THE NORTH POLAli BASIN.* 



By Henry Seebohm, F. L. S., F. Z, S. 



Geograpliy, the child of Mathematics and Astroiinniy, stands in the 

 rehition of mother to lialf a dozen other sciences, wliich have long ago 

 left the parental roof to establish sections of their own. Like every 

 other science, geography is so closely connected with, and dependent 

 on, its allied sciences that it is impossible to treat of the one witliont 

 invading the province of the others. No one supposes that the mak- 

 ing of maps is the whole duty of the geographer. The accurate delin- 

 eation of the trend of coast lines, the courses of rivers, the heights of 

 mountains, the depths of seas, or the position of towns is onlj' the skel- 

 eton which underlies the real science of geography. 



The study of geography may be divided into various sections, but it 

 must always be remembered that they dovetail into each other, as well 

 as into the allied sciences, to such an extent that no hard-and fast line 

 can be drawn between them. The object of dividing so comprehensive 

 a section as that of geography into sub-sections is more practical than 

 scientific. The classification of facts is an important aid to mennny, 

 and introduces order into what might otherwise seem to be a chaos of 

 knowledge. 



The foundation of all geography is exploration; but before the trav- 

 eller can do good geographical work he must acquire the necessary 

 knowledge embraced in the science of cartograi>hy. This includes a 

 practical acquaintance with the various instruments used in making 

 a survey, the necessary mathematical and astronomical knowledge 

 required for their use, and a familiarity with the accepted mode of 

 expressing the geographical facts that nmy be acquired on a chart or 

 map. Exploration may then be undertaken with some chance of ulti- 

 mate success, but the object of exploration must be something more 

 than the filling up of blanks in our maps. Many otiier subjects must 

 receive atttmtion, subjects which aie collectively included in tlie term 

 I)hysical geography, but which require treatment under different heads. 



* Address to the geographical section of the British Association for the Advance- 

 ment of Science, at Nottingham, by the president of the section ; Sept., 1893. (The 

 Geographical Journal, London, October, 1893; vol. ii, i)p. 331-346.) 



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