400 THE PRESENT STANDPOINT OF GEOGRAPHY. 



they do succeed there will still rcniaiii splendid opportiiuities for future 

 expeditions.* 



The Italians have recently made great efforts to ascertain the geo- 

 graphical features of the Somali country. Signor Bricchetti-Eobecchi, 

 especially, has travelled along the whole coast from Mukadisho to 

 Allula, and has also crossed the Somali country from Obbia on the shore 

 of the Indian Ocean to Berbera on the Gulf of Aden. We had the 

 pleasure of welcoming this ardent explorer in the autumn. He had 

 previously written a charming book describing his visit to the oasis of 

 Jupiter Amnion. 



The country west of the Jub lies within the British sphere of influ- 

 ence, and the interests of geography, no less than those of commerce, 

 make it desirable that its exploration should be undertaken by British 

 travelers. As soon as friendly relations cau be established with the 

 Somali and Galla living at the back of Kisimayu, an expedition into 

 the country of the Borana Galla ought not to meet with insuperable 

 difficulties. Camels, horses, and donkeys are procurable there, so that 

 the work of explorers would be much facilitated. A depot might be 

 established on or near Lake Rudolf, a district which is said to be rich 

 in ivory, and relations might then be established with the tribes inter- 

 vening between that lake and the highlands south of Abyssinia, includ- 

 ing Kaffa and Enarea. Exploring journeys both from the Shoa coun- 

 try to the south, or northward from Lake Rudolf, would lead to a region 

 which, although the last to be taken in hand, is certainly one of the 

 most interesting in the interior of Africa. 



Outside the regions just referred to we may be said to have obtained 

 a fair knowledge of the general geographical features of the African 

 continent. Much detail remains to be filled in, and much of the work, 

 executed in a hasty and superficial manner, requires to be done over 

 again. There are also regions of great interest which have been 

 visited, but which will well repay detailed examination. The moun- 

 tains of Ruwenzori were discovered by Stanley, and have since been 

 passed on the west side by Stuhimann. Capt. Lugard, whom you had 

 the pleasure of welcoming from Uganda in the last session, was the 

 first to pass them on the eastern side. These mouutains and the coun- 

 try between them and Lake Tanganyika comprise a piece of work which 

 Mr. Scott Elliot has just set out with the intention of carefully exe 

 cuting. Most valuable results may, I think, be anticipated from hie 

 labors. 



Excellent work of the same character has just been completed by our 



correspondent, Dr. Gregory, on Mount Kenia, and we anticipate a most 



interesting paper from this accomplished explorer in the course of the 



session. 



Many of the itineraries which crowd and fill up our maps are based 



* Capt. Bottego has eince returned to Europe. 



