THE PRESENT STANDPOINT OF GEOGRAPHY. 417 



the so-called ''word ])aiiitiiij;-,"' now so elaborately employed, that con- 

 veys the most correct x^ietare; but rather pithy epithets and sharp, 

 clear touches. The (>kl writers were often excellent in doing tliis, with 

 their forcible homely language; and they slxmld be read until some 

 echo of their pure vigorous style has been caught. The necessity 

 for cultivating the describing faculty, and for studying the general 

 principles underlying all good description should be inculcated by 

 those who train men as geographical explorers; for a traveller is of no 

 use if, when he comes back, he fails to convey to others a correct idea 

 of what lie lias seen. 



The various subjects to which a geographical student or explorer can 

 give his attention are as fascinating as they are numerous; and w^hether 

 he devotes his talents to the improvement of instruments, or to the 

 work of the draftsman and map-maker, or to the manifold i)hases of 

 physical geography, or to discovery in distant lands, or to the elucida- 

 tion and illustration of the history and progress of our science, he will 

 alike be furthering and advancing our objects and will have a right to 

 claim our assistance and our sympathy. 



We do not invite geographers to enter upon any of these difficult 

 undertakings vtithout being i)rei3ared to supply them with a suitable 

 training, and to give them all the sympathy and encouragement in our 

 power. This was not always the case. 1 well remember that a young 

 officer in command of the llausa police force came to me for advice, 

 just twenty years ago. lie wanted to learn the use of the sextant and 

 artificial horizon. At first 1 had no answer to give him: but afterward 

 1 found out that a widow named Janet Taylor gave the required instruc- 

 tion in the Minories to mates of merchant ships. It was this dearth of 

 the means of learning the work of an explorer that forced my attention 

 on the duty of finding a remedy. Mrs. Taylor was an efficient teacher, 

 I believe, but the Minories are far off, and her single efforts could not 

 supply what was needed. It M^as then tliat 1 submitted proposals that 

 the society should appoint an instructor and furnish the necessary facil- 

 ities for enabling explorers to learn their work. Our council saw the 

 importance of supplying a great need, and Mr. Coles was appointed to 

 instruct intending travelers in practical astronomy and surveying. My 

 proposal included instruction in geology and biology, and now arrange 

 meuts are made for teaching what an explorer would need in these 

 branclies of knowledge also, as well as in photography. 1 look upon this 

 as the most successful measure that has been ado^ited by this societj^ in 

 recent years and the one which bas done most to advance the interests 

 of geography. Since Mr. Coles began to giye instruction in surveying 

 and nautical astronomy, lie has taught 230 pupils, including officers in 

 the army and navy, in the consular ancwolonial services, missionaries, 

 civil engineers, and private travellers. These instructed explorers have 

 done valuable geographical work in all parts of the world — in Africa, 

 Asia, North and South America, the Malay Archipelago and Pacific 

 SM 93 27 



