564 SCIENTIFIC RECORD FOR 1885. 



An exploration to cover a period of five years is being organized by 

 Yadrintseff, under the auspices of the Russian Geographical Society. 

 Its purpose is the investigation of the ethnology and social economy of 

 Siberia ; particular attention will be given to opportunities for extend- 

 ing and correcting geographical knowledge. 



The trans-Siberian railway has already finished its first section of 135 

 kilometers between Ekaterinburg and Kameshoff, and its early comple- 

 tion to Tuimen is confidently expected. At each step in its advance- 

 ment the geographical advantages to be derived from this commercial 

 enterprise will be more marked. 



Preparations are being made for the expedition under Dr. Bunge and 

 Baron von Toll, which will start next spring for Ustyansk, for the ex- 

 ploration of the New Siberian Islands, which since Anjou's journeys in 

 1821-'!23 have only been visited by the unfortunate Jeannette people 

 for a few hours on their route to the mouth of the Lena. 



The geographical effects of the Krakatoa eruption, while of great im- 

 portance, are of too local a nature to be properly considered under 

 " progress in geography." 



Great Britain has annexed the territory of the ex-King Thebaw to her 

 India possessions. 



In the province of Adana, Asia Minor, not far from Tarsus, at a few 

 hours' travel from the sea, among the mountains, has recently been dis- 

 covered a ruined town hitherto entirely unknown. The ruins lie near 

 the route from S61ef-k(§ to Karaman, by Mohara. Sarcophagi, almost 

 intact, and resembling those of Lycia, exist there and would seem 

 worthy of study. 



Eussian geographical exploration of the Caucasus has begun. MM. 

 Djin and Dimick have traveled among its glaciers, climb ed its passes, 

 and given an account of their travels in Petermann's Mittheilungen. 

 Ushpa is estimated at 16,500 feet high, and Tetuuld at 15,500 feet or 

 thereabouts. 



It is stated that an accurate survey of the island of Yezo and the 

 neighboring islands (especially the Kuriles) is to be made by the Jap- 

 anese naval department. It is anticipated that the work will occupy 

 four years. 



The Zeitschrift of the Gesellschaft fiir Erdkunde in Berlin (Vol. XX, 

 No. 3) is almost wholly filled with an account by Herr Schmidt of the 

 travels of the friar Kubruk, between 1253 and 1255, into the heart of 

 Central Asia and to the borders of China. 



EUROPE. 



The lectures given under the auspices of the Geographical Society of 

 Paris, in the spring of 1884, were so successful that they were resumed 

 this year. The names of some of the lecturers give us an idea of the 

 importance attached to the subject of geography in Europe : Janssen, de 

 Lapparent, Bouquet de la Grye, Dr. Hamy, Himly, Levassear, Louis 



