THE PRESENT STANDPOINT OF GEOGRAPHY. 411 



Prof. Baclie iu 185S, Julaiid topograpliy however owes most to the 

 geologists, for Powell in the Kocky Mountains region, Hayden in the 

 teriitories, and Clarence King on the fortieth parallel have been obliged 

 to make their maps as they proceeded with their geological investiga- 

 tions. The triangulation in the interior of the States was commenced 

 late and its jirogress has been slow. 



There is a great deal of work for an exi»lorer in Central Anierica, 

 where our associate, Mr. Maudslay, lias done so much excellent service, 

 and where we are also indebted to the researches of ofticers from 

 British Honduras. But it is m South America that the most extensive 

 unexplored regions are still awaiting the visits of scientific travelers. 

 Many parts of the Columbian Andes need exploration, as well as tlie 

 basins of the great rivers Japura and Putumayo and some of the 

 smaller affluents of the Amazon, such as the Pastasa, Moroua, San- 

 tiago, Napo, and Tigre. There is an enormous tract in Colombia, bounded 

 by the sloi)es of the Andes on the west, by the Orinoco and Rio Negro 

 on the east, on the north by the Meta, and on the south by the Uaupes 

 and Japura, which is practically unknown. I have called attention to 

 this region ou previous occasions in the hope that some one would 

 undertake its exploration. For it was here that the old conquerors of 

 the sixteenth century, without watch or compass, sought for El Dorado. 

 Another unknown region lies letween Guiana and the Amazon, while 

 the rivers Jurus, Jutay, and Teffe are unexplored. The admirable sur- 

 vey of the great River Purus and its main tributary secured for Mr. 

 Chandless the gold medal of our society, but many of the afHuents of 

 the Beni, tlowiug from the Andes of Cuzco, still require scientific 

 exploration. 



The mighty Cordilleras of the Andes have only been very partially 

 examined. From Mr. Whymiter\s delightful book, with its superb illus- 

 trations, we learnt nnu-h about the famous peaks of Ecuador, and some 

 of our ideas received correction; while the surveying labors of Mr. 

 Wolf in the same region have led to the examiinition of the little 

 known provinces between the Andes and the Pacific and to the pro- 

 duction of a most valuable ma]) of Ecuador. In Peru the learned presi- 

 dent of the Lima (leograi)hical Society, our honorary associate. Dr. 

 Luis Carranza, has admirably described the geography of some of the 

 provinces of the Andes. Still there is an uudescribed Andean region, 

 comprised in the provinces of Lucanas, Parinacochas, Cangallo, Ayma- 

 raes, and Cotabamba, and in the coast valleys and deserts betwceu 

 Nasca and Lajes. Forbes, Minchin, and Weiner have ascended llii- 

 mani and Illampu, but the mountains of the coast range farther south 

 are almost unknown, and the great peaks of Sajama and Pallahnari 

 are still unmeasured. 



Indeed, the whole orography of western South America is very imper- 

 fectly understood, and would well repay further scientific examination. 

 The great rivers of the Gran (!hacu, fiowing from the Bolivian Andes 



