148 president's abdress — sectiox e. 



The Spitzbergen Group of islands, some 600 miles off the noTth 

 coast of Norway, has recently come prominently into public notice, 

 chiefly on account of extensive coal resources. Some additions to 

 its geography have been published lately by Scandinavian and 

 British investigators, but the most notable contribution has been 

 the publication, under the auspices of the Dutch Government, of 

 a volume of historical cartography of the Group. Some 80 old 

 Dutch maps are reproduced, which illustrate the definite establish- 

 ment of Dutch supremacy for a long period after its discovery by 

 Barentz. Whilst making reference to Spitzbergen it is interesting 

 to note that the sovereignty of the Group, formerly a terra iiiiUim, 

 has been handed over to Norway by the Supreme Comncil. 



In South America, considerable advances have been made, 

 especially in the region of the Upper Amazon. The work of 

 Colonel Fawcett, and others, in connexion with Boundary Com- 

 mission on the frontiers of Bolivia, Peru, and Brazil, should be 

 specially mentioned. Mr. Roosevelt, whose subsequent death we 

 greatly regret, has added to our knowledge of the Duvida tributary 

 of the Madiera. 



The Yale University Expedition, under Professor Hiram Brig- 

 ham, to Peru has been most fruitful of results. The indications 

 are that our American friends will, in the future, take a still 

 greater interest in investigating the South American continent. 



During the period under review exploration in Africa has not 

 attracted public attention. 



Two notable pieces of work have been accomplished in Asia, 

 namely, archaeological and topographical investigations by Sir 

 Aurel Stein in the region lying between the Tian Shan and the 

 Chinese' border, and a thoroaigh investigation of the Kara Koram 

 by an Italian expedition under Dr. de Filippi. Much detail has 

 been added to' our knowledge of Arabia, and of the frontier regions 

 of India. 



Coming to the Australasian Region, the past eight years has 

 seen much accomplished in New Guinea. The results of a German 

 Expedition up the Sepik (Kaiserin Augusta) River, and of two 

 Dutch Expeditions into the interior of the western extremity of 

 the island have been made available. These undertakings- have 

 added immensely to our knowledge oi the formerly little-known 

 Dutch and late German territories. In Papua, numerous recon- 

 naissances have been nrade into new and little-known country by 

 Mr. E. R. Stanley and other Government officials, and the results 

 placed on a recently-compiled map. We have read with regret the 

 sad news which has recently come through of the annihilation by 

 the head-hunters of an exploring party on the Fly River. The 

 exploration of New Guinea is now well advanced, but it is still 

 one of the most fascinating fields for discovery remaining to the 

 geographer. 



