1869.] Geography. 617 



climate as follows : — " The great belt of soutli-west winds called the 

 Anti-trade, or Passage winds, passes over the North Atlantic 

 throughout its breadth, and drives slowly the whole surface of the 

 water to the northward of an easterly conrse or towards the shore 

 of North- West Europe. From the particular configuration of the 

 land, this north-west drift is allowed to pass into the Polar area. 

 1'his south-west wind infuses into high latitudes the temperature 

 and moisture of much lower parallels, and by its greater rate of 

 travelling passes over the warmer water to the southward, and this 

 brings to Exeter in one day the warmth of the centre of France. 

 By its variation from westward or eastward of a southerly direction, 

 we find all the variations or moisture which is induced by this wind 

 passing over land or sea." 



" On the Best Eoute to the North Pole," by Captain E. V. 

 Hamilton, E.N., and " The Upper Amazons," by Mr. F. F. Searle, 

 were the concluding papers of the day. 



The Section met for the last time on Tuesday morning. 

 " Cooper's Attempt to Cross from China to India " was read by 

 ]\Ir. Trelawney Saunders. Though the details of Mr. Cooper's 

 adventures were very interesting, Mr. Saunders pointed out that he 

 had been unable to contribute anything of value in a geographical 

 point of view, and his enterprise was fruitless and unsuccessful 

 through the jealousy and cupidity of the Chinese mandarins. 



A lengthy and important paper on the " Trade Eoutes between 

 Northern India and Central Asia " was next read by Mr. Douglas 

 Forsyth. This distinguished member of the Indian Civil Service 

 said that he had no geographical discoveries to make known, but he 

 intimated that the work of applying to practical purposes the 

 knowledge acquired by scientific men ought to receive some share 

 of general approval. Having described the two great outlets for 

 trade from Northern India, and given a history and description of 

 the country north of the Himalayas, ]\Ir. Forsyth showed that 

 Central Asian trade is not a myth, as has been asserted, but is very 

 valuable and capable of immense development. 



Mr. Trelawney Saunders then read a paper " On the Hima- 

 layas and Central Asia," and explained that the difliculties in 

 passing the mountains are not insurmountable to trade and inter- 

 course. The vast countries beyond the Himalayas constitute the 

 greatest pastoral region in the world ; and as there is such a field of 

 raw material, there would doubtless be found an equally important 

 market for manufactured articles. In the discussion which fol- 

 lowed the reading of these three papers, Sir Harry Verney, Sir 

 Stafford Northcote, Dr. Thomson, and the President took part. 

 Sir Harry Verney said our duty is to give every facility for the 

 opening up of trading intercourse with Central Asia, but we should- 



