looking back on our visit I see clearly 



