GEOGRAPHY. 



By Commander F. M. Gkeen, U. 8. Navy. 



In considering the geographical work of the world in 1881 and 1882, 

 while there does not seem to be any startling fact or great discovery 

 to announce, it is evident that the general interest in geographical 

 studies and researches is not diminishing. So many nations are taking 

 an active part in the endeavor to solve geographical problems; so many 

 interests, commercial, scientific, political, and missionary, are earnestly 

 pushing inquiry in every direction, that each year the field for extensive 

 and striking discovery becomes more limited. English, French, Ger- 

 mans, and Belgians have been vying with each other to discover new 

 regions where their trade may be extended, and new routes by which 

 mercliandise may be transported with ease and economy; especially is 

 this the case in Africa. 



Large portions of South America, Asia, Africa, and Australia still 

 remain comparatively unexplored, and for many years to come ample 

 opportunities will be afforded for the scientific traveler to complete 

 our knowledge of details in regions imperfectly known. 



As soon as any discovery of any importance is made it is at once 

 published to the world, in English, German, and French, in the excel- 

 lent geographical periodicals, from which, in fact, this summary is 

 .condensed. 



At the meeting of the British Association, at York, in September, 

 1881, it being the fiftieth anniversary of the foundation of the associa- 

 tion, especial attention was paid in the geographical section to a review 

 of the progress of geographical knowledge during the last fifty years, 

 and a most valuable essay, by the hydrographer to the Admiralty, Sir 

 F. J. Evans, on the progress of hydrographic surveys, was read. 



Sir Frederic Evans called special attention to the increased' accuracy 

 in determining astronomically geographical positions, particularly with 

 reference to longitudes. Of the fifty positions selected some years ago 

 for secondary meridians by the Admiralty, the longitudes of thirty either 

 have been exactly verified, or are in course of verification, by means of 

 the electric telegraph, nineteen of these verifications being made by the 

 labors of ofticers of the United States Navy and Coast Survey. 



An extensive work of this sort has just been completed by United 



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