402 THE PRESENT STANDPOINT OF GEOGRAPHY. 



to be explored. We hope that a well-equipped Eiifilisli expedition 

 will, before very long', set out from a base on Lake Ilndolf and ])enetrate 

 the highland regions south of Abyssinia. We also hope to receive much 

 valuable geographieal iuforuuition from the contemplated work of the 

 Hausa Association. There are numerous pieces of local exploration, 

 such as the work undertaken by Mr. Scott Elliot in the liuwenzori, 

 which are both interesting aud imi)ortaiit. Lastly, there is the estab 

 lishmeut of lines of fixed positions and of meteorological stations 

 which ought to be kept steadily in view by us and pushed forward as 

 opportunity otters. This is the pioueer work which will keep well in 

 advance of the regular surveys. The pace of African discovery, during 

 my time, has been fast and furious. Hereafter it will be more steady 

 and the work will be more scientific. We are proud, as a nation, of the 

 illustrious men who, in the face of ai)palling sutterings and hardships, 

 and in spite of what might well a})pear insuperable ditticulties, have 

 supplied us, in a comi)araiively short number of years, with a general 

 knowledge of the interior of Africa. We shall have to ask for equally 

 high qualifications as travellers from those who will, in the future, 

 emulate the examples of Livingstone and lUirton, of Speke and Grant, 

 of Cameron and Stanley, and also for scientific attainments of a high 

 order. That the right men will come to the front, who can doubt? 

 Some, indeed, are already in the field. We must not, however, forget 

 the warning voice ot my illustrious predecessor. Sir Bartle Frere. "No 

 country," he said, " possesses the best raw material in such perfection 

 as Great Britain. The strong physical constitution, the buoyant 

 energy, the keen power of observation, the good-humored inditterence 

 to opposition and danger, the determination not to be beaten, aremore 

 common among our youth, more lasting among our seniors, than in 

 most other races. But this very abundance of natural gifts is apt to 

 give us a dangerous contempt for artificial culture. How often have 

 our working geographers lamented the neglect of systematic training 

 by some of our most enterprising travellers." These wise words were 

 addressed to you twenty years ago, and I believe they w ere takcm to 

 heart. Our young explorers now- pay much more attention to their 

 scientific training than they did forinerh\ There is plenty of important 

 work and plenty of very hard work in Africa still, and I am confident 

 that Britain will i)roduce the right men to do it, and to do it well. If 

 there are sucking Wellingtons and Nelsons among us, there are also 

 sucking ]jurtons and Livingstones. The magnificent raw material sur- 

 rounds us, and the men who possess the physical advantages enumer- 

 ated b.y Sir Bartle Frere will surely add to them the needful scientific 

 knowledge when they find that they must <pialify to become good 

 ex-plorers. As our country has produced great African travellers in the 

 past, so she will send them forth in the future. As long as there is 

 work to be done, I say again that there will be no lack of volunteers. 

 In the continent of Asia British geographers have been very active 



